How to Get Rid of Cavities

What causes cavities?

Dental cavities, or caries, are tiny holes in the hard surface of the teeth. They are caused by bacteria on the surface of teeth creating acid out of sugar. The most common culprit is a bacterium known as Streptococcus mutans.

The bacteria form a sticky film known as plaque. The acids in plaque remove minerals from (demineralize) your enamel — a coating of the teeth made mostly of calcium and phosphate. This erosion causes tiny holes in the enamel. Once the acid damage spreads into the dentin layer underneath the enamel, a cavity forms.

Getting rid of cavities at home

Many home treatments are based off of a studyTrusted Source from the 1930s that suggested that cavities are caused by lack of vitamin D in the diet. In this study, kids who added vitamin D to their diets showed a reduction in cavities. However, those who added vitamin D while also removing grain products from their diets had the best results. This is possibly because grains can stick to the teeth.

Not getting enough vitamin D may make teeth more susceptible to cavities, but we now understand that this is only a part of the puzzle. Other risk factors for cavities include:

• dry mouth or having a medical condition that reduces the amount of saliva in the mouth
• eating foods that cling to teeth, like candy and sticky foods
• frequent snacking on sugary foods or drinks, like soda, cereals, and ice cream
• heartburn (due to acid)
• inadequate cleaning of teeth
• bedtime infant feeding

Can you get rid of cavities at home?

However, some people prefer to use natural home remedies, rather than products containing fluoride. Some of these remedies include:

1. Oil pulling

Oil pulling originated in an ancient system of alternative medicine called Ayurveda. It involves swishing a tablespoon of sesame or coconut oil around in the mouth for a prescribed period, then spitting it out.

While some claims about oil pulling are not scientifically supported, research indicates that it can improve tooth health. A 2009 study found that using sesame oil in the pulling technique reduced the amount of plaque and bacteria to the same extent as mouthwash.

If oil pulling reduces plaque, this may help to remineralize enamel and prevent cavities. More studies are needed to confirm these effects.

2. Aloe vera

Aloe vera tooth gel may help to fight off bacteria that cause cavities. The antibacterial effect of this gel kills harmful bacteria in the mouth, according to a 2015 review.

While more research is needed, aloe vera gel may help to remineralize enamel at the pre-cavity stage.

3. Avoid phytic acid

Phytic acid may damage tooth enamel, and some believe that cutting it out of the diet can prevent tooth decay and cavities.

Phytic acid is most commonly found in cereals and legumes, including the following:

• maize
• wheat
• rice
• rye
• kidney beans
• haricot beans
• pinto beans
• navy beans
• blackeye beans
• broad beans

More research is needed to determine whether phytic acid affects the minerals in tooth enamel.

4. Avoid sugary foods and drinks

Consumption of sugar is among the leading causes of cavities. Sugar mixes with bacteria in the mouth and forms an acid, which wears down tooth enamel.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommend that people prevent cavities by consuming fewer sugary foods and drinks, this 2016 review notes.

Getting Preventative Care

Get a dental check-up every 6 months.

During these visits your dentist will check on any past work that’s been done and look for any potential problems. They may suggest a treatment plan that requires additional visits or even give you medication to fight any infections.

• For example, if your dentist suspects gingivitis, they may give you a prescription mouthwash to use.
• Getting twice yearly teeth cleanings also prevents the accumulation of plaque, which can lead to cavities.

Take any mouthwashes as directed by your dentist.

If you are prescribed a mouthwash by your dentist, use it according to their directions and do not cut the treatment short. A mouthwash can prepare your mouth for surgery or it can help you to avoid infections afterwards. It might also reduce the possibility of other teeth rotting.

• The mouthwash will likely come with a dosage cup for you to use and specific instructions regarding how long and how often to rinse.

Ask for fluoride treatments.

Your dentist can apply a fluoride treatment to your teeth during a regular office visit. This coating protects your teeth from additional rotting, and can make fillings last longer. Fluoride carries very few side effects.

• Ask your dentist about fluoride toothpaste. This is a great way to get extra fluoride if a coating treatment is not an option.
• If your child is suffering from rotting teeth, be careful when using fluoride toothpaste or treatments. Exposing a child to extra fluoride can actually speed up any damage to teeth.

