Gerhard Is All Smiles As Veterinary Centre Launches New Dentistry Service

Small animal dentistry and oral surgery specialist Gerhard Putter joined the team at Linnaeus-owned DWR Veterinary Specialists in Six Mile Bottom in April to head up its new dentistry service.

Gerhard, who is an RCVS Specialist and EBVS European specialist in veterinary dentistry, qualified in South Africa in 1984 and worked in veterinary practices there before moving to the UK 20 years ago. He worked in practices in North Lincolnshire and Essex before moving to East Anglia a decade ago. 

Gerhard has extensive experience in all types of dental and maxillofacial surgery – with previous procedures including performing root canal treatment on zoo animals including lions, tigers and hippos.

Gerhard said: “I’ve worked in dentistry in East Anglia for a long time, including taking on some of DWR’s previous dentistry related cases. It’s an exciting time for DWR, with the facilities within its new building being recently opened, and so when we started discussions, everything fell into place for me to become part of the team.

“I’ve not previously worked alongside other specialists, and DWR has a vast team of top specialists across its disciplines – so I’m excited to work with them.”

Gerhard’s practice in dentistry has mainly focused on domestic pets, with some additional work on zoo animals and exotic species, including treating orangutangs in rescue centres in Indonesia and rescued bears in Armenia.

His arrival and the opening of DWR’s dentistry department means the referral centre is now one of just a few specialist-led veterinary dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery centres in Europe.

Procedures to be offered by the new oral and maxillofacial surgery department will include treatment for periodontitis (gum disease) as well as endodontic treatment (root canal treatment) and advanced restorative dentistry. 

The team will also offer evaluation of  malocclusion (when teeth are out of normal alignment) and orthodontic treatment. As well as surgical repair of cleft lips and palates, jaw fracture repair and investigation of oral tumours. 

Gerhard said one of the reasons he was keen to join the DWR team was to lead CPD sessions on dentistry in the new teaching facilities within DWR’s new £15 million redevelopment, which has seen the centre treble in size.

Simon Tappin, clinical director at DWR Veterinary Specialists, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Gerhard to the team and to be able to offer pet owners and referring vets the benefit of his extensive expertise in dentistry and maxillofacial surgery especially reconstruction of orofacial trauma patients such as from a road traffic accident.

“We have industry-leading specialists providing exceptional care across a whole host of specialisms at DWR, and this new service brings a further specialism to our offering.”

DWR Veterinary Specialists also offers specialist-led care in anaesthesia and analgesia, cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, diagnostic pathology, emergency and critical care, internal medicine, interventional radiology, neurology and neurosurgery, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, physiotherapy and soft tissue surgery.

For more information, visit www.dickwhitereferrals.com or search for DWR Veterinary Specialists on social media.