Prepare to carry out equine dental procedures

This standard covers the preparation required to carry out equine dental procedures and includes the working environment, equipment and the process to gain information on the horse and its history.

Preparation allows animal welfare, biosecurity and health and safety to be prioritised and communicated to others in the context of the horse’s overall health, concurrent disease and environment.

This standard is for equine dental technicians. Users of the standard will need to ensure that their practice reflects up-to-date information and policies, and that they work within the limits of their authority, expertise, training, competence and experience.

1. work in accordance with the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966) and within the limits of your authority, expertise, training, competence and experience
2. establish contact with the horse owner/agent and/or veterinary surgeon on arrival
3. clarify and confirm the work that is to be carried out, its estimated cost and the method of payment
4. obtain and record consent from the owner/agent before handling and treating the horse
5. identify and address health and safety risks in relation to the work area and the work being carried out for yourself, the horse and others
6. communicate the risks and the steps to reduce them to others in the work area
7. locate the horse to be treated and establish a suitable area within which to carry out the work
8. recognise and interpret equine behavioural signs in relation to an equine dental examination
9. recognise the behaviours, conditions and procedures/treatment required indicating chemical sedation is required
10. communicate professionally with a veterinary surgeon to arrange provision of sedation at a mutually convenient time and location, if required
11. select the required equipment and instruments and ensure they are properly prepared and located within easy access, but where they will not be damaged
12. connect electrical equipment safely, where used (Category 2 and 3 qualified only) and ensure it is kept away from water and the horse
13. establish hygiene and biosecurity measures and ensure they are maintained throughout
14. use the appropriate personal protective equipment
15. prepare a suitable disinfectant solution
16. find out the history of the horse and its wellbeing to include:
    P16.1 its age and condition
    P16.2 any problems eating or when ridden
    P16.3 when the horse’s teeth were last checked and by whom
    P16.4 a review of the past dental charts, if there are any
    P16.5 the history of handling and/or sedation for dental treatment in the past
    P16.6 the owner/agent’s aspirations for the horse
    P17.7 who the current veterinary surgeon is and the relevant veterinary history
    P16.8 the horse’s current vaccination status
    P16.9 the horse’s environment and husbandry
17. comply with current animal health and welfare legislation and codes of practice at all times
18. maintain your own professional standards and ethics as an equine dental technician

1. the requirements of the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966) in relation to your role and the categories of equine dental procedures, to cover:
   K1.1 Category 1
   K1.2 Category 2
   K1.3 Category 3
2. the importance of maintaining appropriate levels of hygiene and biosecurity and how this can be achieved
3. your responsibilities under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation and codes of practice
4. the importance and correct use of personal protective equipment
5. the variety of equipment available to carry out equine dental procedures and how to choose the most appropriate equipment for the task
6. the safe working practices for the use of electrical equipment (Category 2 and 3 qualified only) to include:
   K6.1 preparation
   K6.2 connection to a power source
   K6.3 positioning
7. how to use and maintain the equipment required to carry out equine dental procedures
8. the importance of gaining informed consent from the owner/agent of the horse prior to handling and treatment
9. the fees for services and how these are made up, including costs and taxes and the reason for each type of fee
10. how to assess the risks prior to carrying out equine dental procedures
11. how to minimise risks to yourself, the horse and others
12. the laws governing the use of animal medicines
13. equine behaviour including signs of avoidance, pain, malnutrition, oral pain and oral diseases, where relevant
14. how to select and prepare a suitable working environment in which to carry out equine dental procedures
15. how to select and prepare a suitable disinfectant
16. how to take a history from the horse’s owner/agent and the relevance of:
    K16.1 its age and condition
    K16.2 any problems eating or when ridden
    K16.3 when the horse’s teeth were last checked and by whom
    K16.4 a review of the past dental charts, if there are any
    K16.5 the history of handling and/or sedation for dental treatment in the past
    K16.6 the owner/agent’s aspirations for the horse
    K16.7 who the current veterinary surgeon is and the relevant veterinary history
    K16.8 the horse’s current vaccination status
    K16.9 the horse’s environment and husbandry
17. the signs and symptoms that give rise to the suspicion of infectious disease on the premises
18. your responsibilities for the duty of care of animals under the current animal health and welfare legislation and codes of practice
19. your professional responsibilities as an equine dental technician
20. your legal and professional liability when working as an equine dental technician and the importance of appropriate insurance cover

Animal welfare legislation:
England and Wales – Animal Welfare Act 2006
Scotland – Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006
Northern Ireland – Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

Category 1, 2 and 3 Equine Dental Procedures:
Category 1 Procedures
Those procedures which an individual can perform after recognised training without specific attainment of qualifications.
examination of teeth;
removal of sharp enamel points using manual rasps only;
removal of small dental overgrowths (maximum 4mm reductions) using manual rasps only;
rostral profiling of the first cheek teeth (maximum 4mm reductions), previously termed “bit seat shaping”;
removal of loose deciduous caps; and
removal of supragingival calculus

Category 2 Procedures
Additional procedures suitable for delegation to an EDT (Equine Dental Technician) who has trained and passed an examination approved by DEFRA:
examination, evaluation and recording of dental abnormalities;
the removal of loose teeth or dental fragments with negligible periodontal attachments;
the removal of erupted, non-displaced wolf teeth in the upper or lower jaw under direct and continuous veterinary supervision;
palliative rasping of fractured and adjacent teeth; and
the use of motorised dental instruments where these are used to reduce overgrowths and remove sharp enamel points only. Horses should be sedated unless it is deemed safe to undertake any proposed procedure without sedation, with the full informed consent of the owner.

Category 3 Procedures
All other procedures and any new procedures, which arise as a result of scientific and technical development, would by default fall into category 3, which are those procedures restricted to qualified veterinary surgeons and are not proposed for deregulation. It is therefore NOT legal for these to be performed by non-veterinarians.

Horse
For the purpose of this standard the term “horse” includes donkey, ass, mule, hinny, pony and other equidae