Equine Health

Medicine & Husbandry

Dentistry

Dentistry for horses has changed dramatically in the last few years. The days of running a file quickly over the molars and calling it good has evolved into an advanced procedure requiring a more thorough and safe approach to the horse’s mouth. In our practice we use sedation on almost every horse. This is essential for multiple reasons. For one it is safer and more comfortable for the horse. When non-sedated horses contract their jaw muscles during the dental procedure they risk dental fractures, soft tissue injury, or a rupture of a major oral artery. Also, it is very difficult to accurately and efficiently treat the teeth on a horse that is chewing heavily. It is important to remember that veterinarians are the only professionals licensed and trained to understand and properly administer sedatives (anyone else is illegal and unsafe!!). Doctors can tailor the selection and dosage of drugs to each horse and adjust or reverse sedation as needed to ensure the horse’s health, comfort and safety.

The equipment available to diagnose and treat equine dental disease has progressed with the addition of several key tools. Use of a dental speculum is the only way possible to visualize the entire oral cavity of the horse. With a proper rinsing, adequate light source, and a speculum to open the jaw, all the horse’s teeth and oral soft tissue structures can be observed. Radiology, thermography and ultrasonography can also be used to asses structures that cannot be seen from inside the mouth. Equine dental and oral cavity abnormalities can result from infectious diseases, trauma, parasitism, nutritional disorders, cancer, behavioral vices, improper biting, and even the effects of previous incompetent dental treatments. With proper diagnostic tools, even complex conditions such as temporomandibular joint pain or chronic sinusitis can be diagnosed and treated.

Through continuing education and study in equine dentistry, we have been able to improve the dental care we give our patients. We also use electro powered dental devices (or power floats) that allow us to improve upon our performance floats and contour the molars for a better bit seat. Knowledge of the normal anatomy and function of the horse’s mouth and jaw is essential to recognizing problems and understanding their significance, and combined with a thorough examination and diagnostic imaging, most conditions can be treated and the horse’s pain can be relieved and performance restored.