Dental Care for your Horse

Maryland Law limits how veterinarians can assist lay dentists

Under Maryland law, lay dentists in the state, also known as equine dental technicians, are allowed to float teeth and remove caps. They are not permitted, however, to extract teeth, including wolf teeth, as the cutting of teeth is considered the practice of veterinary medicine.

Veterinarians are prohibited by law from assisting non-veterinarians in the practice of veterinary medicine. This means that a veterinarian may not legally sedate a horse to enable a lay dentist to perform any service other than floating teeth or removing caps. Please be aware of this law when you are considering dental work for your horse.