How to Build a Career in Veterinary Dentistry

Periodontal disease is considered the most common clinical disease affecting adult dogs and cats, with studies estimating it affects most pets over three years of age. With the high rate of oral diseases in animals, the demand for specialized veterinary dentists is increasing with time.

If you are wondering how to build a career in veterinary dentistry, you are looking at one of the most specialized fields in companion animal medicine, with room for veterinary students, general practice DVMs, and credentialed vet techs alike.

This guide walks through what the role actually looks like day to day, the education and certification path recognized by the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC), realistic salary ranges, and where to find free continuing education to get started.

What Does a Veterinary Dentist Do?

A veterinary dentist manages the full scope of oral health in animals, including periodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, orthodontics, restorative work, and oral diagnostic imaging such as dental radiography and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). That scope covers everything from routine dental cleanings and extractions to jaw fracture repair, root canals, and correcting dental abnormalities in animals.

Most board-certified veterinary dentists work in one of three settings:

• Specialty referral practice: Receiving referrals from GPs for more sophisticated procedures
• Routine duties of academia: Teaching veterinary students and residents as well as running a teaching hospital caseload.
• Research institutions and academic settings, where specialists conduct research, publish scientific literature, and help advance standards of veterinary dental care. 

A career in animal dentistry also includes equine work. Since 2014, AVDC has identified equine dentistry as a distinct specialty from the small animal specialty. This demonstrates that veterinary dentistry has come far from just caring for cats and dogs. 

Veterinary Dentistry Education Requirements

The education requirements for a veterinary dentist begin just like all veterinary jobs. Having a DVM degree is a must to become a veterinary dentist. Once veterinarians have obtained a DVM, they attend postgraduate programs in dentistry. 

Here’s the breakdown of the educational journey.

• High school: A strong foundation in biology, chemistry, and math
• Bachelor's degree: Most applicants complete a four-year undergraduate degree with pre-veterinary coursework, though some vet schools accept applicants after three years
• DVM from an AVMA-accredited College of Veterinary Medicine: Four years of veterinary school culminating in a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree
• Specialty training through an AVDC-registered residency: The residency and credentialing process described below, which typically adds another three to five years after graduation

Note that there is no shortcut around veterinary school. Every path to board certification in veterinary dentistry begins with a full DVM. 

How to Become a Veterinary Dentist: Step by Step

If you are thinking about how to become a vet dentist, here is the credentialing sequence set by the AVDC (the organization that governs veterinary dentist training in North America).

1. Earn your DVM. Graduate from an AVMA-accredited college of veterinary medicine and hold a license to practice in a US state, Canadian province, or another recognized jurisdiction.
2. Complete an internship or equivalent clinical experience. You need either a formal 12-month rotating internship covering a broad range of clinical services or a minimum of 18 months in general small animal practice that exposes you to a wide variety of case types.
3. Secure a residency registered with the AVDC. You will need a diplomate willing to serve as your residency supervisor, and your program (private practice, university, or specialty hospital) must be registered with AVDC before you start.
4. Complete residency. The minimum length of full-time residencies is 30 months, and most veterinary dental training programs typically take three to five years in total, including part-time schedules, case log requirements, and exam preparation. Residents must document supervised training in anesthesia, surgery, and diagnostic imaging as required by AVDC credentialing standards and submit full sets of full-mouth radiographs for review from time to time.
5. Meet credentialing requirements and pass the AVDC examinations. This includes an approved scholarly publication that satisfies AVDC credentialing requirements approved by the Credentials Committee, plus passing both phases of the board examination. Once you clear both phases, you become a Diplomate of the AVDC, or DAVDC.

Because specialty titles are protected under AVMA ethics guidelines, it is important to note that you cannot describe yourself as "board eligible" or a "veterinary dental specialist" at any point before your certification is formally awarded.

Veterinary Dentistry Certification (AVDC Board Certification)

AVDC board certification is the credential that turns a general practitioner into a recognized specialist. AVDC is recognized by the American Board of Veterinary Specialties as the certification body for veterinary dentistry in North America, and it offers board certification in two tracks: Non-Species Specific Dentistry and Equine Dentistry.

• The original AVDC diploma is Small Animal / Non-Species Specific Dentistry.
• The formal recognition of the specialty of Equine Dentistry was in 2014 by the American Board of Veterinary Specialties. 

To be credentialed in either track, candidates submit case logs; full-mouth radiograph sets (dogs and cats for small animals and horses for equines); documentation of the 40-hour anesthesia, surgery, and radiology requirements under relevant diplomates; and at least one credentials committee-approved publication.

