Chicago Dentist - Veterinary Dentistry

Veterinary Dentistry

From the ancient Chinese care to ancient Greek study, the earliest veterinary dentists focused on examining and caring for horses’ teeth.  Since a horse’s value was based upon the condition of its teeth, which were used to determine age, teeth became very important.  Aristotle wrote in 333 B.C about periodontal disease in horses.  Scholars of the Roman Empire wrote extensively on the dentistry of animals in addition to horses. 
In 1762, the first veterinary school was founded in France.  In the 1930’s, Joseph Bodingbauer Bauer, a German veterinary dentist, was a pioneer in small animal dentistry.  However, widespread interest in veterinary dentistry did not become apparent until the formation of the American Veterinary Dental College which was formed in 1987.  It was at this time that people began to realize the need for effective dental care for their pets.