WSAVA publishes updated dental guidelines with trauma and radiographic sectionsDechra launches Laverdia, the first FDA-approved oral treatment for canine lymphomaA board-certified neurologist presented a seizure protocol built for general practiceGoodVets acquires WellHaven Pet Health, expanding from 75 to 116 hospitals across seven statesGuardianVets reports 34% of after-hours calls convert to primary care appointmentsMethadone infusions matched fentanyl for pain control in 42 dogs after spinal surgery18-element blood panel separated canine prostatic adenocarcinoma from controls in 115-dog studyToday's Veterinary Practice adds podcast interviews with specialistsWSAVA publishes updated dental guidelines with trauma and radiographic sectionsDechra launches Laverdia, the first FDA-approved oral treatment for canine lymphomaA board-certified neurologist presented a seizure protocol built for general practiceGoodVets acquires WellHaven Pet Health, expanding from 75 to 116 hospitals across seven statesGuardianVets reports 34% of after-hours calls convert to primary care appointmentsMethadone infusions matched fentanyl for pain control in 42 dogs after spinal surgery18-element blood panel separated canine prostatic adenocarcinoma from controls in 115-dog studyToday's Veterinary Practice adds podcast interviews with specialists
The WireBy The VeterinaryPracticeNow Desk3 min readSeptember 28, 2026
WSAVA publishes updated dental guidelines with trauma and radiographic sections
The 2026 edition builds on the 2019 guidelines and adds sections on maxillofacial trauma, juvenile pathology, technician roles, and ergonomics.
The 2026 Global Dental Guidelines from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association are now available, building on the 2019 edition. According to WSAVA, the updated version adds "sections on dental and maxillofacial trauma, juvenile pathology, the role of veterinary nurses and technicians in dentistry, and ergonomics," and expands the radiographic interpretation section.
What the update adds to the 2019 edition
WSAVA says "the guidelines cover common conditions, diagnostic procedures, treatment, anesthesia and pain management, home dental care and nutrition." The new sections address gaps the 2019 edition left open: maxillofacial trauma protocols, juvenile oral pathology, and expanded radiographic interpretation guidance. The guidelines also formalize "the role of veterinary nurses and technicians" in dental procedures and add an ergonomics section.
The document emphasizes what WSAVA describes as "the connection between oral health and animal welfare" and outlines risks associated with anesthesia-free dentistry.
Where this lands in the exam room
For the associate two years out, the expanded radiographic interpretation section gives you a reference standard for the dental films you're reading between appointments. The trauma protocols cover the cases that walk in without warning and give you defensible next steps when you're deciding whether to refer or manage in-house.
For the owner-DVM, the technician role clarification matters for workflow and delegation. The guidelines spell out what nurses and technicians can do in dental procedures, which lets you build training and assign tasks with a reference standard. The ergonomics section addresses the physical cost of dental work, which compounds over a career and hits hardest in the practices where the owner is still doing most of the procedures.
Guidelines like these function as reference standards, not mandates. They change how clinics operate because they give you a defensible answer when a client asks why you're doing it this way, or when an associate asks what the protocol is for a case neither of you has seen in six months. This update addresses the cases and delegation questions practices are already facing.
The trauma and radiographic sections fill real gaps. Maxillofacial trauma is common enough that most general practitioners see it, but rare enough that many of us didn't train on it in depth. The expanded radiographic interpretation guidance gives you the confidence to read the films yourself rather than reflexively referring every questionable image.
The ergonomics section is overdue. Dental work is physically demanding, and the repetitive strain accumulates. For mid-career DVMs who plan to stay in clinical practice, ergonomics is not a comfort issue, it is a career-length issue.
"The WSAVA Global Dental Guidelines are one of the most important contributions we can make to veterinary dentistry," says Dr. Brook Niemiec, co-author of the 2026 guidelines. "The first edition was a tremendous success, and we are confident that this updated version will help veterinary professionals strengthen their knowledge, improve the dental care they provide and, ultimately, help their patients live healthier and happier lives."
What to do with this
Download the guidelines and keep them in your clinic's reference library. The next time you're looking at a questionable radiograph or deciding whether to refer a trauma case, you have a standard to check against. If you own the practice, review the technician role section with your head technician and use it to clarify what your techs can do during dental procedures. If you're an associate, the radiographic interpretation section is worth reading through once so you know what it covers when you need it.
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