Carry out post procedural equine dental activities

This standard covers carrying out the activities required following equine dental procedures. It includes providing advice to the owner/agent, completing records and maintaining hygiene and biosecurity.

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 the limits of your authority, expertise, training, competence and experience
2. explain the treatment you have performed in the horse’s mouth to the owner/agent
3. advise the owner/agent of any problems or potential problems with the horse’s dentition
4. outline areas where veterinary advice should be sought
5. contact the horse’s usual veterinary surgeon if the horse is likely to require any immediate follow-up
6. advise the owner/agent on the best course of action prior to the next visit, to include:
   P6.1 advice on when the horse can next be ridden or exercised
   P6.2 advice on support through progression of oral health/disease
   P6.3 scheduling of appointments
   P6.4 observations
   P6.5 referrals
7. record the findings of the examination and treatment performed
8. leave a record of your contact details so that the owner or keeper can get in touch if they have any queries
9. clarify the amount of payment required, how this is made up and agree on how the payment will be made
10. confirm the customer is issued with a receipt once payment is made
11. communicate professionally with others involved in the care of the horse, including the animal’s usual veterinary surgeon or another equine dental technician, and provide notes where required
12. clean and remove all equipment
13. deal with waste safely and correctly in accordance with legislation
14. comply with the current animal health and welfare legislation and codes of practice at all times
15. confirm that working methods promote health and safety and are consistent with the relevant legislation and codes of practice
16. maintain appropriate levels of hygiene and biosecurity throughout the process
17. 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 after-effects of sedation on the horse
3. who should be consulted/informed of your activities and findings
4. the role and importance of veterinary referral and the communication between the veterinary surgeon and equine dental technician
5. the advice and information you will need to provide to the owner/agent of the horse, to include:
   K5.1 advice on when the horse can next be ridden or exercised
   K5.2 advice on support through progression of oral health/disease
   K5.3 scheduling of appointments
   K5.4 observations
   K5.5 referrals
6. the importance of recording your examination findings and the treatment provided
7. the fees for services and how these are made up, including costs and taxes and the reason for each type of fee
8. how to process payments, and any relevant forms that need to be completed
9. the importance of client confidentiality and the principles and legislation relating to data protection
10. your responsibilities for the duty of care of animals under the current animal welfare legislation
11. your responsibilities under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation and codes of practice
12. the importance of maintaining appropriate levels of hygiene and biosecurity and how this can be achieved
13. your professional responsibilities as an equine dental technician
14. 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.