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 Veteran
Posts: 112
| I think this is a great topic to discuss! I'm currently in veterinary school right now, and so far in our curriculum, we have had some equine dentistry (several lectures, hands on wet labs). I know this does not compare to the base of knowledge that an equine dentist may have, thus bringing up the dilemma of vet vs dentist. I personally have a strong interest in equine dentistry, so I am pursuing as many options as possible to get as much information and experience before graduating. I can say so far that the information we have gotten so far in school is enough that a vet (who does not do teeth) should be able to recommend if they need done or not (whether they actually do them or send you some where). Like so many others on here have said, its really the person using the tools that you need to be concerned the most with, not so much the title. I can say though, that an advantage to a vet doing dentals is the fact that they should be looking at the entire horse, not just the teeth. Not always are the teeth the problem, and a vet can help identify other issues much easier then an equine dentist. A vet has a minimum of 4 years of professional training to consider the entire picture, which I think is very beneficial.
Ultimately, I don't like to see people discredit all vets as not knowing a horse's teeth like a lay dentist would, because that is not the case for all vets. I take my horses to a board certified equine dentist (so he is a DVM board certified in equine dentistry), and he is very thorough. He does physicals on the horses prior to sedation, to ensure they are safely sedated. He also has other medical supplies if something would happen during the procedure. Overall, I think you need to do your research on who you use, whether its a vet or lay person, and understand the risk of using a layperson (if something goes wrong who do you go to since they aren't licensed?). 
Edited by Red3 2016-03-25 10:04 AM
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
 
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | Red3 - 2016-03-25 9:01 AM I think this is a great topic to discuss! I'm currently in veterinary school right now, and so far in our curriculum, we have had some equine dentistry (several lectures, hands on wet labs ). I know this does not compare to the base of knowledge that an equine dentist may have, thus bringing up the dilemma of vet vs dentist. I personally have a strong interest in equine dentistry, so I am pursuing as many options as possible to get as much information and experience before graduating. I can say so far that the information we have gotten so far in school is enough that a vet (who does not do teeth ) should be able to recommend if they need done or not (whether they actually do them or send you some where ). Like so many others on here have said, its really the person using the tools that you need to be concerned the most with, not so much the title. I can say though, that an advantage to a vet doing dentals is the fact that they should be looking at the entire horse, not just the teeth. Not always are the teeth the problem, and a vet can help identify other issues much easier then an equine dentist. A vet has a minimum of 4 years of professional training to consider the entire picture, which I think is very beneficial. Ultimately, I don't like to see people discredit all vets as not knowing a horse's teeth like a lay dentist would, because that is not the case for all vets. I take my horses to a board certified equine dentist (so he is a DVM board certified in equine dentistry ), and he is very thorough. He does physicals on the horses prior to sedation, to ensure they are safely sedated. He also has other medical supplies if something would happen during the procedure. Overall, I think you need to do your research on who you use, whether its a vet or lay person, and understand the risk of using a layperson (if something goes wrong who do you go to since they aren't licensed? ).
Best way of putting it! | |
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 Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | I use my vet. Personal preference. I had a bad experience with an equine "dentist".
But, I have a little soapbox comment:
An equine dentist goes through a few months of training at best. They may be good teeth floaters, but they are not medical professionals.
A DDS doesn't compare whatsoever. They are doctors. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1695
Location: Willows, CA | I find that a lot of Vets really don't like to do teeth. Because of this they often put a thumb in the corner of the horses mouth, check the outside edge of the uppers and declare that the horse is good to go for another six months. When this happens, the inside of the lowers are not checked. This is where hooks are missed that cause the horse pain and lead to chewing less than they comfortably would. This leads to a bunch of digestive problems from ulcers to failures to thrive. With the feeding programs that I design, I rely on getting efficient digestion of the roughage part of the diet. This is not possible if a horse has a sore mouth and that roughage is not properly chewed. Because of this I prefer an experienced equine dentist to keep teeth up to ideal condition.
Edited by winwillows 2016-03-25 1:22 PM
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Veteran
Posts: 227
Location: Heart of Texas | I don't think there's a right or a wrong. A lot of personal preferences play a role. Some people like someone to come to them. Some like their vet so much they couldn't imagine putting their horses health in anothers hands. I personally have my vet do it. I love his facilities and belive he does a great job. Plus I get my annual exam done and usually a coggins. So I kill all birds with one stone. I've started to vaccinate myself so I try to make my visits count. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 3534
Location: Stuck in a cubicle having tropical thoughts | Equine Dentist all the way. And he does the sedation. You'll be hard pressed to find an equine dentist who will let a vet "assist" and do the sedation. Around here, one of the vets has it out for the equine dentists and likes to file complaints against them. I probably trust my dentist more than I do one of the local vets. In fact, i pick up my vaccines from the vet when I know the dentist is coming and I ask the dentist to administer the vaccinations also.
