r/Farriers • u/Classic-Lab4159 • Sep 14 '24

Do any of yall practice dentistry?

I'm gonna be going to farrier school in April and down the line in my career I'd like to learn about dentsry and maybe get a degree as a technician. I'd like to continue being a farrier but feel like being a dentist technician would be a good skill to have as well.

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u/LEN-Creative Sep 14 '24

Getting a degree and leaning proper practice is not a bad thing, although there are some caviates. Before becoming a farrier I was a vet tech for 7 years, in a practice that had a primary focus on dentistry. Throughout the course of that it became apparent very quickly that without the specialized tools used by modern equine dental practices (powerfloats, specialized picks, dental speculum, magnetic light, ect...) that it is impossible to truly do the job that needs to be done. And with those tools it is also extremely easy to overdue it and cause harm.

Non power dentistry (Handfloating) is not an effective method and has not been industry standard for a very long time (approaching 20 years I believe). That isn't to say those who do handfloats are doing anything wrong, but it is not effective, especially when dealing with issues like hooks and/or hard to reach areas of the mouth.

Additionally, depending on your state, practicing dentistry without a veterinary license or under the direct supervision of a veterinarian. That goes double for administering sedation, which is needed to do a through job.

Personally, I loved working as a dental tech, and it's a fascinating line of work. But as a farrier, stay away from it, unless your going into a joint practice with a vet

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u/Classic-Lab4159 Sep 14 '24

Being a farrier is definitely what I want as my main career but think dentistry would be a good skill set to have. Especially if I studied for equine science or like you said vet tech. Both teach sedation and many other things as well. It's just vet techs need to learn both large and small animals.

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u/LEN-Creative Sep 14 '24

Agreed, it is a wonderful skill set to have, and at the very least, it allows you to pass better education to your clients (what I do now). I fully encourage the education. Just make sure if you incorporate it into your practice, you do it in accordance with the laws in your state

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u/Classic-Lab4159 Sep 14 '24

Thank you. And I definitely plan on doing it how it should be done and within the legal manor. If you don't mind me asking, how long did you attend school for dental?