Elements and Performance Criteria

The range statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Structures within the equine oral cavity may include:
lips
cheeks
gums
tongue and hyoid apparatus
hard palate
palatine artery
palatine raphe and ridges
dental papillae
soft palate
teeth including:
incisors
canines
premolars (including wolf teeth)
molars
supernumerary
vestigial teeth such as wolf teeth
periodontal structures and function
bone structure of the maxilla and mandible
pharynx
salivary glands and ducts.
Process of mastication of food may include:
biomechanics of:
mandible and maxilla
temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
feed mastication and formation of food bolus
role of:
masticatory muscles
rugae
teeth: incisors, premolars and molars
curve of spee
occlusal angles
occlusal ridges
saliva
tongue.
Equine dental classification may include:
functional nomenclature:
incisor
canine
premolar
molar
functional status:
incisor function
canine function
premolar and molar function
numerical nomenclature:
triadan system
anatomical nomenclature:
universal system
type and timing of eruption:
deciduous
permanent
Structures of equine teeth and periodontal structures may include:
apical foramen
alveolar socket
cementum
cusp and zone terms
dental cavity
dentine
enamel
infundibulum
nerves
pulp canals or chamber
periodontal ligament
root and crown.
Stages of development and eruption of teeth may include:

bud stage
cap stage
bell stage
apposition and calcification of enamel and dentine
eruption
attrition (wear)
exfoliation
eruption and shedding ages for all deciduous teeth.
Abnormalities of development and eruption may include:
absence of teeth (oligodontia)
underdevelopment of cementum or enamel (hypoplasia)
overdevelopment of cementum or enamel (hyperplasia)
dentigerous cysts
super-eruption (e.g. of unopposed teeth)
impaction (failure of tooth to erupt)
lack of wear
parrot mouth (brachygnathia)
sow mouth (prognathia)
supernumerary teeth
wry mouth (campylorrhinus lateralis)
Function of individual teeth may include:
food prehension
food mastication
relationship to effective digestion
relationship to behaviour and performance.
Stages of equine dental eruption and age indicators may include:
presence or absence of deciduous teeth
presence or absence of permanent teeth
presence or absence of infundibula
observation of teeth in wear.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this Unit
The evidence required to demonstrate competence in this Unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this Unit. Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
define by name, location and function oral cavity features
describe the process of prehension, mastication and the role of normal oral function in relation to lateral excursion, rostro-caudal movement and occlusion
identify the features of equine teeth and classify tooth types
use dental formulae and established terminology to describe and document tooth status and oral conditions
determine the age of a horse using tooth development, wear, shape and incisor angulation.

The skills and knowledge required to determine equine oral functional efficiency must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment for this Unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in a workplace where equine dentistry is provided or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions.

There must be access to a range of horses and anatomical models and the appropriate equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence.
Method of assessment
To ensure consistency in performance, competency should be demonstrated, to industry standards, on more than two occasions over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities and over a number of assessment activities.

The assessment strategy must include assessment of competency in a work environment. Suggested strategies for this Unit are:
written and oral assessment of candidate’s required knowledge
observed, documented and first-hand testimonial evidence of candidate’s application of practical tasks
simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions
case studies
third-party evidence
workplace documentation
portfolio.

This Unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role.
Guidance information for assessment
Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socio-economic backgrounds).