RESOLUTION FOR DENTISTRY BATTLE POSSIBLE
By Karen Brown
How do you get the best medical care for your horse when that care is not
available through a licensed veterinarian? That is the ultimate question behind
the legal battle to prevent laymen from performing equine dentistry. Indeed, this
is the question looming over all types of non-traditional modalities.
Given the ever growing popularity of complementary and alternative medicines
(CAMs) it should be glaringly obvious to the administrations of all veterinary
colleges that the public perceives value in these modalities. It follows that
veterinarians should also be cognizant of that fact and should be considering
how they can best provide those modalities within a legal and ethical framework
that protects the equine patient while also providing the most beneficial medicine
available.
Equine dentistry has advanced to the point where it is a specialty and should be
treated as such. While equine dentistry legally falls within the scope of veterinary
medicine, the fact is that many vets do not have up to date training and
education. Major advances in techniques, tools, and theory have been made in
recent years. Only if a vet voluntarily seeks out this new information, will he be
able to provide quality dentistry as defined by today’s standards.
Vet schools have been updating their curriculums to accommodate these
advances, but it is unclear how their teachings compare to that in private dental
schools. Private schools generally require around 4 weeks full time study
combined with practical application. Vet schools provide a small exposure to
dentistry within the scope of various classes; concentrated study is offered in an
elective course.
There is a wide disparity among practicing veterinarians about the importance of
dentistry as well as the need and understanding of Comprehensive Dentistry. A
large number of vets prefer not to perform dental work and/or still use out-dated
tools and methods. The popularity of layman dentists attests to the fact that the
public clearly demands a higher level of service. Discerning horse owners have
the ability to perceive improvements in behavior, training issues, and overall
health when their horses benefit from a thorough, modern day dental program.
The current battle is staged by the veterinary community in the effort to prevent
any layman from performing dentistry. The position holds that dentistry is within
the scope of veterinary care and there is a great concern for quality as well as
the dangers of non-vets administering drugs. It is imperative that the equine
patients and their owners are protected with regard to these issues.
Solutions in the form of compromise and cooperation are possible. All equine
dentists, layman or vet, have an obligation to their clients to be fully
knowledgeable about the craft. That includes any and all tools, procedures, and
medications used for the purpose of performing dentistry.
If layman dentists are allowed to continue working, there should be mandatory
training in the use of all types of medications: their uses, dosages, contraindications, side-affects, and most important to the ongoing battle, detrimental
affects that may cause damage or death to the patient. It is possible, although
improbable, to have layman dentists work under the supervision of a vet. The
logistics make that option unattractive to all parties, including horse owners.
An alternative is to require that layman dentists obtain a similar level of education
in medications as human dentists. Human dentists regularly sedate patients and
prescribe anti-biotics. It is reasonable to expect that layman dentists could
achieve a similar level of competency necessary to perform their work.
ALL persons performing equine dentistry should be required to pass theory and
practical application tests. This certification would provide the horse owner
substantiation that the certificate holder possesses up-to-date knowledge and
skill. This certification would encompass a person’s knowledge for administering
drugs as well as his dental training.
Licensing would provide a means to regulate the industry and provide horse
owners an avenue for recourse should they experience sub-standard work or
damages to their horses. The requirements for certification and licensing would
be the same for all persons, regardless of status as a layman or veterinarian.
If this battle ends with the elimination of layman dentists it will be to the detriment
of thousands of horses. The goal should be to create a higher standard of care
throughout the medical profession and a means to regulate and validate all
persons performing dental work. With such a conclusion, horses and their
owners would be able to obtain the best possible care with confidence in their
chosen practitioner.
Copyright, 2008. Karen L. Brown