Consider getting your teeth professionally sealed.

This is a coating that your dentist applies with a small brush to your teeth. It takes only minutes, but it can protect your teeth from additional damage. Getting your back teeth (molars) sealed is an especially good idea.

• Most dentists will not seal teeth that are already beginning to rot due to cavities. This would only trap the bad bacteria inside. Talk with your dentist about other options for those damaged teeth.

Request a deep gum cleaning from your dentist.

If your rotting teeth are due to persistent gum problems, your dentist may be able to slow the decay by cleaning inside the gum flaps. This is an in-office procedure where your dentist will pull your gums away from your teeth and use tools to clean the exposed areas.

How does a cavity develop?

When a tooth is exposed to acid frequently — for example, if you eat or drink often, especially foods or drinks containing sugar and starches — the repeated cycles of acid attacks cause the enamel to continue to lose minerals. A white spot may appear where minerals have been lost. This is a sign of early decay.

Tooth decay can be stopped or reversed at this point. Enamel can repair itself by using minerals from saliva, and fluoride from toothpaste or other sources.

But if the tooth decay process continues, more minerals are lost. Over time, the enamel is weakened and destroyed, forming a cavity. A cavity is permanent damage that a dentist has to repair with a filling.

Options for restoring damaged or lost teeth

Your permanent teeth are designed to last for the rest of your life. But, sometimes, circumstances can keep your teeth from surviving as long as you do. There are a number of reasons why a tooth might be damaged, from tooth decay to gum disease and from an injury to biting down on something hard.

Although once upon a time, you might have simply  had to live with a missing or otherwise damaged tooth, these days you have more options than ever when it comes to repairing or restoring the tooth. The option that is best for you depends on the extent of the damage and on how long you want the restoration to last.

FILLING

When you think of ways to repair or restore damaged teeth, a filling might be the first thing that comes to mind. It’s certainly the most common dental restoration option. While fillings won’t restore or replace entire teeth, they are used to correct damage caused by tooth decay. If you  have a cavity, for example, your dentist will most likely  use a filling to correct it.

Fillings are available in a variety of options and materials. Silver amalgam fillings were once fairly common, as they are cheap, easy to apply and pretty durable. The drawback of silver fillings is that they are clearly visible on the tooth. Composite resin or porcelain fillings might not have the durability of silver amalgam fillings, but they are usually the same color as the tooth and much less noticeable.

BONDING

Bonding is a quick option for restoring a chipped or broken tooth. The treatment involves applying a composite resin to the affected tooth, then shaping the resin until the issue with the tooth is corrected. A dentist can use bonding to reattach a piece of the tooth that has broken off or to fill in a chip or crack.

One advantage of bonding is that it is usually a one-and-done treatment. A patient only  has to go in for treatment or correction once. There’s no need to wait for a replacement restoration to come in from the lab or for the patient to return for a follow-up.

CROWNS

While bonding or a filling might be sufficient to correct smaller issues on the teeth or to fix small areas of decay, a more extensive restoration is often needed when there is a considerable amount of decay. In some cases, a crown, which covers, or “caps,” the top of the tooth might be what a patient needs when there is a lot of decay or when the tooth cracks.

A crown is made to fit perfectly in the patient’s mouth and is often colored to match the shade of a person’s teeth. For the most part, other people aren’t able to tell that someone has a crown, unless that person decides to share the news.

Although crowns are fairly durable and can last for many years, you do want to take care to protect yours. Avoid chomping down on hard objects, chewy foods or pieces of ice. If you’re a teeth grinder, talk to your dentist about wearing a night guard or finding other ways to relax your jaw.

DENTURES

Dentures are designed to replace missing teeth completely. Depending on how many teeth a person is missing, he or she can have a full set of dentures, a single denture, or a partial set. Although dentures are meant to replace the entire tooth, they are also designed to be removable, so they aren’t anchored to the gums by a root. Instead, they are often held in place by pastes or clips.

One major advantage of dentures is that they are often an affordable restoration option. But, they also have several drawbacks. Since they aren’t a permanent part of a person’s mouth, they can move around, cause wear and tear on the surrounding teeth, and are generally uncomfortable. There have also been instances of people accidentally swallowing their dentures, if they didn’t take the dentures out at night or if the dentures came loose while eating.

