Dr. Margaret Smith

Biography

Dr. Margie Smith is a board-certified veterinary dentist and oral surgeon joining the Apex team from Los Angeles, California. She graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2015 followed by a rotating internship at VCA Alameda East. She pursued her interest in veterinary dentistry and oral surgery by completing a 3-year residency at Colorado State University in 2019. Dr. Smith has been practicing veterinary dentistry and oral surgery in Los Angeles, CA since 2019 where she built a dental practice in a busy specialty hospital.

Dr. Smith has an interest in maxillofacial surgery including trauma, oral tumors, cleft palate repairs, and all oddities of the oral cavity! She also has a passion for porcine dentistry. When not practicing veterinary dentistry and oral surgery, Dr. Smith enjoys baking, gardening, hiking, camping, traveling, and spending time with her two children, husband, 2 legged chihuahua, 2 cats, and one-eyed African sulcata tortoise.

Professional Experience

Veterinary Dentist and oral surgeon, VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital, Los Angeles, CA 2019-2026

Owner, SoCal ToothOps, LLC. CE/consulting and mobile dentistry, Los Angeles, CA, 2021-2026

Veterinary Dentist lecturer, Vetcation, multiple locations, 2021-current

Volunteer Veterinarian. Project Street Vet, Los Angeles, CA. 2024-2026

Veterinary dentistry and oral surgery resident, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 2016-2019

Veterinary Intern/Associate doctor, VCA Alameda East, Aurora, CO 2015-2016

Relief Veterinarian (dentistry only), PetAid Colorado, Denver, CO April-June 2016

Education and Board Certification

Resident, Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Colorado State University of Fort Collins, CO 2016-2019

Small Animal Rotating Intern, VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital of Aurora, CO 2015-2016

Clinical year (4th year of DVM program), University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine of Madison, WI 2014-2015

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with Honors, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine of Basseterre, St. Kitts 2012-2015

Bachelor of Science, Indiana University of Bloomington, IN 2003-2005, 2006-2009
B.S. obtained May 2009, Biology major, Chemistry minor

Diploma with Honors, Bloomington High School South of Bloomington, IN 2003

Additional Advanced Training

AO Maxillofacial plating course. AOVet North America. UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Davis, CA. July 31-August 1st, 2026.

Annual Veterinary Dental Forum at Various locations. 2016-2019, 2021, 2022, 2024

AO Maxillofacial course. AO Vet North America. Viticus Group. Las Vegas, NV. August 2024.

Xoran CBCT CE. Online zoom. July- December 2023.

Clinical Small Animal Dentistry. Veterinary Dental Education Course Online. University of Illinois School of Veterinary Medicine. October 2013.

Professional Memberships

Foundation for Veterinary Dentistry Sept 2019 – current

American Veterinary Medical Association June 2015-2017, June 2020-current

American Veterinary Dental College Committees

AVDC Resident Education Committee: Member. Nov 2021-Feb 2023.

AVDC Training Support Committee: Member. Sept. 2021- Feb. 2023.

AVDC Review and Assessment Committee: Chair. June 2021-Feb 2023.

Professional Publications

“Fibular Osteosarcoma in a Dog,” with Dr. Sara Colopy and Dr. Celia Robat at University of Wisconsin Veterinary Teaching Hospital—Not published

“Oral Tumors,” Veterinary Dental Forum proceeding 2017

“Top 5 Things to Know About Your Pet’s Mouth,” National Dental Month published in CVMBS Source (online publication) February 2017

“Prevalence of Felis catus Gammaherpesvirus 1 DNA in the Tissues of Cats with Chronic Gingivostomatitis,” with Dr. Chad Lothamer and Dr. Mike Lappin at Colorado State University Teaching Hospital—Not published

“Dental Pathology of the domestic pig (Sus scrofa),” with Dr. Jennifer Rawlinson at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital—Journal of Veterinary Dentistry 2021

“Step-by-Step: Unilateral Hypoplastic Soft Palate Repair,” at VCA WLA AH—In progress

“National Pet Dental Month,” published VCA online: https://vcahospitals.com/vca-voice/Dental-Month-2022.

“Treatment of Oral Disease in 8 pot-bellied pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus): A case series,” with Dr. Cindy Vaca, Dr. Naomi Hoyer, and Dr. Jennifer Rawlinson at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital—Accepted for publication Journal of Veterinary Dentistry August, 2023

Periodontal Pamphlet at VCA WLA AH—In print November, 2023

VCA Woof Apps Teaching Videos—In progress (goal for release is late 2026/2027)

Basic extraction of maxillary canine
Basic extraction of maxillary carnassial
Overview of dental instrumentation
Dental ultrasonic scaling and polishing
Tooth brushing dog for clients
Tooth brushing cat for clients

Professional Presentations

Dental Radiographic Interpretation—1h. AVMA Annual Conference. Anaheim, CA. July 11, 2026.

Jaw Fractures—1h. AVMA Annual Conference. Anaheim, CA. July 11, 2026.

Malocclusions—1h. AVMA Annual Conference. Anaheim, CA. July 12, 2026.

Dental Anomalies—1h. AVMA Annual Conference. Anaheim, CA. July 12, 2026.

Oral Exam—1h. VCA WLA Interns and Residents, Los Angeles, CA. March, 2026.

Oral Tumors—2h. VCA Virtual CE Event. Online Zoom lecture. Oct 13, 2024.

