Veterinary Dental Service And Specialist Joins NorthStar VETS Team

Robbinsville, NJ July 12, 2011 - NorthStar VETS is pleased to announce the addition of their dentistry service and welcome aboard specialist John Lewis, VMD, FAVD, DACVD who will be heading the new department.

Dr. Lewis is a graduate of the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine, where he continues to teach as an assistant professor of dentistry and oral surgery. He is the president of the American Veterinary Dental Society and is an active member of various committees, including the American Veterinary Dental College.

Some of Dr. Lewis’s professional interests include the use of lasers in oral surgery and surgical oncology, or the use of surgery to treat oral cancer. He also studies feline tooth resorption, a condition in which living cells destroy the tooth or root, which can lead to tooth loss. Resorption is a common condition in domestic cats and can spread if left untreated.

NorthStar VETS is equipped with state of the art technology to help diagnose and treat pet’s oral conditions and is proud to add the new service to the wide array of services already available. Dental services that will be offered include cleaning, oral surgery; minimally invasive jaw fracture repair, oral biopsies, dental radiography and CT scans for the head and neck.

According to the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS) 80% of dogs and 70% of cats develop periodontal (gum) disease by the young age of three. Gum disease, also known, as periodontitis and gingivitis, can be a life-threatening condition, as an animal gets older. Bacteria from the mouth that causes tooth decay and tissue damage may enter the bloodstream, causing problems in the heart, liver and kidneys. Pet owners tend to overlook gum disease until it is too late and surgery becomes necessary. Proper dental care can increase a pet’s life by two to five years.

Armed with a brand new dental suite complete with the latest state-of-the-art technology, Dr. Lewis and the NorthStar VETS team are committed to helping pet owners recognize and prevent the dental problems that negatively affect the health and happiness of companion animals.