Integrity and Communication / Intent
History of Equine Dentistry / Evolution of the Horse
Basic Terminology
Basic Anatomy of Skull and Numbering System
Tooth Structure - Molar and Incisor
Week One, Day Two
Biomechanics: oral cavity and dentition
Basic parts of the mouth and their function and movement
(mastication pattern, lateral movement (lateral excursion), anterior
movement, posterior movement, axial flow
Creating a Paradigm, arcade, table surface, lateral excursion, % of
occlusion, three point balance, simultaneous centric occlusion
Aging of the equine by dentition
Week One, Day Three
Equine Hyoid Apparatus (tympanohyoid, stylohyoid, epihyoid,
ceratohyoid, basihyoid, lingual process, thyrohyoid)
Tongue, soft tissue, epiglottis, airflow, axial flow, bars, palate,
diastema, commissure, pouchey flesh, palentine artery, bit seats
Basic Procedures for Performance and Corrective Dentistry
Week One, Day Four
Instruments (handling/placement/storage)
Extractions (wolf teeth/premolar caps/incisor caps)
Wet Lab - Evaluations of live horses
Week One, Day Five
Review Thursday's cases
Wet Lab, Work Horses
Week Two, Day One
Review cases from Friday
Aging Review
Review field guide
Review goals of equilibration/biomechanics/paradigm
Aging Quiz
Review stall set-up and assignments
Wet lab - work on live horses
Week Two, Day Two
Review cases from Monday
Burring (Instrument & Placement, foot pedal speed, hook,
protuberant, wave, loose teeth, ramp, maintaining correct angles
while burring.
Review lateral excursion, percent of occlusion, SCO
Wet Lab, meet with horse owners
Week Two, Day Three
Review wet lab cases
Review burring (molar and incisor)
Cutting (molar and incisor)
Extraction (molar and incisor) in relation to horses age, loose teeth
Week Two, Day Four
Case Reviews
Riedinger Procedure- Correcting Overbite
Wet Lab
Week Two, Day Five
Case Reviews
Wet Lab
Business Ethics
Professionalism
Continuing Education, horsemanship, advancing dentistry
techniques
Written Examinations
Head and Neck Anatomy
Section 1-
Basic facts about cells and tissues
Histology, microstructure, function, physiology
Growth and development
Section 2-
Nervous System and circulatory system
Section 3-
Head and Neck Muscles
Salivary Glands
Digestive System
Section 4-
Bones, Joints, Bone Development, Skeletal Growth
Whole Body Equine Anatomy
THESE ARE ONLY TWO of the FOUR COURSES WHICH REQUIRE
COMPLETION BEFORE ONE CAN GRADUATE FROM THE FIRST
LEVEL OF BASIC EQUINE DENTISTRY. A TOTAL OF 256 HRS
REQUIRED TO GRADUATE FROM THIS LEVEL.
AFTER COMPLETION OF OF THE FIRST 4 CLASSES, A STUDENT
MAY ENROLL IN ADVANCED LEVEL COURSES. AFTER
COMPLETION OF ADVANCED LEVEL COURSES, A STUDENT MAY
ENROLL IN MASTER LEVEL COURSES, TOTALLING HUNDREDS
AND HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF SCHOOLING, TAUGHT BY
VETERINARIANS AND MASTER EQUINE DENTISTS. VET
SCHOOLS OFFER LITTLE TO NO TRAINING IN EQUINE
DENTISTRY AND THEREFORE IT'S QUITE OBVIOUS WHY VETS
ARE FAR LESS QUALIFIED TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE. A
TRAINED PROFESSIONAL IS NOT ALLOWED TO PROVIDE THIS
MUCH NEEDED SERVICE UNLESS HE IS EMPLOYED BY A VET
AND UNDER THAT VETS SUPERVISION. IT SHOULD BE THE
EXACT OPPOSITE. TRAINED EQUINE DENTISTS SHOULD BE
SUPERVISING WHEN A VET ATTEMPTS TO PROVIDE THIS
SERVICE.
Click here to see the curriculum at the Oklahoma State University
Center for Veterinary Health Sciences - Equine Dentistry is not
offered as an elective at this school
The Academy of
Equine Dentistry
A basic course list includes:
Equine Dentistry and Oral
Anatomy, Basic Dentistry,
Intermediate Dentistry
(second level), Advanced
Dentistry (third level),
Advanced Dentistry (fourth
level), as well as continuing
education for certified
dentists and veterinarians
with advanced knowledge in
equine dentistry.
Equine Dentistry School Curriculum
SCHOOLS OF EQUINE DENTISTRY