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AZ Veterinary Dental Specialists

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Tucson, AZ
AZ Veterinary Dental Specialists

We are proud to provide high-quality specialty oral care in Arizona We provide general and specialized dental care and oral surgery for dog and cats.

At Arizona Veterinary Dental Specialists, we are all pet owners, and very much understand it can feel uncomfortable to bring your pet to the vet dentist. At our three Phoenix area locations, our doctors are board-certified specialists in veterinary dentistry and are highly experienced in every aspect of veterinary dentistry including pet dental cleanings, periodontal disease, fractured teeth, oral

cancers, and oral-maxillofacial trauma, and anesthesia. Do Painful Dental Conditions Develop Gradually or Suddenly? Many painful dental conditions develop gradually, and are more common in middle-aged and older pets. As a result, behavior that the owner interprets as “acting grumpy” may be the result of dental pain. Owners often observe that their pet acts “years younger” following dental treatment. What are the Signs of Oral and Dental Diseases in Dogs and Cats:
• Biggest sign - Bad breathe
• Loose teeth or teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar
• Your pet shies away from you when you touch the mouth area
• Drooling or dropping food from the mouth
• Loss of appetite or loss of weight
• Bleeding from the mouth

How Does My Pet Keep His Teeth Healthy? In addition to your pet’s annual dental check-ups, regular pet dental care at home is an important part of maintaining your dog or cat's oral health. As well, we carry a variety of Veterinary Oral Health Council approved dietary products to help you keep your pet's teeth as healthy as possible. Feel Free to Contact Us for Your Pet’s Dentistry Health and Schedule an Appointment!

08/27/2026

Meet Tucker! 🐶 He’s a 3-year-old from who was referred to us after his vet noticed an area in his mouth that needed a closer look.

What seemed like one obvious issue turned out to be more complicated once we took a deeper look with advanced imaging. Tucker had unerupted teeth and dentigerous cysts hiding beneath the surface. A dentigerous cyst can form around a tooth that never erupted (broke through the gums). It may develop quietly, but over time it can severely damage nearby bone and teeth.

Just look at Tucker's imaging (shared with his owner's permission). Tucker’s story is a good reminder that missing teeth, swelling, or anything unusual in the mouth should always be checked out. 🦷

Finding these problems early can make a big difference when it comes to your pet's comfort, treatment plan, and overall long-term oral health.

08/25/2026

🔹That’s a wrap on the 2026 Dental Extravaganza!
This year, more than 250 veterinary professionals came together for one full day of CE learning, connection with colleagues and peers and shared expertise.

This year's program welcomed two visiting doctors from outside Arizona alongside returning local leaders, including our own board-certified veterinary dentist and OMFS fellow, Dr. Michael Balke and board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist, Dr. Victoria Lukasik. The sessions also featured a first-ever VTS-Dentistry-led technician track, with presenters including our own Carrie Winckler, a 2026 AVMA Unsung Hero Award recipient.

Thank you so much for coming out - we loved seeing so many members of the veterinary community learning together, exchanging ideas, and building skills that can make a difference for the patients we see every day.

Finally, we want to offer a special thank you to the speakers, sponsors, and organizers who made this incredible day possible!
🏷️

08/18/2026

Anesthesia plays an important role in every dental procedure, especially when a patient needs more specialized care. 🦷

Dr. Victoria Lukasik has spent much of her career providing anesthesia care for patients with complex medical needs through her mobile practice, Southwest Veterinary Anesthesiology.

🔹 Victoria Lukasik, DVM, DACVAA, will present “Veterinary Anesthesia,” a session created for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

Dr. Lukasik is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. She is also a Professor of Practice at the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine and continues to care for patients with higher anesthetic risk every day.

Join us Saturday, August 22, at the Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West.

🎓 Earn 6 hours of CE credit! Register now. Join us August 22!

👉 Learn more at AzvmaClient Challenge
🫱🏽‍🫲🏻 Arizona Veterinary Medical Association

08/13/2026

Kind words from Paisley’s family. 💬

“Everybody at Arizona Vet Dental Specialists are beyond amazing. This is the second time we took our dog there for her teeth cleaning, and we would never even think of going anywhere else. The technology they have and the kindness they show towards our dog cannot be beat anywhere.”

We always love welcoming Paisley back. Knowing her family feels confident in the care she receives means so much to our team. Thank you, Jacquie, for trusting us with your sweet girl. 🐶

💙 Care provided by Lisa Fink, DVM, DAVDC.

