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.
Principles may include:
accepted preventative practices adopted by the provider or peers to minimise safety hazards and risks
maintaining provider, assistant and patient health and hygiene
adherence to principles of client confidentiality
conducting referral of horses who require treatment outside the provider's professional and personal scope
adherence to relevant code of ethics or code of conduct documents/policies
adherence to relevant national, state and territory regulations and guidelines.
Techniques and procedures used in the provision of equinedentistry including all levels of service may include:
techniques:
horse handling
horse inspection
horse restraint which may include sedation
oral examination
speculum types and their use
manual file (float) use
motorised equipment use
procedures:
performing manual or motorised equipment filing (floating)
extraction:
cap
wolf tooth
intra-oral
supernumerary
surgical
Records and charts should include:
client details
animal health records including history of prior treatment
written description of dental charts of conditions found and treatment using recognised industry standards for example:
anatomical nomenclature system
modified triadan number system
infection control records
recommended treatments, and treatments provided if different
recommendations given including diet, care and revisit requirements
Environmentally sustainable work practices may include:
environmentally friendly waste management
processes to support environment and resource efficiencies.
Equine industry health service providers may include:
veterinarians
advanced equine dental service providers
certified equine dental service providers
bit makers
equine chiropractors
equine massage therapists
alternative therapists, such as acupuncture
equine nutritionists
farriers and hoof care providers
saddle fitters
Alternative therapists, such as acupuncture
Equine dental conditions found may include:
congenital and genetic abnormalities
dental fractures
eruption, abnormal versus normal
evidence of infection of soft or hard tissues
excessively sharp buccal and lingual edges involving enamel, dentine or cementum
feed impaction
hard or soft tissue masses
malocclusions (acquired and congenital)
periodontal disease
endodontic disease
shedding of deciduous teeth (caps)
loose teeth (incisors, canines, premolars or molars) that are not easily removed or extracted
soft tissue injury
Treatment options at all levels may include:
calculus ("tartar") removal
dental correction and management with manual or motorised equipment
extractions
referral to veterinarian or other appropriate service providers

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:
comply with legislation, regulations and codes of conduct for the provision of equine dental health care
uphold the ethical principles and responsibilities of working as an equine health care professional by working within the limits of professional and personal scope and promoting responsible equine dental health care
promote and explain the processes and procedures used in modern equine dentistry, using appropriate terminology, to horse owners and others
identify the range of options available in the management of horse health
identify conditions or situations where owners or carers should be referred to other appropriate service providers
use appropriate terminology when describing or explaining equine dental conditions and procedures to equine dental health providers and others
develop, apply and maintain administrative support services including records and charts.
The skills and knowledge required to work within an equine dental service provider framework 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 situation that reproduces normal work conditions.
There must be access to the appropriate equipment and 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.
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).