I had a mare that had extremely sensitive skin and was very difficult to go near with a needle. So my dentist would bring his wife. We had to use a lip chain with her to sedate her and to get the llip chain on, we had to put a bit in first. He knew how difficult she was so always scheduled me when his wife could assist with the difficult mare. I really appreciated that and I really trusted him and his wife to handle my mare so that no humans or horses were hurt.
I only want somebody who sedates and uses power tools. Most of the vets around here only use hand tools.
That being said, i know there are vets out there that do a great job and use power tools but none of them live near me. | |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | I'm a 3rd year vet student at TAMU-CVM and I've taken every opportunity to build on my knowledge base for dentistry. We have annual wet labs where we work on cadavers, and its built into our curriculum 3rd year for all students. Additionally, I took an additional equine dentistry elective where I really polished my skills with teeth.
It is technically "easy" to float teeth- that is the LAST thing we are taught to do. What is not "easy" is understanding all of the anatomy and physiology of the rest of the horse, how to see minor changes that can mean major things. How to identify problems that other people aren't trained to see.
But- you get what you put in. Don't expect your dog and cat vet to do a decent job floating teeth if you are one of 20 horses they float annually. Find a vet who says I LIKE DENTISTRY (like me haha) and don't use just any vet due to convenience.
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You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | Red3 - 2016-03-25 10:01 AM
I think this is a great topic to discuss! I'm currently in veterinary school right now, and so far in our curriculum, we have had some equine dentistry (several lectures, hands on wet labs ). I know this does not compare to the base of knowledge that an equine dentist may have, thus bringing up the dilemma of vet vs dentist. I personally have a strong interest in equine dentistry, so I am pursuing as many options as possible to get as much information and experience before graduating. I can say so far that the information we have gotten so far in school is enough that a vet (who does not do teeth ) should be able to recommend if they need done or not (whether they actually do them or send you some where ). Like so many others on here have said, its really the person using the tools that you need to be concerned the most with, not so much the title. I can say though, that an advantage to a vet doing dentals is the fact that they should be looking at the entire horse, not just the teeth. Not always are the teeth the problem, and a vet can help identify other issues much easier then an equine dentist. A vet has a minimum of 4 years of professional training to consider the entire picture, which I think is very beneficial.
Ultimately, I don't like to see people discredit all vets as not knowing a horse's teeth like a lay dentist would, because that is not the case for all vets. I take my horses to a board certified equine dentist (so he is a DVM board certified in equine dentistry ), and he is very thorough. He does physicals on the horses prior to sedation, to ensure they are safely sedated. He also has other medical supplies if something would happen during the procedure. Overall, I think you need to do your research on who you use, whether its a vet or lay person, and understand the risk of using a layperson (if something goes wrong who do you go to since they aren't licensed? ).
Where are you going to vet school?
Also want to add, there is recourse the owner can take to protect themselves if a vet messes up. There's not really much they can do if a lay person messes up. You can complain to our vet boards and actually get disciplinary action on a vet who does something awful.. if a lay dentist screws up theres not much you can do to rectify it. | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1118
Location: The South | Not wanting to hijack the thread, but does anyone know if there's an online database for finding board certified dentists? Or if anyone knows of someone good that is around Central AR could you PM me please?  | |
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Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | barlracr429 - 2016-03-25 12:31 PM Equine Dentist all the way. And he does the sedation. You'll be hard pressed to find an equine dentist who will let a vet "assist" and do the sedation. Around here, one of the vets has it out for the equine dentists and likes to file complaints against them. I probably trust my dentist more than I do one of the local vets. In fact, i pick up my vaccines from the vet when I know the dentist is coming and I ask the dentist to administer the vaccinations also.
I had a mare that had extremely sensitive skin and was very difficult to go near with a needle. So my dentist would bring his wife. We had to use a lip chain with her to sedate her and to get the llip chain on, we had to put a bit in first. He knew how difficult she was so always scheduled me when his wife could assist with the difficult mare. I really appreciated that and I really trusted him and his wife to handle my mare so that no humans or horses were hurt.
I only want somebody who sedates and uses power tools. Most of the vets around here only use hand tools.
