Making The Right Choice

Text Box: Westrow Equine Dental Service Ltd

::The Right Choice:: Cautum! Anguis in herba

For the Good of the Horse and Rider

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Text Box: Who do you choose? his page is designed to help you make the right decision when choosing who to have to do your horse’s teeth. It is important that you ask many questions when booking your appointment. But before I suggest some questions to ask please note that there are currently NO Officially Recognised Equine Dentistry Qualifications, whatever you may be told. All Equine Dentistry Courses for non veterinarians no matter where they are from are have NO official or legal recognition. All course providers and examiners have yet to be authorised by DEFRA and changes for exemptions to practice made to the 1966 Veterinary Act. This includes the Dentistry Examination provided by the British Equine Veterinary Association/British Veterinary Dental Association.

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Text Box: Training in Equine Dentistry is limited in the UK, usually those wishing to pursue a career visit schools and academies abroad, in the USA or other countries, some are able to develop their skills though their careers in the services (Army/police). For many years in this country this important part of equine husbandry has been seriously neglected by all and it needs updating. You may be surprised to learn that even the veterinary profession receive limited training in Equine Dentistry during their initial course and are later offered an additional 2 day ‘advanced course’, some go on to develop dentistry usually within the larger equine practices, others would rather pass the work onto lay dentists (I have obtained this information from several veterinary sources!) NB. You will find an incomplete list of those who have passed the BEVA/BVDA examination included on their websites as it is a requirement of BEVA that all successful candidates must join the British Association of Equine Dental Technicians in order to be recognised. This I am told is for insurance reasons as a requirement of BAEDT membership is to have comprehensive malpractice and public liability insurance. In other words those outside the association are outside BEVA’s control. Those successful candidates who have chosen not to join the BAEDT or who have left for political or other reasons such as myself will not be listed. We strongly believe that Equine Dentistry, as with Human Dentistry, should be a totally separate institution, chartered in it own right with completely separate courses and qualifications and that all who practice it should be trained and examined separately from all other professions. BEVA qualified/non BAEDT members who wish to advertise on this site, email admin@wedsltd.com

Text Box: Finally, we say. . . “What’s in your brain goes down the rein” Horses and clients alike pick up on the handlers confidence or hostile/calm emotions which are never forgotten.

Text Box: I suggest that the following questions are asked when choosing who you use. What Equine Dentistry Certification do you hold? (It gives an idea of competence) Ask to see certificates i.e. IAED/C or CA or EX, WWE UK/USA or BEVDA/BVDA cert. etc. (Course attendance certificates alone are not sufficient) Do you hold appropriate indemnity insurance? (Ask to see certificates) What Equine experience do you have? Do you use power tools on un sedated horses? (See FAQ’s) Ensure that a comprehensive range of CLEAN disinfected instruments are used. Asked to be told exactly what is being done and why. DO NOT ENTERTAIN BULLIES! All horses deserve kind and patient treatment, send bullies off the yard! The ability to perform safe, accurate and efficient dentistry is not just about clinical knowledge, although of course that is very important too, it is as much, if not more about regular practice, maintaining a good technique to avoid injury or damage within the oral cavity and developing confident, calm and patient horse handling skills to ensure that the experience is stress free for the horse, handler and client, often reducing the need for sedation for routine treatment of nervous horses. Horse handling is an essential skill learnt only through experience, not through teaching.

Horse wearing speculum