From fractured jaws to doggie braces, I have seen it all.

I have lived at the base of Mt. Madonna for the past eight years, and have found a niche as the only small animal practice devoted to dentistry on the Central Coast.

I have "lots" of stories - everything from a root canal on a police dog with a broken tooth to jaw surgery on a show dog whose tooth never grew in because of a facial bite wound.

About three-quarters of my work involves cleaning, crowns, root canals, and periodontics. The rest is spent on jaw fracture repairs and tumor removals on my patients, which include dogs, cats and the occasional rabbit or rodent.

I switched completely to dentistry in 2004 after increasing my dental procedures for the past eight years. I have practiced veterinary medicine since 1986 after earning my degree from the University of California, Davis.