IMPLANTS

You might think of dental implants as dentures’ more sophisticated younger sibling. They are more expensive than dentures, but they also have a number of benefits. For one thing, an implant replaces the damaged or otherwise lost tooth root, meaning that is firmly positioned in a person’s bone and gums, then covered with a realistic looking crown. Since a person can’t remove the implant, there’s no risk of swallowing it. Implants are also much more comfortable than dentures and can be brushed and cared for like the natural teeth.

Cosmetic surgery is on the rise, new data reveal

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons have published new statistics that reveal recent trends in body-shaping procedures. Cosmetic surgical procedures have been on the rise in the U.S. over the past 5 years.

Before getting to the heart of the matter, it is essential to understand the difference between plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic surgery focuses on body enhancement, while plastic surgery reconstructs body parts that have sustained damage due to disease, burns, or trauma.

Motivating factors

The authors of an earlier study in the United Kingdom analyzed 204 questionnaires to identify the factors that drive people to undergo cosmetic surgery.

The questionnaires included questions about self-esteem, life satisfaction, self-rated physical attractiveness, religiosity, attitude toward cosmetic surgery, and media consumption.

The researchers wanted to understand which factors influenced a person’s likelihood of opting for cosmetic surgery. They were also keen to determine the factors that affected people’s perceived benefits of undergoing these procedures.

The results showed that religious beliefs and low self-esteem were significant predictors of likelihood, while predictors for perceived benefits included religiousness, media consumption, life satisfaction, and biological sex.

What the data shows

According to the ASPS, 1.8 million cosmetic surgical procedures were done last year. The top 5:

• breast augmentation (up 4% from 2017)
• liposuction (up 5%)
• nose reshaping (down 2%)
• eyelid surgery (down 1%)
• tummy tuck (about the same)

Body-sculpting procedures such as buttock augmentations, which improve the contour, size, or shape of your butt, and thigh lifts, which reduce excess skin and fat of your upper legs, also saw an increase.

15.9 million minimally-invasive procedures were also performed in 2018. Of them, the most popular procedures were:

• Botox (up 3% from 2017)
• fillers (up 2%)
• chemical peels (up 1%)
• laser hair removal (down 1%)
• microdermabrasion (down 4%)

How Surgical and Non-Surgical Options Work Together

Whether you’re interested in surgical or non-invasive procedures, a board-certified plastic surgeon can help you explore all of your options. Oftentimes, this includes marrying surgical and non-surgical procedures together—for example, performing a facelift but also using fillers in conjunction with the procedure—to achieve optimal results. ASPS member surgeons’ extensive and ongoing training enable them to offer a full range of procedures to meet their patients’ goals.

Board-certified plastic surgeons are on the cutting edge of developing emerging technology and creating the newest advancements in both surgical and non-surgical techniques. Our board-certified plastic surgeons take into account each patient’s specific objective and anatomy to come up with the best course of action to achieve the natural look they want.

About the ASPS Annual Procedural Statistics

ASPS members may report procedural information through the first online national database for plastic surgery procedures, Tracking Operations and Outcomes for Plastic Surgeons (TOPS). This data, combined with an annual survey sent to American Board of Medical Specialties’ certified physicians most likely to perform these procedures, results in the most comprehensive census on plastic surgery.

Plastic Surgery Predictions – HOT Trends in Cosmetic Surgery

COSMETIC INJECTIONS will reach greater levels of capability – and increase in popularity.

More people are realising what cosmetic injections can do for their facial appearance, they will use that method for as long as they can before resorting to facelift and eyelid surgery.  We also expect an increase in combined procedures that involve surgical AND non-surgical options performed closely together in time.  But the biggest change we’ll see in 2019, is how the newest filler injection methods can sculpt features to greatly enhance the face.  This year, it’s all about the diversity of products and technique. Non-Surgical Options will be a starting point before moving towards Cosmetic Surgery Options.

