Hehe, sorry it's not cheaper.  The vet/owner of the practice sets down
the prices.   Licensed techs are allowed to extract teeth, but i
wouldn't be surprised if there are some techs that aren't licensed but
are allowed by their vets to do it.  It's considered "under veterinary
supervision"

Here i'll want to be supervised for at least a while until i can get
the hang of it.  I've extracted teeth on a cadaver, but it's totally
different on a live animal.  

Kristi

Veterinarians have the doctora degree of DVM or VMD.  They''re the ones
that make all the decisions regarding the medical care of an animal.

"Vet technician" is a general term for someone who assists in a
veterinary office.  They can assist in practically anything except the
following

1. Prescribe medication
2. Perform surgery
3. Diagnose a patient's condition

A person working at a vet clinic, but has not gone to school or hold a
state or national license is considered an unregistered technician.  A
licensed or registered technician has normally gone through a
school/educational program and has taken a board exam.  Once licensed
they are allowed by law to

1. Induce anesthesia
2. Extract teeth
3. Place sutures
4. Place splints/casts

Now in many clinics there are unregistered technicians that do perform
some of the above.  However these people normally have 10+ years of
experience and the trust of the doctor.  Is it illegal?  In a way, but
at the same time, they are usually doing it under the orders and
supervision of the veterinarian.  They're not just pulling teeth
without the vet's approval.

Once i'm licensed, if I'm doing a dental cleaning and see a tooth that
needs to be extracted, I would let the doctor know so he can check it
out and verify it.  Then if he agreed, he would give me the go ahead to
extract the tooth.

Currently at my clinic we don't have any Registered vet techs.  But
once i get licensed, i will be a good asset to the clinic.  For
example, the vet can spay a cat, place the internal sutures, and then
have me place the skin sutures so he can prepare for the next surgery.
Or I can extract a tooth for him and leave him free to work on the next
patient.  That's another reason why i'm so excited to get licensed, as
it will open up a whole new world for me, career wise.

Hope this answers your question,  :)

Kristi