There are 5 levels of education offered at the Academy. The 100, 200, 300 and 400 level courses include a mix of lectures and work on skulls and live horses. Each level consists of 80 hours broken down into two 40-hour weeks.
Students must pass written exams at the end of each course to advance to the subsequent level, beginning with the second. For example, at the end of the 200 level course, the student must pass the exam before he/she can return for the 300 level course. This system is designed to ensure that students have an adequate level of understanding before they can progress through the program.
After successful completion of the 300 level course and written examination, students are eligible to test at the 400 level class..
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100 Anatomy Course – (3-day Course)
This is required prior to Dental 100. It focuses on tooth anatomy and dental related problems. Anatomy Syllabus
100 Level Dental Course – (2-week course)
This beginning dental class includes the following topics:
- Terminology
- Numbering systems
- Tooth Structure I
- Anatomy of the oral cavity
- Biomechanics of the mastication cycle
- Principles of occlusion
- Common malocclusions I
- Aging
- Abnormalities of the oral cavity I
- Deciduous teeth
- Skull Evaluations I
- Communicable diseases
- Periodontal disease
- Working on geriatric horses
- Equilibration techniques
- Business ethics
- Parrot mouths and underbites
- Bit damage
200 and 300 Level Dental Courses – (2-week course for each level)
These intermediate dental classes include the following topics:
- Terminology
- Incisor realignments
- Excessive transverse ridging
- Tooth structure II and III
- Dental nerve blocks
- Common malocclusions II and III
- Clinical radiology
- Understanding pressure
- Abnormalities of the oral cavity II and III
- Balancing principles
- Relief cuts
- Pulp capping
- Skull evaluations II and III
400 & 500 Level Dental Course – (2-week course for each level)
These advanced dental classes are for students who have met all the requirements necessary to participate and attempt certification and technicians and veterinarians already certified. These continuing education courses include advanced equine dental procedures and in-depth lectures on the latest developments and techniques in equine dentistry. Favorite topics of past participants include:
- Radiograph interpretation
- Advanced equilibration techniques
- Difficult extractions.
Please call the office for certification dates for each session and to secure a spot.
Lectures are updated on a regular basis to keep practitioners abreast of the most recent research. Most of the second week is spent in the wet lab working on live horses