• That’s primarily because non-surgical options work on different aspects of the appearance than surgical methods.
• But some things ARE best treated by cosmetic surgery rather than injections – or a combination of both.
• Puffy eyelids, for example, maybe slightly reduced by cosmetic injections, but typically only a Blepharoplasty will tighten” lift, tighten and reduce the skin that sags to the point it impedes vision or disguises your eyelid and your eyelash line.
• Used together, eye area injections and eye surgery can work ‘magic’ to reduce crows feet, sagging lids and reduce your tired, aged or puffy eyelid appearance.
• Even under-eye bags and dark circles under the eyes can be treated with surgery, injections or a combination of a lower blepharoplasty or canthoplasty AND filler injected into the tear trough area.

More WOMEN will enter Plastic Surgery studies and take Cosmetic Medicine Career Paths

We anticipate that more women will become interested in pursuing Plastic Surgery and Cosmetic Medicine as a surgical career path after studying Medicine.

As you no doubt have read, it’s a long and arduous journey to become recognised by APHRA as a Specialist Plastic, Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgeon with FRACS level qualifications.

So this takes a huge commitment. We are very fortunate and proud to state that we have one of Melbourne’s best known female Plastic Surgeons working at Coco Ruby Plastic Surgery, along with our top team of other Specialists.

Natural Looking Breast Surgery. Bigger breasts will be less popular as  SMALLER BREAST IMPLANT sizes are requested.

Recent Plastic Surgery Trends in Breast Surgery show an increase demand for natural-looking vs fake breast augmentation results. Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to breast enlargement.  A body balanced, the customised approach and natural look will be the trend as the  “fake look” boob job trend further declines. This year, we expect to see more reasonably sized breast augmentations being requested across more diverse age groups.

If you’re trying to determine how large you want to go with implant sizes, it’s good to understand that your ideal breast augmentation preferences are likely influenced by cultural influences, fashion trends, sporting preferences and personal cleavage ideals.

Take home message about this  Plastic Surgery Trend prediction about smaller breast implants being more popular than larger breast implants this year are:

• Sometimes size DOES matter when it comes to getting a natural-looking breast augmentation versus a fake-looking breast job.
• Your body size, not your ideal cup size, needs to be taken into consideration to get a good result.
• BMI also has an impact (your weight or body mass index) as does your chest width, shoulder to waist ratio and other proportions.
• The size of a breast implant can also impact your long-term results.

If you choose an implant that is too large for your body frame, your breasts will not only look unnaturally out of proportion, they might contribute to short-lived surgery success such as a double-bubble or bottoming out.

Patients Use Own Fat to Fill and Sculpt

From body fat reduction to harvesting fat to enhance other parts of the body, the data shows new cosmetic procedural trends related to the role of fat in body shaping.

One trend we are seeing with fat involves an increase in fat grafting procedures. Plastic surgeons harvest a patient’s unwanted fat from their abdomen using liposuction and then inject it to lift and rejuvenate other areas such as the face, buttock and even the breast. Because the material injected is the patient’s own fat the results typically last longer than fillers.

• Minimally invasive cosmetic fat injections increased 13%
• Buttock augmentation using fat grafting increased 26%
• Breast augmentation using fat grafting increased 72%
•  

Newer, non-invasive fat reduction and skin tightening procedures are gaining popularity among patients:

• Injection-based procedures that target fat pockets in specific areas such as under the chin, increased 18%
• Non-invasive fat reduction procedures that use special technology to “freeze” fat without surgery increased 5%
• Non-invasive skin tightening procedures that target fat and tighten sagging areas increased 5%

Key Facts About Chiropractors

History of chiropractic

The chiropractic profession was established long ago in 1895 by Daniel David Palmer who realized that though chiropractic techniques had been used for thousands of years, no one had looked at the rationale to explain their effects.

He performed his first adjustment as an established chiropractor in 1895, improving the hearing of a deaf janitor who had suffered from back pain for over 17 years.

The profession became licensed, and today there are more than 70,000 active chiropractic licenses in the United States!

Key Facts and Figures About the Chiropractic Profession

Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. These disorders include, but are not limited to: back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches. Doctors of chiropractic (DCs) practice a conservative approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. DCs have broad diagnostic skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, lifestyle and dietary counseling.

