LAC 46:LXXXV.710. Dental Operations

A. Dental operations are included in the definition of the practice of veterinary medicine as found in R.S. 37:1513(4). B. Nothing in these rules shall prohibit any person from utilizing cotton swabs, gauze, dental floss, dentifrice, toothbrushes or similar items to clean an animal's teeth. C. In branches of veterinary medicine other than equine dentistry and livestock dentistry, with proper training and under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian, laypeople and registered veterinary technicians employed by a licensed veterinarian may perform supragingival scaling and polishing of teeth, making and developing dental radiographs, taking impressions, production of dental models, and the charting of dental pathology. All other dental operations must be performed by a licensed veterinarian. D. In the branch of veterinary medicine dealing with equine dentistry, with proper training and under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian, laypeople and registered veterinary technicians employed by a licensed veterinarian may perform the rasping (floating) of molar, premolar, and canine teeth, and the removal of deciduous incisor and premolar teeth (caps). All other dental operations, including but not limited to the extraction of teeth, amputation of large molar, incisor, or canine teeth, the extraction of first premolar teeth (wolf teeth) and repair of damaged or diseased teeth must be performed by a licensed veterinarian. E. In the branch of veterinary medicine dealing with livestock dentistry, with proper training and under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian, laypeople and registered veterinary technicians employed by a licensed veterinarian may perform rasping (floating) of premolar and molar teeth, and the removal of deciduous incisor teeth (caps). All other dental operations, including but not limited to the extraction of teeth, amputation of incisors, premolars, and molar teeth, and repair of damaged or diseased teeth must be performed by a licensed veterinarian.