An excellent career option for anyone who enjoys working with animals and is interested in dentistry is to become an equine dentist. An equine dentist is a professional who takes care of a horses teeth and gums. While this is a relatively new field of employment, an equine dentist is quite important because the condition of a horse’s teeth and gums are very important towards a horse’s overall health. Previously, veterinarians took care of a horse’s teeth and gums, but many vets now prefer that equine dentists take care of that aspect so the vet can concentrate on the rest of the horse.
To become an equine dentist you will first need to get an education. A few colleges across the country offer programs which will give you the education needed to become an Equine Dental Technician. In these programs you will learn all about a horse’s teeth and gums, how to identify problems, and how to cure any issues.
Since equine dentistry is a field growing in popularity, getting into an equine dentistry program can be quite competitive. Most of these programs require their applicants to have a degree in a medical or science field, experience working with horses, and a few references from veterinarian, professors, or equine dentists.
After finishing school and gaining any necessary equine dentistry license, the next step is to get a job. While in school, you will hopefully have gained an apprenticeship with either an established equine dentistry practice or with a horse veterinary practice. Initially working with a practice in which you already have experience may be the best idea because starting your own practice comes with a sizeable amount of risks and costs.
After working with an established practice for a few years, you may be ready to start your own practice. To start you own practice you will need a reliable client base as well as a lot of equipment. Equipment you need to buy will include forceps, cutters, speculums, restraints, and power equipment. To establish a program you will also need an office, an assistant, and plenty of liability insurance.
