Removing complex teeth safely and with minimal impact.
Dr Bec Tucker - Director
BVSc (Hons) MANZCVS (Small Animal Dentistry and Oral Surgery) Diplomate, American Veterinary Dental College™
Hi, I’m Dr Bec Tucker, and my journey into veterinary dentistry has been unexpected yet incredibly fulfilling. In fact, dentistry wasn’t on my radar at all when I graduated with a BVSc (Hons) from the University of Sydney in 2007.
I was fortunate to meet veterinarians who had found their passion for dentistry, and their encouragement and enthusiasm shifted my perspective. Through continuing education lectures and workshops, I went from not fancying dentistry and oral surgery to genuinely loving it. In 2012, I became a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (MANZCVS) for Small Animal Dentistry and Oral Surgery.
This was a significant milestone in my career, marking the first big step in advancing my dental knowledge. My journey continued as I took on the role of President of the Dentistry Chapter for the ANZCVS in 2017 and 2018, where I also served as an examiner and convenor for the dental chapter of the ANZCVS Science Week conference.
In 2018, I completed a Veterinary Dentistry residency through the American Veterinary Dental College under the mentorship of Dr. Loic Legendre and Dr. Gary Wilson. This accomplishment led to my current role as Director at Advanced Animal Dentistry.
Despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic, I achieved Diplomate status with the American Veterinary Dental College (non-species specific) in June 2023. I am now one of only six veterinarians in Australia with this qualification.
I find special fulfilment in oral surgery, particularly reconstructive procedures that require ongoing care. It’s incredibly rewarding to see patients return to health with a better quality of life. One of the best parts of my job is developing bonds with pets, getting to know their personalities, and building relationships with their owners during these journeys. My holistic and highly communicative approach ensures we work closely with clients to develop treatment plans that suit both the pet and their owners for optimal outcomes.
Outside of work, I love spending time with my family and my two adorable Whippets, Maple and Hazel. Maple is the eldest and is what we call our “proximity dog” because she’s never far from my husband.
Hazel, on the other hand, is more independent but loves cuddles. Interestingly, they both enjoy having their teeth brushed—a quirky side effect of having a mum who’s a dental vet!
As for unusual cases, I’ve treated a variety of wildlife and zoo animals, but one of the cutest and most memorable was a Lemur. People are often surprised to hear that I regularly perform dental treatments on Wombats!
