Fresh off the Beaten Path: Equine Dentistry

Published on 2008-07-30

Among fears of spiders, public speaking, and crowded elevators, there lies the fear of the dentist. Even the most oral-hygiene conscious among us can still quiver at the very suggestion of lying back on the plastic reclining chair. Unlike the sadistic Orin Scrivello, DDS in Little Shop of Horrors, however, most dentists try to assuage their patients' fears and make the experience as painless and pleasant as possible.

Accomplishing this task is particularly difficult when the patient is a horse that needs dental maintenance or surgery. It takes a veterinarian with knowledge of equine dentistry or a trained dental technician to handle both horse and owner and do the job efficiently. Part veterinary equine jobs, part medical jobs, equine dentistry jobs involve caring for the teeth of horses, mules, and donkeys in order to enhance mastication, nutrition, and performance.

Equine Dentistry: What Exactly Is It?

The Academy of Equine Dentistry estimates that proper dental care and equilibration from an early age can lengthen the lifespan of a horse by five to ten years. Proper care can also result in proper digestion and prevent accidents caused by animals in pain. As horses' teeth can grow continuously for 25 to 30 years, maintenance is an ongoing process. Most of the time equine teeth are self-regulating. The grass diet of horses is well suited to their dental needs. As horses chomp down, the abrasive silica in grass will wear down the level of their teeth. Sometimes, though, the dietary regime of domestic horses fails to sufficiently cause this process, and horses will suffer from raised, spiky edges on their teeth.

When this happens, the horse will experience pain. In some cases, pressure caused by uneven grinding can force the teeth loose. As expected, this condition creates problems with the horse's nutrition and performance. In such cases, an equine dentist, who may or may not also perform other veterinary jobs, must make the horse's teeth reasonably level again by using a dental rasp in a process called "floating." In some situations, these animal jobs may also require tooth extraction, alignment, fillings, or tooth repair/restoration. Of course the challenges of sedating or medicating an 800 lb. to 1,500 lb. animal are much greater than those associated with administering medication to a human, which is why most equine dentists are also veterinarians who have received the proper training to perform veterinarian equine jobs. Other dental services provided are examinations, x-rays, and the maintenance of a permanent dental chart.

Personality Profile: Is Equine Dentistry Right for You?

An affinity for and understanding of animals is important for anyone interested in equine dentist jobs, but simply being a horse lover is not enough. Similar to the qualities for vet jobs, equine dentist jobs call for stamina and bedside manners that transition well between animals and their owners. Equine dentists must also be prepared to interact with veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and office personnel. In any veterinary career, professionalism and effective communication skills will go a long way toward either establishing a successful practice or becoming a valuable member of an established practice. In addition to these qualities, veterinarian jobs for equine dentists will likely encompass ongoing research and the learning of new techniques to ensure that their skill sets are not obsolete.

Education, Training, and Experience: How to Attain Veterinary Careers in Equine Dentistry

Unlike veterinarians who must have a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M. or V.D.M.) degree and licensure to practice, equine dentists are not always required to meet these criteria in order to perform animal caretaker jobs. In some states, non-veterinary technician jobs can include dental work as long as the trained technician is supervised by licensed veterinarians. Vet tech jobs require dental technicians to have a combination of extensive training, formal education, and certification by a professional organization. However, even the most advanced dental technician is not authorized to diagnose or treat injuries and illnesses and cannot administer sedatives. In this respect, dental technicians' work resembles veterinary assistant jobs or veterinary nursing jobs.

In other states, only licensed veterinarians can provide equine dentistry. Competition for admission to veterinary programs is extremely tough, with only one out of three applicants being admitted to programs in 2005. At the time of entry, almost all veterinary students have obtained a bachelor's degree and submitted satisfactory test scores. While obtaining their degrees, students can choose to take dentistry courses or specialize in dentistry. Certification to practice dentistry specifically is not required, however.

After graduation, most new D.V.M.s complete one-year internships or seek board certification to enhance their job prospects. Licensure requirements to begin practicing vary by state; most require a passing grade on the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam and a state-specific jurisprudence examination and/or additional testing.

Equine Dentistry: Where Would I Work?

Just like almost any animal services professional, equine dentists work in varied conditions, from indoor offices to farms and ranches. Most people who are new to the profession will elect to work in the office of an established veterinarian because of the stability the client base affords. In time, both veterinarians and non-veterinarian equine dental technicians may choose to strike out on their own.

This is not a profession for the faint of heart. The hours may be long and variable. There will be many times when an equine dentist will have to work in loud, unsanitary, or unpleasant environments. They must also contend with emotional animal owners while simultaneously attending to the physical needs of animals that are frightened or in pain. These conditions pose considerable risk to dentists, and surely most equine dentists have been kicked or bitten more than they care to remember.

The Future of Equine Dentistry

Because there are a limited number of graduates from veterinary schools each year, the competition for veterinary positions is not expected to be as strong as the competition for admission to veterinary programs. Overall, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates excellent job opportunities for veterinarians, particularly in rural areas. Because equine dentistry is such a small niche, opportunities should abound in this area of specialization as well. To find equine dental assistant jobs or other equine medical careers, visit the Veterinary Services & Animal Care section of Fresho.com. We offer online classifieds, free job and resume posting, and informative articles on industry trends and specific occupation. So whether you're looking for California veterinary jobs or animal jobs in Pennsylvania, there are tools to help you find them on Fresho.com.