Why does my horse require dentistry?
What is floating a horses teeth?
Why do horses teeth require regular treatment?
Does floating the teeth hurt my horse?
If dentistry does not hurt why might my horse need sedating?
How often should my horse have routine dental care?
My horse has started to fight the bit, is there a dental problem?
What problems can occur if a horse does not receive regular dental care?
What age should a horse begin having regular dental examinations?
Why should I choose an equine dental technician?
Does every horse require a specially trained equine dental technician?
Why does my horse require dentistry?
Up until a horse is in its 20’s the teeth are constantly erupting at approximately 3mm per year. Whilst 3mm might not sound like a lot, in 3 years a single tooth can become overgrown up to and over 1cm.
In their natural environment horses will graze for most of the day with their heads in the natural downwards position, which wear the teeth in the way nature intended. They graze on a variety of course grasses, twigs, bracken – all of which contribute to a natural even wear.
Domesticated horses often have the luxury of good grazing, soft hay/haylage and access to a hard feed – which is in fact exactly the opposite and is very soft and doesn’t give the teeth a chance to wear down naturally.
I have also found that native types do on the whole tend to have a better, natural wear pattern than for example TB types who nearly always require treatment every 6 months.
What is floating a horses teeth?
The term “floating” refers to the smoothing or levelling of a surface. With floating teeth, the enamel points are removed on both the upper and lower arcades ( rows of teeth).
Why do horses teeth require regular treatment?
Enamel points occur on the inside of the lower teeth ( tongue side ) and on the outside of the upper teeth (cheek side ). This is because the lower jaw is narrower than the upper jaw, and the two arcades ( rows of teeth ) do not match up and is also influenced by the horses teeth continually erupting. Without regular treatment these enamel points will develop into severe bony over growths such as hooks and ramps which will then require remedial work.
Does floating the teeth hurt my horse?
No, the anatomy of the horses tooth is considerably different to ours. They have a very long crown and a short root section where the nerve is located. When floating, the enamel points on the crown are removed which do not come close to the nerve.
If dentistry does not hurt why might my horse need sedating?
Whilst the procedure of routine floating is not painful, it is a cause for apprehension for a lot of horses. The object of a dental examination is to find any abnormalities and to correct them. It can become very difficult to perform a thorough examination on a horse that is shaking his head in both avoidance of the speculum (gag) and the flotation instruments, and also quite hazardous to all involved. Sedation is safe and allows the horse to relax so that the work can be done effectively and without stress to the horse.
Any horse requiring remedial work and the use of power tools will always require sedation.
How often should my horse have routine dental care?
A dental examination and routine dental care should be done every 6 months. Some horses may last 12months although 99% will benefit from a 6 monthly maintenance programme. It does depend on the age, breed and use of your horse.
My horse has started to fight the bit, is there a dental problem?
There could be a sharp enamel point causing discomfort to the delicate soft cheek tissue which is exasperated by the horse wearing a bridle. The best recommendation is to have a through dental examination.
What problems can occur if a horse does not receive regular dental care?
A horse can suffer from; weight loss, malnourishment, chronic colic, cheek and tongue lacerations, periodontal disease, choke and even an inability to eat. A horse can also develop major behavioural and training problems stemming from tooth abnormalities.
What age should a horse begin having regular dental examinations?
When the foal is first born the mouth should be checked for an over or under – bite or any other dental abnormality, as the sooner a problem is detected the easier it is to treat.
After the foal examination the next through examination should occur when the horse is going into training and before being introduced to the bit.
Why should I choose an equine dental technician?
The knowledge, techniques, and equipment required to perform a through dental examination and provide professional treatment are difficult to acquire and take time and experience to master.
I am an equine dental technician that is an experienced professional specialising in the routine and remedial dental care of the horse.
The improved health and performance that a professional with specialised training can bring your horse through proper, dental care is impressive. You will see and feel the difference, as will your horse.
Does every horse require a specially trained equine dental technician?
Every horse will benefit from the care that a specialised EDT can provide. It is much better to prevent a problem than to try and correct it once it is well established. A horse’s mouth is no exception. Domestic horses by virtue of being domesticated are prone to dental aberrations for a host of reasons.
On a basic level: wild horses with dental problems that can’t eat will die. By natural selection, weak genes are removed from the pool. People don’t usually breed or buy their dream horse for dental soundness. Natural selection is removed from the cycle and dental problems accumulate.
Secondly, domestic horses don’t live as their wild cousins do. Horses have evolved over the centuries to function on a rough forage based diet 24hrs a day. Our horses tend to be stabled, fed soft hay and graze on good pasture.
Thirdly, domestic horses are asked to do things for us that most wild horses do not have to worry about.
We communicate with our horses through their mouths. If things are amiss inside that mouth, how good is the communication likely to be?
Lastly, we would all like our horses to be around for many years. Unfortunately the truth is, if the teeth go, the horse is not far behind.
If a problem is detected early and properly corrected, it may never become a problem at all. It doesn’t make sense to wait until you perceive that your horse is having difficulties.
By having your horse checked every 6 months by a skilled professional, most horses can have a healthy, functioning mouth well into their geriatric years.