About Pawsitive Veterinary Dentistry “The podcast for veterinary dental teams—hosted by Benita Altier, LVT, VTS (Dentistry).”
Hosted by Benita Altier, LVT, VTS (Dentistry), Pawsitive Veterinary Dentistry brings real-world insight to the challenges faced by today’s veterinary dental teams. Each episode features in-depth conversations with Diplomates of the American Veterinary Dental College and Veterinary Technician Specialists in Dentistry, exploring common clinical conditions, dental pathologies, surgical techniques, anesthesia considerations, and patient-care safety. Using a case-report approach, Benita guides focused discussions that help practitioners connect evidence-based knowledge to everyday clinical practice—so teams can deliver safer, smarter, and more effective dental care.
"Aseptic Dentistry, Protecting Patients and Your Team" with Dr. Ana Nemec DVM, PhD. DAVDC, DEVDC
Send us Fan Mail Your dental unit's water line might be the dirtiest thing in your operatory — and most practices have no idea. In this episode of Pawsitive Veterinary Dentistry, host Benita Altier, LVT, VTS (Dentistry) talks with Dr. Ana Nemec, veterinary faculty at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, about asepsis, dental unit water contamination, instrument sterilization, and ergonomics in veterinary dental practice — drawing on her 2026 European Veterinary Dental Congress (Porto, Portu...
9 Aug 2026
"The Block Stops Here" Regional Dental Anesthesia and Leading Your Team
Send us Fan Mail Regional nerve blocks are one of the most effective pain control tools in veterinary dentistry — but the technique is only half the story. Dr. Chris Snyder, President of the American Veterinary Dental College and Hospital Director at UW–Madison, joins Pawsitive Veterinary Dentistry to break down infraorbital and inferior alveolar nerve blocks, what his research on bupivacaine and buprenorphine revealed about analgesic duration, and how to lead a dental team that actually uses...
10 Jul 2026
Complex Cases: Cleft Palate Surgery with Dr. Kendall Taney, DAVDC, Fellow OMFS
Send us Fan Mail Cleft palate surgery in puppies and kittens is one of the most complex procedures in veterinary dentistry — and success depends on far more than the surgery itself. In this episode, Dr. Kendall Taney, DAVDC, Fellow OMFS, walks through real case examples covering the full journey of cleft palate repair in young patients. We cover how to prepare young, fragile patients — getting them healthy and large enough to safely undergo surgery — and how imaging, including cone beam CT an...
23 Jun 2026
Dr. Robert Bruce Wiggs: Veterinary Dentistry Pioneer Who Invented the Wiggs Winged Elevator
Send us Fan Mail In this special tribute episode, Dr. Heidi Lobprise, DAVDC, shares the remarkable legacy of her mentor and co-author, Dr. Robert Bruce Wiggs — one of the founding figures of veterinary dentistry in North America. Dr. Lobprise recounts how she became Dr. Wiggs' dental resident, the cases they worked together, and their landmark collaboration on the 1997 textbook Veterinary Dentistry: Principles and Practice — one of the first comprehensive references in the field. You'll hear ...
1 Jun 2026
Oral Masses in Dogs, What Every Vet Needs to Know with Dr. Stephanie Goldschmidt
Send us Fan Mail Oral masses in dogs are common. Ignoring them is not an option. Dr. Stephanie Goldschmidt — Board-Certified Veterinary Dentist, Fellow of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, and professor at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine — joins us for a comprehensive, clinically practical conversation on canine oral cancer. We cover the full picture: biopsy, imaging, staging, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, prognosis, palliative care, and when referral is the right call. Dr. Goldsch...
19 May 2026
Young Dogs & Tooth Fractures: Modern Treatment Options with Dr. Sandra Manfra Marretta
Send us Fan Mail What should you do when a young dog fractures a tooth that is still developing? Is extraction always the best option—or can these teeth actually be saved? In this episode of the Pawsitive Veterinary Dentistry Podcast, host Benita Altier, LVT, VTS (Dentistry) sits down with Dr. Sandra Manfra Marretta to discuss one of the most important and misunderstood topics in veterinary dentistry: the management of immature permanent teeth with crown fractures in dogs. Dr. Manfra Marretta...
10 May 2026
Full Mouth Extractions for FCGS: Is It the Only Option? with Dr. Maria Soltero Rivera
Send us Fan Mail Chronic Feline Gingivostomatitis (FCGS) is one of the most painful and frustrating oral diseases encountered in feline patients. Cats with FCGS often suffer from severe oral inflammation, difficulty eating, weight loss, and chronic pain — leaving veterinary teams and cat caregivers searching for answers. For many patients, full-mouth or near full-mouth extractions remain the gold standard treatment. But is surgery always the answer? And why do some cats continue to struggle e...
