The Texas State Legislature has passed a bill that defines "equine dentistry" and sets standards for licensed equine dental providers to protect the public and ensure that alternate therapies are provided only by veterinarians or under the direction of a veterinarian.
Alternate therapies are defines as those "including ultrasound diagnosis and therapy, magnetic field therapy, holistic medicine, homeopathy, chiropractic treatment, acupuncture and laser therapy are performed only by a veterinarian or under the supervision of a veterinarian."
Equine dentistry includes "any diagnosis, treatment, or surgical procedure performed on the head or oral cavity of an equine animal...any procedure that invades the tissues of the oral cavity, including a procedure to remove sharp enamel projections; treat malocclusions of the teeth; reshape teeth; and extract one or more teeth; the treatment of diseased teeth through restoration and endodontic procedures; periodontal treatments, including the removal of calculus, soft deposits, plaque and stains above the gum line; and the smoothing, filing, and polishing of tooth surfaces; and dental radiography."
In addition, "a 'licensed equine dental provider' means a person who holds a license to practice equine dentistry issued under this chapter."
"...ensure that equine dentistry is performed only by a veterinarian who is active and in good standing or by a licensed equine dental provider who is active and in good standing under the appropriate level of supervision of a veterinarian who is active and in good standing and who has established a veterinarian-client-patient relationship with the owner or other caretaker of an animal in accordance with section 801.351.
The board shall adopt rules to implement a jurisprudence examination for licensed equine dental providers....The board may not adopt rules that unreasonably restrict the selection by the owner or other caretaker of an animal of a licensed dental provider who is in good standing to provide equine dental services."
This law is meant to protect horse owners from becoming victims of unscrupulous people who claim to have the credentials or licenses to perform horse dentistry. When they do not, a horse's teeth and health suffer and such practices can be very costly to horse owners. .