Advanced training is needed to familiarize veterinarians with the long-term consequences that CMF trauma and repair has on developing structures. Exposure to human techniques and technologies (miniplates) are necessary for a thorough understanding which is required to select treatment techniques predisposing predictable healing and a favorable outcome.  Continued experience, both in practice and reflected in the literature, will continue to guide the development and innovation of new techniques and equipment specifically designed for veterinary CMF trauma treatment. 

A limited number of institutional practices possess the experience and expertise in advanced reconstruction techniques.  Despite limitations associated with access to appropriate equipment and regenerative materials, practicing veterinary dentists and surgeons lack hands-on opportunities to become familiarized with these techniques and materials.

                  Competence needs are centered on providing the experiential training for the safe and effective treatment of CMF trauma repair using existing equipment and techniques.  Currently, CMF trauma patients are treated either by using predominately non-invasive approaches (dentists) or using open reduction and rigid internal fixation techniques (surgeons).  The lack of experiential competence by each group for the other’s treatment approaches results in avoidable complications associated with either failure for ideal stabilization and/or damage to dental structures and malocclusion resulting in long term negative outcomes.

                  This course is designed to provide hands-on experience and real time feedback to specialty veterinarians in the diagnosis, treatment planning and application of both non-invasive and invasive fracture and reconstruction techniques.  Veterinary craniomaxillofacial oncologic surgery currently focuses on surgical approaches and technique with limited reports as to the impact that regenerative and reconstructive treatments may have on the improvement of patients’ lives.  The absence of techniques offered by both dentists and surgeons is centered on lack of experience.  Exposure to current regenerative and reconstructive techniques will generate better long term follow up on the success of these treatments.