18 Apr 2026
How Veterinary Dentistry Became a Specialty (Part 1) | A 50-Year Journey with Dr. Eisner
Send us Fan Mail This episode explores the history of veterinary dentistry and how the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) and the Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians (AVDT) became recognized specialties. What did veterinary dentistry look like 50 years ago… and how did it evolve into the advanced specialty we practice today? In Part 1 of this two-part series, Dr. Edward Eisner takes us on a firsthand journey through the transformation of veterinary dentistry in the United States. ...
1 Apr 2026
"Veterinary Dentistry is a Team Sport" with Kris Bannon FAVD, DAVDC
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, host Benita Altier explores how successful veterinary dental care requires coordinated teamwork across the entire practice with Dr. Kris Bannon, a board-certified dental specialist and former president of the American Veterinary Dental Society. From front desk receptionists screening for oral-nasal fistulas to technicians managing critical anesthesia monitoring, every team member plays a vital role—and the two-technician-per-patient model is non-negotiable fo...
16 Mar 2026
On the Front Lines of Periodontal care, Why Veterinary Technicians Have a Critical Role.
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Pawsitive Veterinary Dentistry Podcast, host Benita Altier, LVT, VTS (Dentistry) sits down with Heidi Olivier, CVT, VTS (Dentistry) to explore the essential role veterinary technicians play in the treatment of periodontal disease. PerioVive Research Hyaluronic Acid Literature Review: Recently published in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry.Hyaluronic Acid Literature Review: Recently published by Pilloni on HA in periodontal therapy.Stomatitis Study Res...
4 Mar 2026
"Tooth Fractures in Dogs and Cats and the Veterinary Technicians Role in Endodontics" with Amy Edwards RVT VTS Dentistry
Send us Fan Mail Tooth fractures are among the most common findings in veterinary dentistry — and among the most painful conditions our patients experience. In this episode of the Pawsitive Veterinary Dentistry Podcast, host Benita Altier, LVT, VTS (Dentistry), is joined by Amy Edwards, RVT, VTS (Dentistry), to discuss the veterinary technician’s role in recognizing tooth fractures, understanding fracture classifications, and supporting the dental team in caring for fractured teeth in dogs an...
21 Feb 2026
Dentistry on the Wild Side with Loic Legendre
Send us Fan Mail Dentistry on the Wildside | Wildlife, Zoo & Exotic Animal Dentistry with Dr. Loïc Legendre What does it take to perform dentistry on a tiger… a bear… or a rabbit? In this episode of the Pawsitive Veterinary Dentistry Podcast, I sit down with Loïc Legendre, DVM, DAVDC, DEVDC, AVDC-ZWD, a globally respected boarded veterinary dentist with advanced credentials in Zoo and Wildlife Dentistry. Dr. Legendre practices at West Coast Veterinary Dental Services Ltd., a specialty den...
1 Feb 2026
Dental Care for Aging Pets, Clinical Decisons that Matter with Dr. Heidi Lobprise DAVDC
Send us Fan Mail Dr. Lobprise is a 1983 Texas A & M graduate. She became board-certified in dentistry in 1993 after 20 years of practice. After 10 years in industry and teaching, she returned to dental specialty practice in 2014, semi-retired. She is the author/co-author of three dental texts, has written many chapters and articles, and has lectured internationally. She also written articles and chapters and lectured about senior pet care, including the newly released Small Animal Senior ...
15 Jan 2026
"Reading Between the Roots" Common Interpretation Errors in Veterinary Dental Radiography
Send us Fan Mail Dental radiographs only improve patient care if we understand what we’re truly seeing. In this episode of the Pawsitive Veterinary Dentistry Podcast, Benita Altier is joined by Brenda Mulherin, DVM, DAVDC, boarded veterinary dentist, professor at Iowa State University, and author of Veterinary Oral Diagnostic Imaging, for an in-depth discussion on common interpretation errors in veterinary dental radiography. Together, they explore why image quality matters, how cognitive bia...
29 Dec 2025
"The Perfect Partnership" The General Practice-Dental Specialty Referral Relationship
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Pawsitive Veterinary Dentistry Podcast, host Benita Altier sits down with Dr. Naomi Hoyer, DVM, DAVDC, to explore the vital relationship between general practitioners and specialty veterinary dentistry. Together, they discuss how to recognize when a dental referral is appropriate, what the referral process actually looks like, and how collaborative case management can lead to better outcomes for everyone involved — the general practitioner, the client, ...
4 Dec 2025
Pawsitive Veterinary Dentistry Introduction
Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Pawsitive Veterinary Dentistry Podcast | Episode 0 Join host Benita Altier, a Licensed Veterinary Technician and Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in Dentistry, as she introduces the Pawsitive Veterinary Dentistry Podcast. Discover the often-overlooked importance of dental health in pets and get a preview of in-depth discussions with leaders in the field. Learn about dental pathology, radiology, anesthesia, practice growth strategies, and more. Get ready to en...
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Contact Pawsitive Veterinary Dentistry “The podcast for veterinary dental teams—hosted by Benita Altier, LVT, VTS (Dentistry).”
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