What is the difference between a lay dentists a veterinarian and a veterinary dentist?
– a ‘lay dentist’ is an individual who practices dentistry, but is not a veterinarian. While there are many fine lay dentists out there, this is ILLEGAL in the State of Georgia. All lay dentists MUST work with a veterinarian. They are not trained to administer sedation, there is no regulatory or disciplinary board governing them, and in the event of an emergency – they are not equipped nor educated enough to assist your horse. Many veterinary practices offer dentistry because they own a ‘powerfloat’. Owning an instrument does not imply ability to use it properly. I personally have over $50,000 tied up in equipment, have received advanced training in dentistry from both the University of Georgia and the American School of Equine Dentistry, attend dentistry conferences yearly or more often, and have performed over 7,000 performance floats. Veterinary Medicine has advanced so much in the last 10 years, that – like human medicine – you should expect the practitioner to have specialized tra
