Dr. Bailey links AI, dental awareness, and year-round oral care

AVMA President Dr. Michael Bailey used a February 27 Goodnewsforpets interview tied to Pet Dental Health Month to make two points: AI is starting to shape veterinary dentistry, and dental care needs to be treated as year-round preventive medicine, not a once-a-year awareness campaign. Bailey said AI’s near-term value is likely to be in improving diagnosis, expanding access to specialist input through image sharing, and eventually helping clinicians plan care more precisely, while stressing that “the human is the gold standard” and should remain in the loop. He also argued that much of dental disease is hidden below the gumline, reinforcing the role of anesthetized exams and radiographs in finding pathology that pet parents can’t see. (goodnewsforpets.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, Bailey’s comments land at the intersection of client education, workflow, and standards of care. AAHA and the American Veterinary Dental College continue to emphasize that comprehensive dental care requires anesthesia, full-mouth intraoral radiographs, and subgingival treatment, while recent industry commentary suggests AI tools may help practices interpret dental images faster, support less-experienced teams, and improve case acceptance through annotated reports. That’s especially relevant as dentistry remains common in general practice but often underused or delayed, despite most dogs and cats showing some periodontal disease by age 3. (aaha.org)

What to watch: Watch for broader adoption data, validation studies, and practice-level evidence showing whether AI dental imaging tools actually shorten procedure time, improve diagnostic consistency, or change treatment acceptance in general practice. (goodnewsforpets.com)