Equine dental care performed by qualified professionals is fundamental to horse welfare, and the regulation of who can perform dental procedures has important welfare implications.
Equine dental welfare depends critically on qualified practitioners with both the knowledge to assess dental pathology and the skills to correct it safely. Power dental equipment enables more effective floating but also creates risks of thermal damage and excessive reduction if used without appropriate training and technique. Unqualified practitioners who cannot fully assess the oral cavity or recognize pathology may miss painful conditions or cause iatrogenic harm. Regulation through BAEDT registration provides a quality framework, but enforcement of scope of practice is limited. Horse owners have responsibility for verifying practitioner qualifications before engaging dental services.