• There are more than 70,000 chiropractors in the United States who are required to pass a series of four national board exams  and be state licensed. Roughly another 3,000 chiropractors work in academic and management roles. 
• There are approximately 10,000 chiropractic students  in 18 nationally accredited, chiropractic doctoral graduate education programs  across the United States with 2,500 chiropractors entering the workforce every year.
• An estimated 40,000 chiropractic assistants (CAs)are in clinical  and business management roles for chiropractic practices across the United States.
• It is estimated that chiropractors treat more than 35 million Americans (adults and children) annually.  
• Chiropractors are educated in nationally accredited, four-year doctoral graduate school programs  through a curriculum that includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical internship,  with the average DC program equivalent in classroom hours to allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical schools.
• Chiropractors are designated as physician-level providers in the vast majority of states and federal Medicare program. The essential services provided by chiropractors are also available in federal health delivery systems, including those administered by Medicaid, the U.S. Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, Federal Workers’ Compensation, and all state workers’ compensation programs.

What Disorders Do Chiropractors Treat?

Chiropractors diagnose and treat many different spinal disorders that cause musculoskeletal or nerve pain. Similar to other types of doctors, a chiropractor performs a physical and neurological examination as part of his or her process of making an accurate diagnosis. X-rays or CT scan studies may be ordered to confirm your diagnosis. This article highlights several spine-related problems that may be evaluated and treated by chiropractic care.

Back sprains and strains are experienced by approximately three out of four adults. Sprains are caused when ligaments—the tough bands of tissue that hold bones together—become overstretched or torn. Strains involve a muscle and/or a tendon.  Either one can occur when you lift too much weight, play a strenuous sport, or even bend or twist improperly during regular activities during the day. The pain may be aching, burning, stabbing, tingling, sharp, or dul

Cervicogenic headaches are caused by referred neck pain. The pain from this type of headache is usually felt at the back of the head, in the temples, and/or behind the eyes. A cervicogenic headache may be mistaken for migraines or cluster headaches.

Coccydynia is pain that develops in the spine’s tailbone. Some people who fall down or who ride a bike for a long time may develop coccydynia, which can get worse when sitting.  Sometimes the pain begins without any known cause.

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is usually associated with aging.  As you become older, your intervertebral discs— the pillow-like cushions between your vertebrae—can degenerate or break down due to years of strain, overuse, or misuse. The discs may lose flexibility, elasticity, and shock absorption. They also become thinner as they dehydrate.

Herniated disc usually occurs in the neck or low back. A herniated disc can cause pain when the outer ring (annulus) or interior matter (nucleus pulposus) presses on a nearby nerve root.

Myofascial pain is a chronic pain disorder where pressure on sensitive points in your muscles—called trigger points—can cause deep, aching pain in seemingly unrelated parts of your body. This is known as referred pain. Sometimes myofascial pain feels like a “knot” in your muscle, and occurs after a muscle is used repeated

A CHIROPRACTOR OR A MASSAGE THERAPIST: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

What most chiropractors and massage therapists have in familiar is; they use their hands to treat you, both of the treatments have immediate effect and they provide drug-free alternatives to pain management.

What differs them from one another is that chiropractors are focusing on manipulating hard tissues (your bones), while massage therapists work on your muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

The main goal of a chiropractor is to release subluxations in the spine to make sure that your body and your nervous system are at their optimal level. Massage therapist is focusing on treating muscular conditions only and they aim to relieve muscle pain, tension, and stiffness.

Is chiropractic subluxation theory really so different? How many chiropractors even believe it?

I’ve heard many chiropractors scoff dismissively that “most chiropractors don’t believe subluxation theory anymore anyway.” Even if they are right, it admits that the profession is still burdened with a faction that does believe. But it’s not that small a faction. In fact, it’s probably a large one, between those who vocally defend the original, untainted theory and those who avoid the term because of its baggage but still believe it quietly, or who reject the most extreme versions but are still deeply influenced by the theory.

Openly defending the original chiropractic subluxation theory are many chiropractors who often call themselves “straight” chiropractors, meaning “pure.” Straights subscribe to the full, traditional “subluxation theory” more or less exactly as formulated more than a hundred years ago, they practice “subluxation-based chiropractic,” and they definitely think of a chiropractic subluxation as being fundamentally different than how a doctor would define subluxation. They believe that subluxations cause not only back and neck pain, but practically any health problem, simply by impinging or irritating spinal nerve roots.

