Patterson Veterinary Hospital, MI

Description of Elective Experience: 

Course Objectives: - Advance the student’s understanding of Small Animal (canine and feline) dental anatomy. - Demonstrate competence with performing and interpreting small animal dentistry diagnostics including probing/charting and dental radiography. - Development of hands-on small animal dental therapeutic skills including dental extraction, dental blocks, oral biopsy and root planing. - Participation in anesthesia training consisting of simulated canine and feline anesthesia episodes. - Development of skills to practice an integrated approach to dental patient care in a clinical practice. - Involvement in clinical dentistry case management and client communication.

Each student will be assigned a HVP practice. They should arrive Monday April 3rd at 8:00 am to their assigned practice. During this week they will shadow their assigned mentor throughout their clinical cases. Participation in the clinical cases will vary. It will be determined by the HVP veterinary mentor, and may be limited based on patient and student safety. There will be no more than 1 student assigned to each practice.

At Patterson Veterinary Hospital, the student will be assigned two dental cases per day.  Under supervision of a veterinarian and licensed veterinary technician, the student will review the patient history, conduct a history and physical exam, consult with the owner, and check in the patient.  The student will then create an anesthetic plan, direct the anesthesia and monitoring conducted by a licensed veterinary technician.  They will obtain and interpret full mouth digital radiographs of each patient and complete a thorough oral examination of the patient under anesthesia. All dental charting will be done in AVIMARK.  The student will create a dental care plan based on the radiographs and examinations, to include prophy and any necessary extractions.  They will complete the procedure and recover the patient.  The student will then prepare discharge instructions, complete any charting, and discharge the patient.  They will then be expected to write a brief case report and present it the following morning during dental rounds with the attending veterinarian.

Institutional and Educational Resources - staffing, equipment, etc.: 

Midmark digital dental x-ray unit.  Full portable compressed air dental unit with high-speed drill.  Electronic Scaler.  Avimark PIMS.  Quality hand tools available.  Digital copies of dental reference materials will be available to the student.  The student will be accompanied by an assigned licensed veterinarian and licensed veterinary technician for the duration of the internship.

Student Responsibilities - what is expected of students in terms of hours, days of the week, shadowing or actual support?: 

Student is expected to be present from 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday the week of the internship.  They will have an assigned dedicated veterinarian and licensed veterinary technician but will conduct all procedures themselves, hands on.

Student Housing (include costs, amenities, pet friendly, contact info if different from elective contact info): 

Hampton Inn  33680 Gratiot Ave, Clinton Twp, MI 48035•(586) 792-1500  Pet Friendly  3.2 miles from the clinic.  Transportation can be provided by Patterson Veterinary Hospital Staff.

There are seven additional hotels of various prices within 7 miles of the clinic.  All of which are pet friendly.

Supervisor: 
Tamara D. Lynch, DVM
Website: 
pattersonveterinaryhospital.com
Address: 
35115 Harper Ave
Clinton Township, MI 48035
United States
Practice or Institution Type: 
Is student housing available?: 
Yes
Hours of supervision by a licensed veterinarian per week: 
40