Dentists & Vets

BAILEY67

BAILEY67

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If a horse is good while having their teeth done do they need to see a vet rather than a dentist?

I have read a few websites which basically say a vet should do it at all times, now im confused :confused:

Thoughts and experiences
 
I've always used a dentist. My opinion is that a dentist studies teeth in depth, the mouth is their area of expertises, so I would prefer to use them than a vet who doesn't necessarily know that area of a horse to the same extent.
 
a vet is a bit like a gp - general practice not a specialist!

therefore an EDT have more detailed knowledge than the vet. many a vet has caused more problems than cured them with regards to teeth.

would you let your GP take your tooth out or go to the dentist? ask yourself why and apply the same thought to horses.
 
Don't agree, if its an equine vet. My vets are specialists and great with teeth. They can also sedate intravenously if necessary. The use of the term dentist is I believe incorrect. It should be Equine Dental Technician, if they have done the relevant course.
 
You can use either. If your horse needs to be sedated then you will need your vet and it's prefered if your vet does the teeth. If your horse is good you can choose who you would have. Choose by reputation is often the best way and check qualifications.
 
Choose by reputation. However its wrong to say the EdT is the "specialist" of the equine mouth. A well qualified vet with an interest in dentistry is much more qualified to do anything bar routine dental work. If your horse requires advanced dental work or a tooth extraction it will be the vet who will carry these procedures out. They are the specialists in the area. EdTs CANNOT carry out advanced procedures. They should however be able to recognise them and advisereferral. All vets have studied dental anotmy, physiology and embryology in detail. Any who have done a BEVA couse will also have worked with cadavers and seen the greater effects of dental abnormalities and disease. The standard of dentistry done by an equine vet is usually very high - but especially if they have partaken in further BEVA training.
I had a conversation with an equine dentist last week (and I must say, she was fantastic - i would definitelyrecommend her). She said the only time they had a chance to see proper cadaver cases was IN the BAEDT exam.
I think the new Hartpury degree will improve the standard of knowledge of the lay EdT.

But to answer your question, you do not need to use a vet. Its your choice, Id make it based on reputation.
 
the racing yard would not allow a particular vet anywhere near their horses teeth - she did such a crap job,

each to their own but im sticking with EDT following my conversations and my own knowledge.
 
DC - either way the arguement of would you go to a GP over a dentist does not hold in equines as you CANNOT go to an equine dental technician to have a horse's tooth removed (apart from wolf teeth but tbh as a teenager I was whipping them out left right and centre its not exactly diffiult but you now require sedation legally to do this). This is a vets demain.:D :P

My above post still stands - for routine non-invasive dental work its personal choice - use whomever you wish. :)
 
explain then why my old man had 4 teeth taken out by the EDT? They were very loose causing pain and quidding and the vet didnt pick up on it? sorry imsticking with what i know and the people that work best with my animals. your arguement to me carries no weight.

as i said each to their own!
 
Because your EDT has no respect for the law. It is ILLEGAL for an EDT to remove teeth. The fact that he/she didnt feel it necessary to tell you that would be reason enough not to use him or her!

Of course there are good and bad vets doing dentistry just as there are good and bad EDTs - that i am not disputing. However, Im afraid, while at first i was just merely pointing out that EDTs are NOT specialists, Id now also have to recommend that people avoid using yours! ;)
 
glenruby said:
Because your EDT has no respect for the law. It is ILLEGAL for an EDT to remove teeth. The fact that he/she didnt feel it necessary to tell you that would be reason enough not to use him or her!

Of course there are good and bad vets doing dentistry just as there are good and bad EDTs - that i am not disputing. However, Im afraid, while at first i was just merely pointing out that EDTs are NOT specialists, Id now also have to recommend that people avoid using yours! ;)
Click to expand...

well i afraid i dont agree with you. Send me the link please to highlight this is illegal. Thanks!

So what qualification do you have? what are you in fact???
 
here you go:

Can you explain the different categories of equine dental procedures to me?

The law in Britain on equine dentistry (covered in The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966) clearly specifies which equine dental procedures lay people can perform and which can only be carried out by registered veterinary surgeons. The current law, which will not be affected by new legislation due to be passed shortly, allows certain designated routine equine dental procedures which are not considered to be acts of veterinary surgery to be performed by lay-people whether they are trained or not. These are termed:

Category 1 Equine Dental Procedures and include:

* The examination of equine teeth
* Routine rasping (excluding the use of power dental tools)
* Removal of sharp enamel points and small dental overgrowths (less than 5mm high and involving less than half of the tooth’s occlusal surface) with manual rasps
* Removal of digitally (finger) loose deciduous cheek teeth (“caps”)
* Removal of calculus which lies above the gum line.

