AVA Conference Adelaide 2016

Do we rely too heavily on antibiotics when treating oral and dental related disease conditions? Conversely, do we overlook the importance of appropriate analgesia? Too often we reach for antibiotics when a patient presents with oral or dental related disease. This presentation aims at exploring and understanding the indications for appropriate antibiotic use when treating dental and oral diseases in companion animals. We will look at the underlying disease processes and current research and recommendations in human and animal fields in order to provide an understanding as to when and why antibiotics are or are not indicated. Another important and often overlooked aspect of care for these patients is provision of adequate analgesia. Our main focus in this part of the presentation will be on the use of local anaesthetics and regional nerve blocks