College Connection | Fall 2026
Remediation focuses on improving dental procedures
College Connection | Fall 2026
LEARNING IN PRACTICE
Remediation focuses on improving dental procedures
Case Summary
The member performed a dental procedure on a cat, owned by a Registered Veterinary Technician at the same veterinary facility. The client believed the procedure was uneventful and included extracting several teeth, cleaning, and polishing. A month later, the cat was scratching its chin on the same side as the extractions. The member and another veterinarian performed a recheck, which indicated a retained root. The cat was prescribed antibiotics and pain medication. When the cat resumed pawing at its chin, the member performed a second surgery extracting another tooth and attempted to remove retained root fragments.
The next week, the client consulted with a veterinary dental specialist, who removed the root remnant and a broken instrument tip that had been left in the cat’ s gingiva during the second dental procedure. The member knew about the retained root and broken instrument but did not tell the client.
Case Outcomes
The Complaints Committee panel found the allegations, although serious, did not warrant a referral to the Discipline Committee. The panel decided remediation was necessary to address concerns about the member’ s practice including client communication and dentistry. The member agreed to complete an acknowledgement and undertaking.
Case Considerations
In considering the complaint, the panel reviewed the medical records, written submissions, and statements provided by all parties. As is standard for all investigations, the panel considered any previous proceedings.
The panel noted the member acknowledged their mistakes and appreciated the member’ s willingness to complete learning in feline dentistry, radiograph interpretation and medical recordkeeping.
The panel took into account the events occurred during the COVID pandemic, a challenging time for veterinarians. The member indicated they squeezed in staff pets between appointments, and medical records and communication regarding their care may not have been optimal. The panel noted care provided to staff animals should be at the same as for clients’ animals.
The panel emphasized the importance of clear, open communication. If the member had been transparent, the cat could have been referred for the dental procedure. This would have been in keeping with the principle of patientcentred care and would have likely spared the cat an additional surgery.
The panel was concerned with the member’ s clinical competence in pushing a tooth fragment into the alveolar bone and also breaking the tip off the instrument and leaving it in the cat’ s gingiva. The panel was concerned about the cascading errors, lack of skill or training and poor judgment. Participation in the remedial activities will assist the member in gaining the clinical skills, competence and confidence required to perform dental procedures.
The panel was concerned about the member’ s lack of skill in dental radiographs and included that training in the remediation as well. The panel was also concerned with the member’ s failure to properly dispose of the broken dental instrument.
A further concern was with the use of antibiotics, particularly the combinations of injectable and oral antibiotics. The panel noted antibiotics are no longer routinely prescribed and administered / dispensed for feline dental procedures. The remedial activities include appropriate medications for feline dentistry.
Having the member fulfill the conditions of the acknowledgment and undertaking underscores the issues of concern identified by the panel to facilitate corrective action to ensure similar concerns do not arise in the future.
Veterinarians have a responsibility to provide safe, quality care. The College assists veterinarians in doing so when matters are reviewed by the Complaints Committee. The public has a right to ask questions about the care that was provided to their animal( s) and this process provides veterinarians with feedback on whether they have met the standards of practice or whether there are improvements needed to mitigate risks in practice. The Committee provides advice or may request a veterinarian enter into an undertaking when remediation would reduce risks and support a veterinarian in meeting the standard of practice. Only the most serious cases, where there is bad intent, incompetence, reckless behaviour, or a history of failure to remediate at-risk behaviour are referred to the Discipline Committee for a discipline hearing to determine if an act of professional misconduct or serious neglect may have occurred. This example is taken from a case that was reviewed by the Complaints Committee and is offered as a self-reflection tool to support veterinarians in understanding how to meet the standards of practice.
Public confidence in veterinary regulation cvo. org 7