Equine dental care

Last changed: 15 November 2023
horse-at-dentist

SLU's Advanced Training in Equine Oral Health is open to veterinarians with equine practice and dentists working in equine clinics under veterinary responsibility. The course consists of three sub-courses (1-3) where groups of up to 24 participants gather for theoretical and practical exercises. In addition, there are practical home assignments that the participants carry out between the sub-courses and the possibility of an examination. It takes about 3 years to go straight from sub-course 1 to examination - and you can be awarded the title of "equine dentist".

The different elements of the training

The modules consist of equal parts theory and practical skills training. Between modules, participants are required to collect dental cases and then present one of these at the next course they attend.

Module 1:

Anatomy and physiology of the masticatory system, bite development and age changes, clinical examination of the oral cavity, normal findings and common pathological oral changes and their treatment.

Module 2:

X-ray, ultrasound and scintigraphy as diagnostic aids in oral cavity investigations, tumors and malformations, stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontitis and other pathological changes in the soft tissues of the oral cavity, medical treatments, sampling for bacteriology, PAD, virology, masticatory mechanics and basic principles of orthodontics. In addition, practical training on working with rotary dental instruments in equine mouths was included. Safety considerations for practitioner and patient when working with electrical instruments in a humid environment, service and maintenance of instruments. Presentation of homework assignment

Module 3:

Dental caries, endodontic treatments, tooth fractures, jaw fractures, tooth extraction and tooth decay.Presentation of homework.

hästtandvård Foto: Lisa Chröisty

Examination - theory and practice

The examination takes place at the earliest 1 year after completion of course 3 with an approved course certificate. For people who have obtained their knowledge of the horse's chewing system in another way, the examination is offered as below after presentation of Curriculum Vitae, Curicculum Veritas, documented knowledge corresponding to the content of the three sub-courses!

Those who wish to participate in the examination must submit 3 case descriptions of approximately 1 A4 size no later than 1 month before the examination date. The 3 cases, which should not be the same as those presented by the participants during the sub-courses, must be written as case reports (short history, clinical picture, diagnosis, treatment with justification of what has been done, prognosis and intended or performed follow-up) and not be pure journal extracts. Access to the theoretical examination is only offered after the case reports have been approved.

Part 1: Theoretical section

Questions in flipchart exam form based on the content of the 3 different sub-courses. Writing time 120 minutes

LUNCH

For admission to the practical part, a passing grade in the morning theoretical part is required.

Part 2 & 3 Practical section
Two parts:

  1. Practical tasks on fresh preparations with diagnoses related to the 3 sub-courses (40 min)
  2. Three dry preparations with simulated oral cavity changes. Assessment of clinical diagnosis and prognosis, propose treatment and give suggestions for follow-up (40 min)

Tip. Use ctrl+f to search by name or location in the list of equine dentists.

Facts:

To pass the examination, 70% of the questions must be correctly answered and approximately 70% of the practical tests must be correctly performed/answered. The grading scale is fail (1) pass (2).

During the examination, an independent supervisor appointed by SVS is invited to attend both the theoretical and the practical part of the examination.

The results of the examination are reported on the same day as the examination.

Examination of persons who have not completed the courses at SLU will be charged **** SEK.

Examiner: Ove Wattle - Examining teacher: Torbjörn Lundström.


Contact

Ove Wattle

Senior Lecturer at the Department of Clinical Sciences; Kliniska vetenskaper

Telephone: +4618671386
E-mail: ove.wattle@slu.se