Periodontal disease—1h. Vetcation. Online Zoom platform and in person. Waikiki, HI. July 18, 2024.

Malocclusions—1h. Vetcation. Online Zoom platform and in person. Waikiki, HI. July 18, 2024.

Dental Emergencies Part 1 and 2—2h. Vetcation. Online Zoom platform and in person. Waikiki, HI. July 19, 2024.

Radiographic Interpretation. Vetcation. Online Zoom platform and in person. Waikiki, HI. July 19, 2024.

Dental Anomalies—1h. Vetcation. Online Zoom platform and in person. Waikiki, HI. July 19, 2024.

Tooth Resorption—1h. Vetcation. Online Zoom platform and in person. Waikiki, HI. July 20, 2024.

Common Dental Emergencies—1h. Unleashed: symposium by VCA WLA. Los Angeles, CA. May 5, 2024.

Dental Emergencies– 2h. Online Zoom lecture. VCA Virtual CE Event. April 21, 2024.

Dental Emergencies– 2h. Online Zoom lecture. VCA Virtual CE Event. May 25, 2023.

Oral Tumors—1h. VCA West LA Interns and Residents. Los Angeles, CA. April 6, 2023.

Review & Assessment—2h. Veterinary Dental Forum Residents only. Reno, NV. Sept 30, 2022.

Dental Anomalies—1h. SCVMA lecture. Los Angeles, CA. Aug, 25, 2022.

Jaw Fracture: Diagnosis and Repair lecture—1h. VCA WLA Surgery Residents in person. Los Angeles, CA. July 7, 2022.

Dental Radiographic Interpretation—2h. VCA Bakersfield in person lunch and learn lecture. Bakersfield, CA. June 8, 2022.

Dental Emergencies Part 1 and 2 – 2h. Vetcation: Online Zoom platform and in person. Austin, TX. April 9, 2022.

Regional nerve blocks—1h. Vetcation: Online Zoom platform and in person. Austin, TX. April 8, 2022.

Dental Anomalies—1h. Vetcation: Online Zoom platform and in person. Austin, TX. April 8, 2022.

Tooth Resorption—1h. Vetcation: Online Zoom platform and in person. Austin, TX. April 8, 2022.

Periodontal disease—1h. Vetcation: Online Zoom platform and in person. Austin, TX. April 7, 2022.

Oral tumors—2h. Vetcation: Online Zoom platform and in person. Austin, TX. April 7, 2022.

Dental Radiographs—1h. Radiology Club at MSU VTH (DVM students only). Online Zoom Platform. March, 2022

Review & Assessment—2h. Veterinary Dental Forum Residents only. Indianapolis, IN. Oct. 2021.

Dental emergencies and oral exam—1h. CE for VCA West LA Interns. Los Angeles, CA. April 2020, Aug 2021, Sept 2022.

Dental Pathology of the domestic pig (Sus scrofa)—1h. Veterinary dental forum (advanced track/research). Orlando, FL. Sept 2019.

Treatment of Oral Pathology in Pigs—1h. Veterinary dental forum (exotic track). Orlando, FL. Sept 2019.

Dental Emergencies—1h. CSU Annual Veterinary Technician Conference. Colorado State University. Fort Collins, CO. April 2018.

Oral Tumors—1h. Veterinary Dental Forum (veterinarians). Nashville, TN. Sept 2017.

Dental Radiographs—1h. Dental Club at CSU VTH (DVM students only). Colorado State University VTH. Fort Collins, CO. April 2017.

Survey of Porcine Oral Pathology—1h. CSU Annual Veterinary Technician Conference. Colorado State University. Fort Collins, CO. April 2017.

Professional Labs

VCA Dental Technician CE – 8h. Dental radiographs, charting, regional nerve blocks. VCA WLA in person lab. Los Angeles, CA. Feb 28, 2026.

Basic Dental Extraction Wet Lab CE—8h. Modern Animal Hospital. Dallas, TX. Feb. 7, 2025.

Basic Dental Extraction Wet Lab CE—8h. Modern Animal Hospital. San Francisco, CA Jan 18, 2025.

Mock Exam for veterinary dentistry residents—8h. VCA WLA in person lab. Los Angeles, CA. April 13, 2024.

Basic Dental Extraction Wet Lab– 8h. VCA WLA in person lab. Los Angeles, CA. April 12, 2024.

Mock Exam for veterinary dentistry residents—8h. VCA WLA in person lab. Los Angeles, CA. April 29, 2023.

Basic Dental Extraction Wet Lab– 8h. VCA WLA in person lab. Los Angeles, CA. April 28, 2023.

Basic Dental Extraction Wet Lab CE—8h. VCA WLA in person lab. Los Angeles, CA. Nov 11, 2022.

*Ongoing monthly from March 2023-May 2025*
Side by Side Teaching—8h. Modern Animal Hospital in person lab. Culver City, CA.

*Ongoing monthly to bimonthly from July 2022-May 2025*
Basic Dental Extraction Wet Lab—8h. Modern Animal Hospital in person lab. Culver City, CA.

Basic Dental Extraction Wet Lab CE—8h. VCA WLA in person lab. Los Angeles, CA. May 13, 2022.

Regional nerve blocks and trauma assessment—2h. VCA West LA Interns and residents. Los Angeles, CA. April 2020, Aug 2021, Sep 2022.