Who does your horses teeth? Equine dentist or the vet?

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Tangaroo

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I just wondered who you all use to do your horses teeth. I use a dentist but he doesnt come to our area very often so not easy to get hold of. Up till now he hasnt used power tools which suits me. Not sure if i like the idea of the power tools!
Both boys need flu jabs soon so i could get the vet to do their teeth but not sure if he is so thorough. Also, he likes to sedate them which i dont want done if its not necessary.
What do you all do?
 
Vet. I have a mare that needs to be quite heavily sedated to work in her mouth so it is easier for me than trying to co-ordinate with an EDT too. I just schedule it in with jabs.

Without that complication I would use an EDT and am completely fine about them using power tools, I think it is probably better for the horse for them to do so.
 
I use both, in the past when I had a different vet, I just used a proper dentist, but my current vet has all the top qualifications as a dentist and she is amazing. I wouldn't use a different vet, only her. Luckily a friend of mine has just finished her course so she will be doing my boys next time.

And no, the vet should not sedate just because he wants to. I would definitely not agree to that.
 
EDT for us, had a few poor efforts from vets, and have found a brilliant edt so we will stick with him.
I'm personally not keen on power tools. Ours are done every 6 months and not that much needs doing each time. Power tools are larger than hand tools and I can't imagine they would be lighter so I would be worried about how easy it is to manouver them in such a confined and sensitive space as a horses mouth.
I would not agree to someone sedating a horse to suit them. Tbh the approach of the person should help calm the horse. Our edt did all the horses on the yard last visit, several of them were sedated when the vet did them before, but the edt had a very good manner with them and did them calmly, took as long as was needed with no rushing, with no fuss what so ever and no sedation either.
 
personally, a dentist everytime. Vets are too quick with the sedation and neither of my boys need this. Also dont like power tools. Most vets (imo) arent practiced enough at teeth to do a good job, although i do appreciate that some are fully qualified in this area. My dentist is patient and gentle but not a push over. Thanks to her my 2yo (when i bought him) who'd never had his teeth done, has had nothing but good experiences and now at 6yo stands like a star.
 
i had my vet do my mare's teeth when she had her jabs and he didnt seem to do much and charged a lot for it. didnt even use a gag, just popped his hand in and had a check and a quick rasp. so now for my boy i use an EDT. she went to the same horse college as me and i came across her on the facebook college group. she does a very thorough job and i trust her. i'd rather pay her to do it than the vet now.
 
I have always used EDTs BUT make sure it is a BEVA qualified one, we used one that claimed to be a BEVA dentist, he missed a fractured tooth that required surgery, it was a right mess, after this, we checked and he was NOT BEVA Qualified :( now use an EDT that is qualified and he is fab, they are usually better than the vet :)
 
Never been overly keen on the vet doing the teeth.... I'm not saying it's wrong because obviously they know why they are doing (I hope) but a dentist trains in more depth as they specialise in the one thing. Same with the farrier and feet
 
I use both. I use a EDT for my horse as he much perfers men and is better behaved, he hates the vet so think he would end up needing sedation when he doesnt need it. He doesnt use power tools.

My mare is perfied (sp?) of the dentist, hes normally so placid and well behaved but turns to a shivering wreck so got vet out to sedate and working with the vet to get her used to it, next time going to try sedalin as she was so good last time.

Our new youngster needed his wolf teeth out and major dental work as never had his done, so kept vet as easier and will remain with her for him.
 
Always vet, yes does mine come from a the Vet college so explains to the students what needs doing and why. She has only once used the power tool on a pony who was partically bad.
I would far have them have a bit of dope if they are unsettled, easier for them and less dangerous getting a metal gag in the face. I have eight and only one needs it but boy does he need it.
Only once used a dentist, because the rest of the yard was having him, expensive, made the horses mouth sore, and hard to get hold of afterwards.
 
Hi
As an Equine dentist myself, i'd like to highlight that work with power tools is much more efficiant than the old fashioned hand rasps technique, a much greater job can be done with power tools however it is important to use a skilled and qualified person for the job so the best advice i could give would be to use either vet or EDT who has a fully qualified with BEVA! many can be difficult to get hold of as they are so booked up but there is a list on the BAEDT webiste (google BAEDT) :)
 
I've always used my normal equine vet for teeth floating. I've never really thought about it until now. Mind you, maybe I'll see if there's a qualified EDT in my area.....

So if I look under the South West on the BAEDT website, are all the persons listed equally qualified?
 
ALWAYS EDT !

Mine never uses the power tools unless it is absolutely necessary. If a horse needs sedating (only when intensive work needed) then I arrange for the vet to attend too.

Let me ask you all a question? Who does your teeth? Your GP or Dentist? Would you go to your GP if you had toothache? However, if you needed lots of work doing, then you would have access to other medical professionals, like an anesthetist for example. Its the same with my horses.

I'm sorry, but just because they are horses, it doesnt mean they get 2nd best treatment to save on costs.

Sorry, but this is something I feel very strongly about.
 
