Description
SAVC and AVNAT Approved Course
This flexi CPD course is aimed at vet nurses and vet technicians in general practice and is available on-demand with unlimited lifetime access. Each module consists of a tutorial, quiz and further reading articles
Module 1
Aetiology and Pathogenesis
- Anatomy of the head
- Tooth and periodontal anatomy, and oral soft tissues
- Oral nomenclature
- Tooth types, nomenclature and formulae
- Eruption times
- Occlusion
Learning objectives
After completion of this module, participants should be able to:
- Identify tooth and periodontal structures
- Explain the Modified Triadan System of numbering teeth in the dog and cat
- Recognise normal occlusion
Module 2
Periodontology
- Aetiology and pathogenesis of dental disease
- Gingivitis
- Periodontitis
- Gingivostomatitis
- Periodontal therapy
- Scaling and polishing
- Pocket control and therapy
- Medications, homecare (brief), dental clinics (brief)
Learning objectives
After completion of this module, participants should be able to:
- Describe how gingivitis develops and its progression to periodontal disease
- Explain what gingivostomatitis is
- Outline the process of safe ultrasonic tooth scaling and its purpose
Module 3
Oral Pathology and Treatment
- Trauma and treatment options
- Tooth fracture / discolouration / (sub) luxation
- Dental diseases and treatment options
- Tooth resorption / caries / periodontal disease
- Malocclusion and treatment options
- Traumatic / dental / skeletal malocclusions
- Other conditions and treatment options
- Enamel defects / dentigerous cysts / persistent deciduous / root dilacerations and abnormal morphology / tumours
Learning objectives
After completion of this module, participants should be able to:
- Identify common pathologies associated with the teeth and oral cavity
- Describe some potential treatment options for common pathologies
Module 4
Oral Examination and Charting
- History taking and clinical examination – conscious oral examination
- Pre-operative tests
- Assessment under general anaesthesia – including anaesthesia induction, intubation, oral preparation, probing
- Charting – what to fill in, disease scoring and making your chart work
- Imaging and other investigations
- Radiography – parallel and bisecting angle techniques
- Biopsy
Learning objectives
After completion of this module, participants should be able to:
- Confidently undertake a thorough conscious examination of a patient’s teeth
and oral cavity - Set up for and assist with assessment of the teeth and oral cavity in an anaesthetised patient
- Accurately complete a dental chart which documents all pathology discovered upon examination
Module 5
Instrumentation and Dental Surgery
- Instruments – use, care and maintenance
- Dental machine and other powered equipment – use, care and maintenance
- Ancillary equipment – use, care and maintenance
- Preparation for and veterinary nursing assistance with surgery
- Pre-, intra- and post-operatively, including analgesia
- The role of intraoperative radiography
Learning objectives
After completion of this module, participants should be able to:
- Differentiate between different instruments used for dental and oral procedures, and state what they are used for
- Describe the proper use, care and maintenance of a range of dental instruments and equipment
- Explain the benefits of oral radiography in veterinary patients and outline the basic, fundamental principles of the parallel and bisecting angle techniques
Module 6
Dental Clinics, Products and Homecare
- What is an effective dental clinic
- Types of patients attending dental clinics
- Resources for dental clinic consultations
- Products and interventions available to help with maintaining oral health
- Oral homecare regimes
- Effective dissemination of theoretical and practical oral hygiene advice
- Client concordance and follow-up
Learning objectives
After completion of this module, participants should be able to:
- Debate what makes a dental clinic effective
- Explain the range of resources required to run an effective dental clinic, and the purpose of these resources
- Describe how a range of products and interventions used to maintain optimal oral health work
- Outline how to achieve and maintain client compliance with recommended oral homecare regimes
The course will be available immediately following purchase, with unlimited lifetime access and will provide a total of:
12 hours of CPD (UK)
12 points (Australia and New Zealand)
12 points (South Africa – SAVC Accreditation Number AC/2602/25)
Release date: Aug 2025






Tara C –
Extremely informative course, lots of tips and tricks for improving our patients dentals! I liked how very important information was repeated in each tutorial so that it concreted my knowledge. The tutor was very knowledgeable and gave us information to be able to look after equipment to a high standard. I will be implementing lots of information I have learnt into my practice as an RVN. Thank you!
Sophie-Jade S –
The course has been amazing at improving my knowledge on animal dentistry. due to this, I can now help my practice to improve dental care, whether that be through dental clinics or application of knowledge learnt during dental procedures. The lecturer seems to be very enthusiastic about the subject and this has helped the message knowledge to stick.
Kelly O –
Very good course, very in depth.
Holly S –
excellent!
Rebecca M –
Easy to follow. Full of information.
Rosie F –
Really informative and interesting
Ashleigh S –
I found the course very detailed and thorough. Good amount of materials available.
Holly B –
i really enjoyed this course!! the way it is modulated and the information is spread out over a few weeks helps focus your learning and put in to play the different aspects each week. The homework is not overwhelming at all! and again it helps put your knowledge into practice. The dental charting i found the hardest, but practice makes perfect
The tutorials are done at a nice pace, easy to follow and very visual which i liked. p.s some questions will be from what claire has SAID rather than what’s on the slide so pay attention
10/10!!
Lucy G –
This course was very useful for expanding my knowledge in dentistry and has given me ideas to suggest for my practice in the future
Shannon S –
Good knowledge, easy to understand and follow.