Veterinary Dentistry

“The consequences of dental disease go way beyond bad breath.”

Dentistry Team Members

Veterinarians
Daniel T. Carmichael, DVM, Dip. AVDC
Wendy Ardolina, DVM (Practice Limited to Dentistry)

Veterinary Technician
Francesca Quinci-Rivera, LVT, VTS (Dentistry), Department Lead LVT
Christine Bauser, LVT                                                                                                                                                                           Danielle Carrick, LVT

Veterinary Assistant
Maria Ramirez

Dental disease is the most common disease of both dogs and cats.  Over 50% of cats and 85% of dogs over the age of 3 require professional dental treatment. The consequences of untreated dental disease can include:

  • Oral pain and infection
  • Tooth loss
  • Systemic infection
  • Diminished quality of life

Veterinary dentists are specially trained to diagnose, prevent, and treat all aspects of oral care in animals. They treat periodontal disease, endodontic disease, oral cancer, jaw fracture, malocclusion (improper alignment), and oral inflammation. Both oral (tooth extraction,  jaw fracture repair) and restorative (root canal treatment, crown therapy) surgeries are performed with equipment and anesthesia equivalent to those found in human dentistry. Animals that receive proper dental care live happier and healthier lives.

The Veterinary Medical Center is fortunate to have Dr. Daniel T. Carmichael,  Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College, as part of our practice. Dr. Carmichael is one of fewer than 100 board-certified veterinary dentists in the world! He is the only  veterinary dental specialist in both Long Island and Manhattan.

Dentistry at the Veterinary Medical Center
Our mission is to provide the highest quality dental care for our patients in partnership with veterinarians of the Long Island and tri-state area.

To ensure professional and attentive care, the Veterinary Medical Center uses state-of-the-art equipment in all dental procedures from routine cleanings to restorative surgery. For patient comfort and safety our dental suite includes heart and blood pressure monitors, patient warming systems, and state-of-the-art Sevoflurane® anesthesia equipment.

Dr. Carmichael and his team routinely perform treatments for periodontal disease, endodontic therapy (root canal), orthodontics, jaw repair, restorations, extractions, and oral cancer surgery.

Our Dentist
Dr. Daniel T. Carmichael is the first and only board-certified veterinary dentist ( Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College) on Long Island. He received his DVM from the Cornell University Veterinary College – the same university where his world-renowned father, Dr. L. E. Carmichael, created the vaccine for canine parvovirus.

Dr. Carmichael completed his  dental residency at  Blue Cross Animal Hospital in Fairfax, VA and was board-certified in 1997. In addition to his work at our center, he has been head of the Dentistry Service of the Animal Medical Center located in Manhattan for the last 7 years. Dr. Carmichael has been frequently interviewed on both television and radio, routinely lectures on veterinary dentistry, and publishes extensively. He  also writes the “Dental Corner” for the publication Veterinary Medicine.

Common Problems Treated by Dr. Carmichael

[+] Article | Dental Hygiene – Feline Dental Problems

  • Repair of Broken Teeth
  • Treatment of Advanced Periodontal Disease
  • Jaw Fracture Repair
  • Major and Minor Oral Cancer Surgery
  • Difficult Extractions
  • Dental Care for Geriatrics and High-Risk Patients
  • Orthodontics
  • Feline Gingivostomatitis
  • Oral Medicine
  • Prophylactic Cleaning

Dental Technician
Francesca Quinci-Rivera, BS, LVT, VTS (Dentistry)

Francesca Quinci-Rivera earned her Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Technology from Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New York.  During her final year in college, she completed an intensive externship program in veterinary dentistry at The Animal Medical Center in New York City.  Since graduation, Francesca has been practicing as a Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) in the specialty of veterinary dentistry.  After being enrolled in a training program to become one of the few board-certified veterinary dental technicians in the world, Francesca finally achieved her Veterinary Technician Specialization (VTS) in Dentistry in July 2015.

Francesca is an accomplished anesthesiologist, a true animal lover, and an indispensable asset to the dentistry service.