How to Train to Become an Equine Dental Technician (Horse Dentist)

Training to become an Equine Dental Technician (EDT) will take many years of hard work and commitment. Before you decide that this is the right route for your career it is advisable to speak to qualified dentists about their work and where possible spend some time doing 'work experience' to ensure it is the right move. Once you have decided that becoming an Equine Dental Technician is a career that you want to pursue there are certain steps you will need to follow:

The British Association of Equine Dental Technicians (BAEDT) recommend that you should find a suitably qualified EDT or veterinary surgeon and train as an apprentice with them. Until recently it was possible to complete a degree course through Hartpury College however upon completion of this you would still need to sit the BEVA/ BEDA exams at the end to be considered suitably qualified by the BAEDT. The Equine Dentistry course at Hartpury College has now been discontinued and does not look likely to start again in the near future.

The BAEDT are not the only organisation to offer equine dentistry qualifications which are recognised by DEFRA; there is also the Worldwide Association of Equine Dentistry (WAED) and The International Association of Equine Dentistry (IAED). However the British Association of Equine Dental Technicians is the only organisation that requires all members to have passed the BEVA/ BEDA exams and is therefore the only organisation recognised in the UK by the British Equine Veterinary Association.

There are various colleges around the world that offer courses in Equine Dentistry, these range in length from a few weeks to many months. As there is no law in the UK making it compulsory to sit the BEVA/ BEDA exams in order to practice as an EDT it is possible to follow this route. If you have not completed the exams you will however only be allowed to carry out category one procedures which include: teeth rasping and removal of tartar. More advanced procedures do require you to be qualified by law.

In the UK, more and more horse owners and equine professionals are taking interest in the qualifications of those dealing with their animals. It is possible that eventually a move will be made to ensure that all Equine Dental Technicians are qualified. This is something to take into consideration when deciding on the route to go down.

Whichever training method you choose it is important that you are confident and capable in the treatment you are administering to horses. Poorly trained Equine Dental Technicians can cause harm and pain to the horse they are treating. Those Equine Dentists that do a good job will get a great reputation and find it easier to build a successful business so it is worth investing in solid training for as long as it takes to get you to the standard you want to be.

Equine Professional is a supplier of quality Equine Dental Tools, Rasps, Blades and Speculums. We have packages available for equine dental students to provide everything you will need during training and beyond. http://www.equine-professional.com/

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