That being said, i know there are vets out there that do a great job and use power tools but none of them live near me.
I think any equine dentist that administers vaccines is a law suit waiting to happen for them...I have given my own vaccines for 15+ yrs, but you will never catch me giving any to my best friends horses.
I also thought it was very bad business for them to give a sedation. That is the reason some dentists will have a vet give it. | |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | wyoming barrel racer - 2016-03-25 2:21 PM barlracr429 - 2016-03-25 12:31 PM Equine Dentist all the way. And he does the sedation. You'll be hard pressed to find an equine dentist who will let a vet "assist" and do the sedation. Around here, one of the vets has it out for the equine dentists and likes to file complaints against them. I probably trust my dentist more than I do one of the local vets. In fact, i pick up my vaccines from the vet when I know the dentist is coming and I ask the dentist to administer the vaccinations also.
I had a mare that had extremely sensitive skin and was very difficult to go near with a needle. So my dentist would bring his wife. We had to use a lip chain with her to sedate her and to get the llip chain on, we had to put a bit in first. He knew how difficult she was so always scheduled me when his wife could assist with the difficult mare. I really appreciated that and I really trusted him and his wife to handle my mare so that no humans or horses were hurt.
I only want somebody who sedates and uses power tools. Most of the vets around here only use hand tools.
That being said, i know there are vets out there that do a great job and use power tools but none of them live near me. I think any equine dentist that administers vaccines is a law suit waiting to happen for them...I have given my own vaccines for 15+ yrs, but you will never catch me giving any to my best friends horses.
I also thought it was very bad business for them to give a sedation. That is the reason some dentists will have a vet give it.
It is illegal in many states for a lay person to sedate or give vaccines, drugs, etc. It is considered practicing veterinary medicine without a lisence. | |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| I would like to point out that there are DVMs out there that are also equine dentists. Mine is fabulous and I'm lucky to have her work on my horses. Worth traveling for! | |
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Veteran
Posts: 112
| casualdust07 - 2016-03-25 2:52 PM
Red3 - 2016-03-25 10:01 AM
I think this is a great topic to discuss! I'm currently in veterinary school right now, and so far in our curriculum, we have had some equine dentistry (several lectures, hands on wet labs ). I know this does not compare to the base of knowledge that an equine dentist may have, thus bringing up the dilemma of vet vs dentist. I personally have a strong interest in equine dentistry, so I am pursuing as many options as possible to get as much information and experience before graduating. I can say so far that the information we have gotten so far in school is enough that a vet (who does not do teeth ) should be able to recommend if they need done or not (whether they actually do them or send you some where ). Like so many others on here have said, its really the person using the tools that you need to be concerned the most with, not so much the title. I can say though, that an advantage to a vet doing dentals is the fact that they should be looking at the entire horse, not just the teeth. Not always are the teeth the problem, and a vet can help identify other issues much easier then an equine dentist. A vet has a minimum of 4 years of professional training to consider the entire picture, which I think is very beneficial.
Ultimately, I don't like to see people discredit all vets as not knowing a horse's teeth like a lay dentist would, because that is not the case for all vets. I take my horses to a board certified equine dentist (so he is a DVM board certified in equine dentistry ), and he is very thorough. He does physicals on the horses prior to sedation, to ensure they are safely sedated. He also has other medical supplies if something would happen during the procedure. Overall, I think you need to do your research on who you use, whether its a vet or lay person, and understand the risk of using a layperson (if something goes wrong who do you go to since they aren't licensed? ).
Where are you going to vet school?
Also want to add, there is recourse the owner can take to protect themselves if a vet messes up. There's not really much they can do if a lay person messes up. You can complain to our vet boards and actually get disciplinary action on a vet who does something awful.. if a lay dentist screws up theres not much you can do to rectify it.
Im at Ohio State! I went down to Texas for 3 externships last summer! Loved it!  | |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | My husband is now retired and only does my horse but was an equine dentist for 37 years. He worked under a man that use to teach at the best dentistry school in the US. His first 18 years was on the Chicago Race Tracks and always worked with numerous vets and would have them come and tranq when needed. Most of the horses he did didn't need tranq. He started doing teeth long before the power floats came along. Very few vets would do teeth back then and most had equine dentists that they worked with.
Fast forward power floats and it then made the vets job easier so more started to do them. Like everything else some are good and some are horrible. Power floats did open the door for more vets to get interested in doing teeth. Like CasualDust said...doing teeth is not technically hard and my husband says the same thing. Back in his day and presetn because of using hand floats...it took a lot of stamina and strength to do teeth.