I always used an EDT but as in the last 3 years have had their teeth done by the vet at the same time as their jabs are done. B is best sedated, it is possible to do him but tbh it is less stressful for all concerned if he has a little sedation, J is as good as gold but it is easier to get them done together. I am happy with the job that my very experienced equine vet does.
 
suzyqet said:
I'm sorry, but just because they are horses, it doesnt mean they get 2nd best treatment to save on costs.

Sorry, but this is something I feel very strongly about.
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I'd rather not be labelled as negligent, thank you! :p

I don't think I've personally ever neglected my horses' teeth because of cost, NOR because I've used my equine vet to attend to them! Rather harsh, me thinks! The vet I have used since relocating to Devon is extremely good and would, I have no doubt whatsoever, refer me to a EDT should the need ever arise.

Out of interest though, I will seek a good EDT to check my horses and should all be well then I shall inevitably continue with the routine checks and floating via my vet.

I shall keep you posted on the outcome :)
 
Spyda said:
I'd rather not be labelled as negligent, thank you! :p

I don't think I've personally ever neglected my horses' teeth because of cost, NOR because I've used my equine vet to attend to them! Rather harsh, me thinks! The vet I have used since relocating to Devon is extremely good and would, I have no doubt whatsoever, refer me to a EDT should the need ever arise.

Out of interest though, I will seek a good EDT to check my horses and should all be well then I shall inevitably continue with the routine checks and floating via my vet.

I shall keep you posted on the outcome :)
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Please point out where I implied you were being negligent?

My post was to everyone not just you.

Many other members are of the same opinion as me.

I clearly stated the facts and also, most people who have their horses teeth done by a VET have them done at the same time as their yearly jabs to save cost.

I am sorry you felt that way about my response, but you asked for peoples opinions and this was mine.

Wont trouble you again.
 
Some people who call themselves dentist have less training on teeth than vets... BAEDTs have lots of training, but not necessarily more than vets who can do dentistry and advanced dentistry courses, and even qualify as EDTs as well.

Some things are "Acts of Veterinary Surgery" and should be done only by qualified vets - some EDTs and dentists will go a little close to/over this line...

GPs and vets aren't exactly analogous - you wouldn't go to your GP for a broken leg, severe stomach pains or any emergency treatment - you'd go to the hospital, which is where some human dental surgery takes place..

Admittedly I would only go to my GP with a request for a referral/sick note!
 
Yes I do use my vet, doing so does not necessarily save me money as it costs me roughly the same to use them as an EDT. If I used an EDT I would just arrange for them to come at the same time as my vet came to do Vacs and get him to do the sedation after the vac and then let the EDT do their bit. My vet has done an advanced dentistry course and I trust him to do a good job of my horses teeth. Your analogy of using a dentist rather than a GP does not really work in this case, I use an equine vet - he is a specialist not a GP - if I was using a mixed practice then I would not get them to do teeth.
 
I'm lucky, Dad's a BEVA EDT, so it's a pretty simple choice. I'd only trust a BEVA EDT or a vet that specialises specifically in teeth for my horses.

As a vet student I don't feel that most vets gets sufficient training- particularly young vets, unless they have more specific training to supplement their initial knowledge. BUT having said that, I wouldn't trust an unqualified EDT full stop. At least vets have sufficient knowledge to deal with any problems that arise, whilst some (not all) unqualified EDTs know absolutely nothing.

To be honest, having done some research on the provision of equine dentistry, I think we still need a lot more regulation of equine dentistry in the UK. The BEVA exam is a fantastic step forward, but I'm still very uncomfortable about the idea of people going out and styling themselves as an EDT without any training whatsoever (and it does happen)- there's just so much potential to cause serious harm to the horses they're treating.
 
To clear a couple of things up!

I use both hand and power tools but I can certainly say that power tools are less vigerous (relating to the pressures used to remove points) and more soft tissue friendly than hand instrumentation. I can run the power instrumentation the the underside of my forearm and it doesnt mark, nor does it hurt.

They are also extremely accurate allowing you to equilibrate (balance) a horses mouth very efficiently but only in the right hands. Anyone can buy power instrumentation which is why it almost more vital to ensure an EDT using it regularly is regulated and BEVA qualified.

Older horses with wobbly teeth tolerate it 100% more than hand rasps......I have to say it is quite cringe worthy trying to hand rasp a geriatric horse with hand rasps, too my pressure required and is uncomfortable for the horse.
 
stilton said:
I just wondered who you all use to do your horses teeth. I use a dentist but he doesnt come to our area very often so not easy to get hold of. Up till now he hasnt used power tools which suits me. Not sure if i like the idea of the power tools!
Both boys need flu jabs soon so i could get the vet to do their teeth but not sure if he is so thorough. Also, he likes to sedate them which i dont want done if its not necessary.
What do you all do?
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always the equine dentist- brilliant chap.
 
Have used both. Previous two horses have been very well dealt with by our lovely Irish Dentist, but present mare has to be sedated and sorted by vet.If she wasn't so edgy would certainly have the EDT.
 
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