Managing Pain and Productivity During Pet Dental Health Month

Dental health is a year-round priority, but February is National Pet Dental Health Month, giving practices a valuable opportunity to strengthen client education, increase compliance, and optimize clinical workflows. With increased dental demand often comes added pressure on staffing, scheduling, and inventory – making preparation essential.

Beyond promoting oral health, February is also an ideal time to evaluate practice readiness. Thoughtful office stock planning ensures teams are equipped to manage higher case volume without compromising efficiency or patient care. Maintaining reliable access to compounded preparations, such as buprenorphine in polymer, helps support consistent high-quality dental services during busy periods.

Buprenorphine is a widely used, moderate opioid analgesic that is generally well tolerated in dogs and cats, including geriatric patients. It is commonly incorporated into dental pain management protocols.

Buprenorphine in polymer is a compounded, long-acting formulation designed to extend analgesic effects. A biodegradable polymer matrix allows for controlled drug release, which may provide sustained pain relief for up to approximately 72 hours. This extended duration can reduce the need for repeated dosing and support smoother postoperative recovery.

For dental patients, this approach may offer several advantages:

• More consistent postoperative comfort
• Reduced handling and stress associated with repeat dosing
• Improved compliance, particularly in cats and challenging patients
• Greater predictability in recovery timelines

However, Buprenorphine in polymer should not be confused with oral transmucosal (OTM) or immediate-release (IR) injectable formulations, which may also be used to manage dental pain but have shorter duration of action. For this reason, having the polymer formulation available for dental care can help provide more consistent anesthesia and post-procedure comfort, supporting smoother recovery and more predictable planning and scheduling for the clinic.

From an operational standpoint, stocking long-acting analgesic options can help practices plan anesthesia protocols, recovery monitoring and discharge instructions more effectively. Consistent pain control also supports clearer client communication and scheduling.

Buprenorphine in polymer integrates easily into existing storage and inventory systems, making it a practical addition to dental-related workflows.

Learn more: Benefits of Compounding for Better Patient Outcomes

Successful dental programs depend on seamless coordination across every stage of care, from pre-anesthetic preparation and intraoperative management to postoperative recovery. Each step relies on having the right supplies and medications readily available.

Multimodal, preemptive pain management plays a central role in supporting predictable outcomes. Research has shown that administering analgesics before painful stimuli can improve postoperative comfort and reduce overall pain severity. Once pain is established, it can be more difficult to control and may require additional intervention.

When critical inventory items are unavailable, workflows are disrupted, procedures are delayed, and clinical focus shifts away from patient care. In contrast, well-managed stock allows teams to work efficiently, maintain safety standards, and provide consistent care – even during peak periods.

Read more: Strengthen Practice Efficiency Through Smarter Workflows

Dental procedures can be stressful for pet owners, who often have concerns about anesthesia, pain, and recovery. Clear, consistent communication helps build trust, improves compliance, and reduces follow-up questions.

Effective communication strategies include:

• Standardizing treatment discussions – Use clear, accessible language when explaining dental procedures and pain management plans.

• Highlighting clinic preparedness – Emphasize your practice’s organized, proactive approach to dentistry and patient comfort.

• Setting clear recovery expectations – Provide realistic timelines for pain control and healing. When using long-acting buprenorphine, explain how it may reduce the need for at-home oral medications; an important benefit for many feline patients.

• Aligning messaging across the team – Ensure all staff members describe pain management and recovery in consistent, reassuring terms.

These practices help streamline communication while reinforcing confidence in your clinical approach.

National Pet Dental Health Month is an excellent time to focus on client education, but internal preparation is equally important. Reviewing inventory management, clinical protocols, and product selection helps practices remain organized and responsive – even during high-volume periods.

Thoughtful office stock planning goes beyond simply filling shelves. It ensures that reliable, clinically appropriate solutions are readily available so teams can work efficiently, patients remain comfortable, and daily operations run smoothly.

At Wedgewood, we are committed to delivering high-quality compounded preparations that support both clinical excellence and operational efficiency. From routine dental care to individualized patient needs, we are proud to partner with veterinary practices in delivering dependable, patient- centered solutions throughout every season.