Once awarded, Diplomates may use the titles "Diplomate AVDC (DAVDC)," "Board Certified Veterinary Dentist," or "Veterinary Dental Specialist." Some dentists hold dual-track certification in both small animal and equine dentistry, which comes with its own recertification schedule.

Skills Every Veterinary Dentist Needs

Dentistry in the exam room is very different from what you learn in textbooks. Every patient presents unique challenges, and real-world experience makes a difference.

Beyond the formal credential, the day-to-day demands of the specialty call for a specific merge of veterinary dentistry skills:

• Surgical precision is a must. Oral and maxillofacial procedures often involve delicate structures with little margin for error
• Radiographic interpretation and reading dental films along with CBCT scans to catch disease that is invisible on an oral exam alone
• Anesthetic protocols and pain management, because nearly every dental procedure of consequence is performed under general anesthesia
• Client communication and translating complex oral pathology into terms pet owners can act on
• Research and literature fluency, since the field evolves quickly and Diplomates are expected to stay updated and, in many cases, contribute original publications

Continuing Education & Professional Development in Veterinary Dentistry

Whether you are maintaining your diplomate status or preparing for a veterinary dentistry residency, continuing education helps expand your knowledge and sharpen your clinical skills. 

Vet and Tech offers free, RACE-approved veterinary dentistry webinars as part of its dentistry learning track, with sessions led by recognized names in the field, including Jeanne Perrone, Jennifer R. Mathis, Jan Bellows, and Ira Luskin. These dentistry webinars cover everything from positioning for dental radiography to advanced periodontal technique, and they count toward the continuing education hours many licensing boards require for license renewal.

If you are working toward a residency, building your dental radiography skills, or simply want to sharpen the dental care you provide in general practice, explore Vet and Tech's upcoming veterinary dentistry webinars and register for free CE credit.

Veterinary Dentistry Salary & Job Outlook

Veterinary dentistry salary data varies widely depending on the source and methodology, so it is worth looking at more than one estimate rather than anchoring to a single number.

As per Indeed stats for 2026, veterinary dentists in the United States earn between $205,165 and $294,509 per year, depending on their experience, location, and type of practice.

Salary estimates vary by source. According to ZipRecruiter, veterinary dentists in the United States earn an average annual salary of $189,979, with top earners making as much as $338,500 per year. 

Veterinary dentistry remains a rapidly expanding specialty. The AVDC residency program reflects a steady demand for board-certified veterinary dentists. The addition of the equine dentistry track is another sign that the field continues to grow and create new opportunities.

Veterinary Dentistry Career Path & Advancement

There is more than one entry point into this field, and the veterinary dentistry career path looks a little different depending on where you start.

• For DVMs, general practice with a dental focus, then residency, and then diplomate status are required. From there, many dentists move into academia, pursue an oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) credential, focus on research, or open their own specialty referral practice.
• For veterinary technicians, the parallel track runs through vet tech specialties such as the VTS (Dentistry) credential rather than the DVM path. It is a strong option for techs who want deep dental expertise without pursuing veterinary school. For a full breakdown of that route, see our guide to Vet Tech Specialties.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to become a veterinary dentist?

Expect roughly eleven to thirteen years: four years of undergraduate study, four years of veterinary school, and then a minimum 30-month residency (most veterinary dentist training programs run closer to three to five years once internship or practice experience, case logs, and exam preparation are included).

How much does a veterinary dentist earn?

Veterinary dentist salaries vary based on experience, location, employer, and the source of the salary data. According to Indeed (2026), veterinary dentists in the United States typically earn between $205,165 and $294,509 per year. ZipRecruiter reports an average annual salary of $189,979, with top earners making as much as $338,500 per year. Board-certified specialists working in referral hospitals, universities, or high-demand regions often earn salaries at the upper end of these ranges. 

Is veterinary dentistry a good career?

Yes. Veterinary dentistry offers strong earning potential, growing demand for board-certified specialists, and opportunities to work with companion animals, horses, and other species. It also provides a career path focused on advanced procedures, research, teaching, and continuing education, making it an attractive option for veterinarians seeking a specialized field. 

What's the difference between a vet who does dentistry and a board-certified veterinary dentist?

Any licensed veterinarian can perform routine dental cleanings and basic extractions. A board-certified veterinary dentist has completed an AVDC-registered residency, met all credentialing requirements, and passed the AVDC examinations, earning the protected title of Diplomate AVDC (DAVDC). AVMA ethics rules prohibit veterinarians from implying specialist status before that certification is actually awarded.

Do you need a residency to specialize in veterinary dentistry?

Yes. Board certification requires either a formal AVDC-registered residency or, historically, an alternate pathway combining extensive practice experience with the same credentialing requirements; board certification is now obtained through an AVDC-registered residency.