Steps To Take When Choosing A Good Vet

Whether you’re a new pet owner or have owned several pets for years, it’s a good idea to select a veterinarian before you actually need one. This way, you’ll be working with someone who you feel comfortable with and seems to have a good rapport with your pet rather than a vet who is simply nearby, open, or listed first in the Yellow Pages

Check Out The Website

Look at each veterinarian’s website for a glimpse of the vet’s personality, staff, and capacity. While someone can be an excellent vet and still have a less-than-impressive website, it’s still a quick way to narrow down a long list

Ask For Recommendations

There are plenty of resources you can use to get recommendations for a vet. Many animal-centered organizations, like pet shelters, boarding businesses, and grooming salons, as well as other pet owners, will generally be happy to provide you with the name of the vet they know and trust.

Understand How The Clinic Operates

Vet clinics can be run using a range of business methods, and you want to find the one that best suits your needs. Call the clinic and speak to the office manager or similar authority figure. Ask questions about hours, overnight care practices, billing details, and any other services associated with the clinic.

Meet With Each Vet

Once you have a short list of possible veterinarians for your dog, make appointments to meet with each vet. Schedule some time to talk with the vets without your pet. Ask a series of questions about important topics, such as their training, whether they participate in continuing education, their approach to treating pets, and the variety of services their vet clinic provides

How to Choose a Veterinarian

I’m going to take a guess that you’d rather not find yourself poking through Yelp reviews for a good vet the morning after your dog has kept you up all night having diarrhea. (Yes, my insight is amazing!) The best time to pick a vet is, of course, before you even have a dog. Or, if you happen to have found the world’s cutest Dogalini on the street, then start looking for a vet about 5 minutes after you get her home. Or, if you’re moving, then start new-vet-shopping right about the time you start to pack.

Ask for Referrals

Your friends probably aren’t vet-evaluating experts any more than you are, but they can tell you whether the vet or the techs in an office manhandle the animals or coax them into cooperating, whether the office returns calls promptly, and how good the vet is at explaining health issues.

Check Qualifications and Expertise

DVMs and VMDs are the general practitioners of the veterinary world. But you’ll find many who treat only “small animals” (a label that stretches to include your 130-pound Mastiff). Also, some vets work mainly with dogs, or cats, or “exotics.” A species-limited vet can be a big plus. Doctors for humans work with just one species, of course, and can usually use words to communicate with their patients. A general practice vet, on the other hand, has to cultivate knowledge about several species, and not one of his patients can say to him, “Doc, it’s a chronic burning pain and it started last Tuesday.” So it can be a big plus if your vet limits her practice to a few species, or just one.

Get a Tour

Call in advance, explain that you’re a prospective client, and set a convenient appointment – you don’t want to show up in the middle of an emergency, or at a just plain busy time. The whole clinic should be clean, of course. Do cut them some slack if a sick animal just vomited, urinated, or defecated, but overall the place shouldn’t reek. On your tour, keep a sharp eye out for the surgery room or suite. It should be squeaky clean, not used for storage or as a hangout for the office cat. If there’s a surgery taking place, you won’t be going in, but take the opportunity to make sure the office practices good sterile technique. Look for a full gown, mask, and gloves, not just a scrub top.

Ask About Pain Management

Weirdly specific, you think? Nope. Not only is pain a huge issue for sick animals, old animals, and animals recovering from surgery, but also how pain is managed tells you a lot about how up to speed a veterinary practice is. Once upon a time, in the Dark Ages, vets used to shy away from pain meds because they believed that animals in pain would remain quiet and thus heal more quickly. Notice I call that the Dark Ages: The truth is that good pain control speeds recovery and lowers the odds of certain complications, both in people and in other animals. As a behavior specialist, I often see pain contributing to aggression and other problems, as well.

Steps to Finding the Perfect Vet

When I adopted my first dog, Ralph, over 10 years ago, I had no idea how to choose a vet. How do you know what kind of practitioner is best for your particular dog, and once you choose one, how do you know if you’ve made the right choice? I complicated matters with several cross-country moves, which meant finding a new vet in a new place each time. We’ve also added to the family with another dog, Radar, and three rascally cats. Needless to say, after many years, many moves, and many veterinarians, I’ve become something of an expert on selecting the perfect vet for my pet family.

