10/11/2025
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง
There is a lot of speculation/misconception of what each knows, schooling, etc etc. So we want to break down each. ๐ท๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐กโ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐โ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฆ ๐ฑ๐๐ด๐ก๐ด ๐ข๐๐ฆ ๐ง๐๐ณ ๐ฆ๐๐ถ๐๐ข๐ก๐ช๐๐ฏ ๐ฑ๐ข๐ณ๐๐ฐ๐ ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐บ, ๐๐ฐ๐ก ๐ก๐ฐ ๐ฑ๐๐ฏ ๐ท๐๐ต๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ช๐๐ด๐ก ๐๐ฆ๐๐ต๐๐ด๐ก๐ด ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ท๐๐ค๐ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐๐ด๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ฉ๐ ๐ค๐ฐ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ค๐ฐ๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ต ๐ธโ๐ฆ๐ ๐ค๐ฆ ๐ธ๐๐ณ๐ ๐ก๐ฐ๐๐ฆ๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ณ. Knowledge gives you the power to make the best choices for your animal and that's what we want.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ :
There is no regulation in the state of NJ that requires an equine dentist to go to school or have any sort of certification but they can and often do attend courses or schools to learn basic through advanced techniques. For example, the American School of Equine Dentistryโs program is 4 weeks long and includes hands on work as well as course work. Additional advanced courses are offered but they are not necessary to become a graduate. There are also other similar programs/ schools that can be done for book learning and hands on work. Many chose to apprentice under a senior dentist afterwards but is not necessary to start to perform dentistry. The second pathway is to completely shadow and work under a senior dentist to learn the trade without a formal schooling program. How much knowledge one acquires, and continuing education completed is up to the individual person.
There are additional certifications that are open to veterinarians as well as lay dentists through the International Association of Equine Dentistry (IAED). To become a certified member there are rigorous requirements for both the vet and dentist.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง:
To become a veterinarian in the US you need a 4-year undergraduate degree and a 4-year veterinary degree. Often equine veterinarians will also do a 1-year internship. Veterinarians have course work and are tested on the basics of dentistry in small animals and large along with learning techniques, disease processes/treatments, and radiology associated with dentistry within their first 3 years. Once hands on education starts, an equine focused student would take multiple 2-3 week rotations to gather experience and hands on knowledge in all things equine including dentistry. The amount of dentistry varies by school and by student interests. Once graduated, knowledge is expanded by working under a senior veterinarian. In NJ veterinarians need 30 hours of continuing education every 2 years to keep their license which can be tailored as needed to specific subjects (i.e. dentistry). The amount of knowledge and continuing education is also, just as dentists, very dependent on the individual. In addition, dentistry is a recognized specialty in veterinary medicine and if desired a licensed veterinarian can be accepted into a 3-5 year residency program devoted solely to dentistry, pass a rigorous board exam and practice as a board certified veterinary dentist.
Look for our next post to learn the laws on what you can use your dentist for and what you need your vet for in our dentistry education week.
