Vet Blog 1 - The Importance of Equine Dentistry

When was the last time your horse had a dental?

Unlike most other species, equine teeth continuously grow and over time. Regular dental floats prevent development of conditions that can be both painful for the horse and affect production and performance. Common problems that are a result of poorly maintained dentition include:

• Sharp points which can ulcerate the gums

• Choke as a result of inability masticate (chew) feed properly

• Reactivity to the bit due to contact with wolf teeth or a sharp front cheek tooth edge

• Weight loss due to inability to utilise feed properly

• Tooth root abscesses from untreated fractured or diseased teeth

A veterinary dentist will first sedate the horse, which facilitates a thorough oral examination and allows visualisation of all dental arcades and hence the diagnosis of any dental pathology. This step is arguably one of the most important, as it sets the foundation for the rest of the dental procedure.

After the oral examination has been performed, all teeth will be floated (rasped) with the main focus on restoring the mouth/teeth to a normal confirmation. This often involves removing sharp points and hooks, correcting confirmational abnormalities such as wave mouths and ramps, and can even result in extractions or surgical procedures.

Sometimes, depending on the scale of the abnormality found, it may require multiple revisits or referral to a specialist veterinary dentist to correct it completely.

It is recommended that you time your dental procedures with your horses annual vaccinations, as most horses should be getting annual dental check ups. Older horses may require 6 monthly dentals in order to keep on top of any underlying issues.