Equine dental technician
Also known as: equine dental technicians, horse dental care assistant, horse dentist, horse dental care technician, horse teeth technician, horse dental technician
About this occupation
Equine dental technicians provide routine equine dental care, using appropriate equipment in accordance with national legislation.
A specialisation of veterinary technician.
Essential skills and knowledge
- advise on animal welfare
- apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting
- manage personal professional development
- manage animal biosecurity
- deal with challenging people
- animal welfare legislation
- use equine dental equipment
- carry out equine dental procedures
- maintain professional records
- manage animal hygiene
- monitor the welfare of animals
- handle veterinary emergencies
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Veterinary Technologists and Technicians (O*NET 29-2056.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Administer anesthesia to animals, under the direction of a veterinarian, and monitor animals' responses to anesthetics so that dosages can be adjusted.
- Care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery.
- Maintain controlled drug inventory and related log books.
- Perform laboratory tests on blood, urine, or feces, such as urinalyses or blood counts, to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of animal health problems.
- Prepare and administer medications, vaccines, serums, or treatments, as prescribed by veterinarians.
- Restrain animals during exams or procedures.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 3 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Investigative, Conventional
Top skills: Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Writing, Monitoring
US median pay: US$47,380 a year (2025), 129,140 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- BiologyO*NET: BiologyVery important (4.0)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.0)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.5)
- ChemistryO*NET: ChemistryImportant (3.3)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
- Surgical Assistants
- Medical Assistants
- Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
- Surgical Technologists
- Emergency Medical Technicians
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
- Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
- Phlebotomists
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.