When we moved to Texas he found vets that worked with him and actually had 4 vets that he did their personal horses and would work with him.
It's against the law in Texas to tranq a customers horse but the customer can tranq their own.
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 Crazy Doggy Mommy
Posts: 1419
Location: Where Governor's make the liscense plates | We have a really great equine dentist here in Illinois- I would choose him first and foremost before most local vets. I prefer a specialist work on the specialty at hand. I'm a firm believer in yearly dental checks and floating. I also like power floating opposed to hand floating, much quicker and more effective IMO, but in the wrong hands WAYYYY too much can be taken off | |
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Veteran
Posts: 120
| Red3 - 2016-03-25 9:01 AM
I think this is a great topic to discuss! I'm currently in veterinary school right now, and so far in our curriculum, we have had some equine dentistry (several lectures, hands on wet labs ). I know this does not compare to the base of knowledge that an equine dentist may have, thus bringing up the dilemma of vet vs dentist. I personally have a strong interest in equine dentistry, so I am pursuing as many options as possible to get as much information and experience before graduating. I can say so far that the information we have gotten so far in school is enough that a vet (who does not do teeth ) should be able to recommend if they need done or not (whether they actually do them or send you some where ). Like so many others on here have said, its really the person using the tools that you need to be concerned the most with, not so much the title. I can say though, that an advantage to a vet doing dentals is the fact that they should be looking at the entire horse, not just the teeth. Not always are the teeth the problem, and a vet can help identify other issues much easier then an equine dentist. A vet has a minimum of 4 years of professional training to consider the entire picture, which I think is very beneficial.
Ultimately, I don't like to see people discredit all vets as not knowing a horse's teeth like a lay dentist would, because that is not the case for all vets. I take my horses to a board certified equine dentist (so he is a DVM board certified in equine dentistry ), and he is very thorough. He does physicals on the horses prior to sedation, to ensure they are safely sedated. He also has other medical supplies if something would happen during the procedure. Overall, I think you need to do your research on who you use, whether its a vet or lay person, and understand the risk of using a layperson (if something goes wrong who do you go to since they aren't licensed? ).
I so wish we had someone board certified around where I live to do teeth! It seems like a lot of the vets (around me at least) aren't super thorough when examining teeth and doing a float. A friend of mine hasn't had one of her horses teeth done in I think over 7 years and she has used the same vet for probably 20 years now which makes me wonder why her vet wouldn't offer to look in his mouth. I wonder if some horses really don't need their teeth done very often? I'm not sure. Thanks for your great information though! | |
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Miss Not Exciting
Posts: 3279
Location: Ft Worth TX | Those who side with an equine dentist have you looked up any of the schools for equine dentistry and seen the length of time you spend at school and what it takes to become an equine dentist? There is a school you can go to for 3 weeks and pass the TA DA your an equine dentist... no internship required. That is less time then spent at farrier school so you might be weary of what dentists work on your horse.... | |
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 Fact Checker
Posts: 16575
Location: Displaced Iowegian | barrelracr131 - 2016-03-25 2:46 PM wyoming barrel racer - 2016-03-25 2:21 PM barlracr429 - 2016-03-25 12:31 PM Equine Dentist all the way. And he does the sedation. You'll be hard pressed to find an equine dentist who will let a vet "assist" and do the sedation. Around here, one of the vets has it out for the equine dentists and likes to file complaints against them. I probably trust my dentist more than I do one of the local vets. In fact, i pick up my vaccines from the vet when I know the dentist is coming and I ask the dentist to administer the vaccinations also.
I had a mare that had extremely sensitive skin and was very difficult to go near with a needle. So my dentist would bring his wife. We had to use a lip chain with her to sedate her and to get the llip chain on, we had to put a bit in first. He knew how difficult she was so always scheduled me when his wife could assist with the difficult mare. I really appreciated that and I really trusted him and his wife to handle my mare so that no humans or horses were hurt.
I only want somebody who sedates and uses power tools. Most of the vets around here only use hand tools.
That being said, i know there are vets out there that do a great job and use power tools but none of them live near me. I think any equine dentist that administers vaccines is a law suit waiting to happen for them...I have given my own vaccines for 15+ yrs, but you will never catch me giving any to my best friends horses.
I also thought it was very bad business for them to give a sedation. That is the reason some dentists will have a vet give it.
EXACTLY my thoughts...... in some states, you can not even help your neighbor vaccinate cattle..... | |
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