A further group of procedures have recently been designated as advanced dental procedures. These procedures are at present deemed to be acts of veterinary surgery but are currently being deregulated by The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) who are amending the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. This deregulation will legally allow certain defined procedures to be performed by qualified EDTs who have passed the BVDA/BVDA EDT examination. These advanced equine dental procedures are termed:

Category 2 Equine Dental Procedures and include:

* Extraction of loose teeth, including both cheek teeth and incisors, including deciduous cheek teeth or teeth suffering from advanced periodontal disease. However teeth which have been loosened by trauma must have further investigation performed by a veterinary surgeon – including x-rays if necessary – before being extracted
* Extraction of normal, fully erupted and non-displaced wolf teeth
* Removal of large dental overgrowths (over 5mm tall and involving over 50% of the occlusal surface of the tooth) and overgrowths over 5mm tall of the whole occlusal surface
* Techniques requiring the use of dental shears, inertia hammers and motorised dental instruments, including power rasps
* Treatment of fractured and diseased teeth
* Extraction of dental fragments and palliative rasping of fractured and adjacent teeth


so my EDT was acting legally!

im still waiting .......

i think i will stick with my edt and sign off from this thread now having been satisfied. Thank you very much indeed.
 
Last edited:
What i do/who I am is irrelevant.
http://www.beva.org.uk/horse-owners/equine-dentistry/dental-technicians-faq/DEFRA
Here is the relevant link. You can also visit the BAEDT website for more information.

Do tell us though - what qualifications has your EDT? Was he/she working under the direct supervision of a vet? Did he/she use sedation? analgesics? or nerve blocks? Or do you think horses do not experience pain or discomfort when they have their teeth removed? Just curious! :D
 
I can of course explain the categories.
Category 1 procedures can currently be carried out by any tool wielding fiend - no qualifications required. Category 2 procedures (including tooth removal - but we'll make allowances for wolf teeth here) are veterinary ONLY procedures.
Deregulation has not yet been approved/passed and tbh, it looks like it is unlikely to be for a while yet. Therefore tooth removal by a lay person is currently ILLEGAL. Done! :)

You would be better off finding a goodvet if you were unhappy with the one you were using or using a properly qualified BAEDT who would work with your vet or refer for tooth extractions. Either of the above are good options.
 
sorry just noticed you actually responded finally - however it is irrelevant - you are stating this and that, but you arent telling anyone what your qualifications are etc to becoem such an 'expert' on the subject.

However if you go back to my post i said removal of 4 loose teeth (cheek) which falls under cat 1, therefore she was and is legal.

Have i checked the qualifications? damn right i have!!!!!

have you checked your facts? hmmmmmmmmmmmmm?!!!!!!!

thanks - i will not be responding you have shown the lack of extent to your knowledge.
 
Nope it doesnt fall under Category one - that says "loose deciduous cheek teeth" ie caps. You stated your EDT removed loose teeth from your old pony. Those are permanent teeth and are category 2.

I am not a so called expert on the subject and make no claims to be. The information is made freely availble on the BEVA website for "horseowners".
 
Jeebus Dancing Queen, unknot your knickers for a minute! Caps are not teeth. I would suggest that Glenruby knows the laws better than a lot of people on here, perhaps you shouldn't take such a derogatory line about someone's qualifications until you know them?

P.s I have BSc (Hons) Equine Science, am I allowed to comment?
 
Glenruby, can you just clarify something, are EDT allowed to use motorised power rasps? Reading the above regulations it seems not but a highly respected EDT we have used has used them on our pony.
 
According to current legislation, no. However, like wolf teeth, the official line is that as long as it is a suitably qualified EDT then the law will be "ignored". Not sure how best to put it.
The recommendations by the examiners and those who set the BAEDT/BEVA exams is that all horses should be sedated for dental treatment with motorised equipment. Again this is currently something which is generally not done by EDTs in practice (mostly I would think because they may be concerned that it my affect their place in the industry - and you cant blame them for that!). BEVA advises their vets to try to hae a good relationship with the local BAEDTs and we can co-operate if they ask for us to sedate a horse for them to carry out wolf tooth extractions or motorised rasping though technically it is illegal for us to do so. Quite a complicated situation at the moment - but for all intents and purposes, your EDT can use motorised equipmnt for routine dental work. :)
 
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