Know your pet’s needs in advance

Before you start visiting veterinary practices and asking questions, make a list of priorities for you and your pet. This will help you ask the right questions as you narrow down your options

Here’s my own checklist of veterinarian must-haves (but keep in mind yours may vary depending on your dog):

Knowledge and support for select holistic/alternative treatments, balanced with up-to-date facilities and cutting edge medical technologies and care.

Generous appointment times (I ask a lot of questions, and there’s nothing worse than feeling rushed at the vet).

Support for area pet rescue organizations (it’s important to me that my vet be invested in the local animal welfare community).

Smaller practice. I’m at the vet pretty frequently with my gaggle of pets, so I prefer a place where I know I can see the same doctor every visit and develop a friendly relationship with the staff. Many larger veterinary hospitals offer incredible care (and greater flexibility in scheduling), so it really comes down to personal preference.

How to start (and narrow down) the search

Once you’ve zeroed in on what you want from a veterinarian, it’s time to actually find a few candidates. Good old fashioned word-of-mouth is the best place to start.

Schedule a tour

Once you’ve found one or two potential vets, plan a facility visit without your dog to get a feel for the place itself. Any reputable veterinary practice will be more than happy to show you around and make you feel welcome

Tips for Choosing the Right Vet for Your Pet

When it comes to choosing a vet for your pet, it’s important to choose a veterinarian you can trust, and who you feel you would have a connection with. They’ll be responsible taking care of your best friend’s medical needs to ensure they live a long, happy and healthy life, especially when it comes to emergency care. It makes sense that you take the time to research the vets in your area to find the one that best works for you and your needs.

Establish the kind of care your pet needs

Not all vets treat every type of animal, so you’ll need a vet that deals with your pet’s species. You also need to think about the care that your pet will need. Do they need just routine care, or do they have a specialist condition that will require a different level of care?

Establish the vet’s accreditation and experience

Before you consider any veterinarian practice, check that they’re accredited by the Accreditation Program for Australian Veterinarians (APAV). You may also want to check out the qualifications held by the vet, and the veterinary assistants and nurses. The length of time the staff stay with the practice should give you an indication of the general working environment within the clinic itself.

How attentive are the staff to your pet?

The level of attention a vet gives to both you and your pet is a crucial factor for finding a great vet. If they are not attentive enough, it’s possible that they may miss vital clues of potentially more serious conditions. Take notice of how the vet and the practice staff interact with animals. Do they show a genuine love and concern for animals? How much time are they prepared to spend with your pet assessing any issues.  You’ll be able to judge this from their body language and the way they treat the animals that come into their surgery.

How attentive are the staff to you?

While it’s important to ensure that your pet is getting the right level of attention from the vet, you also need to feel that they’re able to communicate easily with you. A good relationship with your vet relies on communication, shared values, and the feeling that you can ask questions when you don’t quite understand what is going on. You need to feel that your vet will listen to your concerns, and give you confidence in the way they diagnose and treat your pet.

How to Choose a Vet

If you are thinking of getting a pet, or already have one, then it is essential to register with a vet. You should do this while the pet is healthy, because it can take time to find the right vet for you and your animal. Don’t wait until the animal is sick to start looking around. When it comes to choosing a vet you need to balance several factors, including convenience, cost, expert knowledge, and compatibility

Keep your type of pet in mind. Not all vets will treat all species. Make sure the vet has experience with your species of pet. For instance, even if a vet has a very good reputation as a canine vet, this is useless if you own a rabbit, because the two species are very different.

Consider practicality. There is little use in registering with a perfect practice if they are a two or three hour drive away. In an emergency situation you may not have two or three hours’ time to spare. Always consider how quickly you can get to the practice in the event of an emergency.

Decide what services you need your vet to provide. If you have a low income, then cost may be a deciding factor. If your pet has a very specific health issue then you will need a vet that has the equipment, and knowledge, to treat that issue.

Make a list of veterinarians in your area. Do an internet search or look at a telephone directory, or the local press for adverts. Most clinics have websites so go to the website to get an idea of how many staff the clinic has, the facilities, specialities, and for the overall feel of the practice.