08/11/2026

Want to feel more confident taking dental radiographs? 🦷

Carrie Winckler is a Certified Veterinary Technician here at AVDS and holds the advanced designation of Veterinary Technician Specialist in Dentistry.

If that isn't awesome on its own, she is also one of only nine recipients of the 2026 AVMA Unsung Heroes Award, which recognizes her leadership, training, and commitment to helping veterinary teams improve dental care. 🏆

Carrie is a highly trained veterinary technician who specializes in dental care and brings years of practical experience to the technician track.

🔹 Carrie Winckler, CVT, VTS (Dentistry), will present "X-Ray Vision: Secrets to Mastering Dental Radiography.”

Her session will help veterinary technicians strengthen their understanding of dental radiography and feel more confident using these skills in everyday patient care. 🐶😸

📆 Saturday, August 22, 2026
📍 Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West
🎓 This event is approved for 6 CE credit hours by the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association.

Join us August 22nd! Register now.
🫱🏽‍🫲🏻 Arizona Veterinary Medical Association

08/07/2026

Baxter was back for another annual cleaning by Dr. Fink, and we were so happy to hear that the Shafton family felt he was in such good hands.

💬 They said:
“Baxter had another great annual cleaning. Everyone is so good with this crazy boy. Well worth the 45 minute drive for us. Knowing he is well taken care of and monitored the entire time during the procedure.”

💙 Thank you to Baxter’s family for trusting us with his care. He is such a sweet boy, and we’re always happy to see him!

08/04/2026

Dr. Michael Balke will open and close this year’s Dental Extravaganza. 🦷

As Medical Director at Arizona Veterinary Dental Specialists, Dr. Balke brings years of experience in veterinary dentistry including complex oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Michael Balke, DVM, DAVDC, F-OMFS, will present “Oral Tumors, What To Do?” and close the day with “Dental Double Jeopardy: Dental Panel Discussion and Q&A.”

For veterinarians looking to grow their knowledge of complex oral surgery and feel more confident identifying cases that may benefit from a specialist referral, this is a valuable chance to learn from Dr. Balke’s experience.

📆 Saturday, August 22, 2026
📍 Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West
🎓 Earn 6 hours of CE credit

Ready to learn from one of the most highly credentialed doctors at this year’s Dental Extravaganza?

Register now . Don't miss out!
🤝 Arizona Veterinary Medical Association

07/30/2026

Meet Bullet! He's a 7-year-old Dachshund who came to us with an oronasal fistula following the extraction of an upper canine tooth.
💡 Dachshund's are prone to this type of dental condition.

An oronasal fistula is an abnormal opening between the mouth and nasal cavity. Since these openings won't close on their own, surgical repair is necessary to prevent ongoing irritation and infection in Bullet's nasal cavity.

Dr. Malott carefully repaired Bullet’s oronasal fistula, and at his two-week recheck, the site had healed beautifully. We were so happy to see Bullet feeling better and doing great! 💙
💕 Shared with owner permission

07/28/2026

Ready to build your confidence in veterinary dentistry? 🦷 New this year, the 2026 Dental Extravaganza includes an entire lecture track created just for veterinary technicians and hosted by an outstanding group of VTS (Dentistry) techs!

We’re excited to introduce the three VTS (Dentistry) speakers joining this year’s Extravaganza:

🔹 Carrie Winckler, CVT, VTS (Dentistry), from Arizona Veterinary Dental Specialists, will present “X Ray Vision: Secrets to Mastering Dental Radiography.”

🔹 Benita Altier, LVT, VTS (Dentistry), from Pawsitive Dental Education LLC, will present “They Are Not Just Baby Teeth: Pediatric Dentistry in Puppies and Kittens.”

🔹 Stefanie Perry, CVT, VTS (Dentistry), from Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine, will present “Dental Nerve Blocks for Zen Anesthetic Events.”

Join us Saturday, August 22, at the Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West.

🎓 Earn 6 hours of CE credit
Register now. Don’t miss out!
🫱🏽‍🫲🏻 Arizona Veterinary Medical Association

Address

141 E. Ft. Lowell
Tucson, AZ
85705

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+14809411738

Website

https://www.thrivepetcare.com/locations/arizona/tucson/arizona-veterinary-dental-specialists-tucson, http://www.twitter.

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