An equine dentist can alleviate a horse's dental problems and improve its quality of life.
A horse's teeth continue to grow throughout its life and without proper care, a horse can experience tooth-related symptoms ranging from behavioral changes to weight loss and inability to eat. As awareness of equine dental health expands, the demand for equine dentists grows. If you are considering a career in equine dentistry, be sure to research your state's specific requirements. Some states require a doctorate in veterinary medicine while others only require certification as an Equine Dental Technician.
Universities
One way to become an equine dentist is to go to veterinary school and specialize in equine dentistry. Veterinarians must complete a four-year program at an accredited university in order to earn a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. As of 2010, 26 out of the 50 states had a college with a veterinary school accredited by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). You can find an updated list of accredited schools on the AVMA website (see Resources). In addition, all states require a state-issued license to practice veterinary medicine. Although attending a university requires a long-term time investment, it will prepare you for a lifelong career in equine dentistry.
The American School of Equine Dentistry
The American School of Equine Dentistry in Purcellville, Virginia, offers a four-week program that will prepare you to take the Equine Dental Technician Certification Written Exam. The coursework includes classroom study of pharmacology, equine anatomy and physiology, business, and other subjects. There is also a lab portion that includes observation of actual equine dental procedures. After completing the program and obtaining your certification, you will be able to work as an assistant to an equine veterinarian.
The American School of Equine Dentistry
36691 Sawmill Lane
Purcellville, VA 20132
540-668-6505
amscheqdentistry.com
The Academy of Equine Dentistry (AED)
The Academy of Equine Dentistry in Glenns Ferry, Idaho, has impressive facilities. The facilities include on-site horse stalls and a full-body horse skeleton in addition to many horse skulls. Students have the opportunity to perform dental procedures on horse skulls and live horses. AED offers both a certification program for Equine Dental Technicians and continuing education courses for veterinarians with previous training in equine dentistry.
The Academy of Equine Dentistry
242 East 1st Avenue
Glenns Ferry, ID 83623
208-366-2315
equinedentalacademy.com
The Midwest Equine Dentistry School
The Midwest Equine Dentistry School in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan offers a certification program for Equine Dental Technicians. In an effort to support students who live elsewhere, the school provides on-campus housing. The school is committed to providing a thorough education and informing its students of all laws they must follow once they are certified, which is important since such laws vary from state to state.
The Midwest Equine Dentistry School
5365 South Winn Road
Mt Pleasant, MI 48858
989-772-2999
midwestequinedental.com
The Texas Institute of Equine Dentistry (TIED)
The Texas Institute of Equine Dentistry, in Weatherford, was started in 2002 by Randy Riedinger, a graduate of AED. TIED provides certification programs for Equine Dental Technicians at the general, advanced, and master levels. The general certification program lasts 18 months and is designed to prepare students to identify dental problems and perform basic dental procedures such as floating (a way to grind down a horse's teeth so that its bite is even and balanced).
The Texas Institute of Equine Dentistry
1320 Farm to Market Road 113 North
Weatherford, TX 76088
940-682-2131
equinedentistryschool.com
