By: Kendra H. McLeod,
DVM, CVA
Equine Dentistry is an integral
part of the overall well being of every horse. Dental care needs to be considered as part of the complete
health picture of your horse and contributes to healthy digestion, body
condition and performance. It is
very important to have a thorough oral exam on your horse yearly because horses
have hypsodont teeth. Hypsodont
teeth continue to erupt (or grow) throughout a horse’s life. Because the top arcade is wider than
their lower arcade, horses can develop very sharp points that can cause cheek
abrasions or tongue ulcers which can be prevented with routine dental
care. The oral exam is done with a
full mouth dental speculum to ensure that the entire dental arcade can be visualized
and palpated. Once the
veterinarian has a good look at the horse’s dental situation, she or he can
recommend the proper care and maintenance schedule for your horse’s teeth.
Generally, oral exams should be
started at birth to help recognize dental problems. Between the ages two and five, horses are erupting new teeth
and losing deciduous teeth (baby teeth).
The permanent teeth push the deciduous teeth out and are called
caps. When the shedding process of
these caps is not complete they become retained and can cause discomfort and
malocclusions. This is also the
age when wolf teeth, the first premolar, should be extracted if present to
prevent biting problems. Training
is commonly started at this time and it is recommended to have your young
horse’s teeth floated twice a year during this critical age. Once horses are
nearing 15 years of age it is recommended to go back to a twice-yearly
exam. More conservative care
should be taken with an older horse and it is crucial to check for loose or fractured
teeth.
It is a common misconception that
your horse only needs his or her teeth floated if underweight. However, the
following clinical signs, complaints and findings warrant an evaluation: weight loss or failure to gain weight,
difficulty eating, slow or reluctant to eat, quidding or dropping feed,
abnormal head movement or carriage, halitosis (bad breath), facial swelling,
colic, esophageal choke, nasal discharge, drooling or salivation, poor
performance, difficulty with the bit, or behavior changes.
There are many common findings
that can be handled at a routine appointment. Sharp enamel points of the cheek teeth can cause ulcers on
the cheek or tongue. Hooks are
commonly found on the upper premolars and lower molars and can cause an abnormal
rotation and grinding of the jaw.
Wave mouths can occur due to malocclusions or uneven wearing of the
teeth. A step mouth can develop
when there is a missing or broken tooth.
Severe congenital defects such as parrot mouth (overbite) or sow mouth (underbite)
require more frequent management and may require more advanced modalities. Abnormal wear can be seen from trauma,
malocclusions or vices such as cribbing.
Equine dental care has been
established since the late 18th century but has come a long way in
technology and skill. Equine
dental equipment now has cutting edge technology with power tools
available. The development of more
advanced dental floats, the speculum, light systems, head restraints and
sedatives have dramatically improved the quality and efficiency of dental
examinations and treatments. There
is considerable controversy amongst horse owners on the safety of such new
procedures when compared to the hand files. The power tools have a higher risk of creating thermal
injury to the pulp tissues whenever crowns are reduced and can occur with
improper technique and training. It is critical that you use a veterinarian
that has competence in their existing technique. Power floats, when used with proper technique, will get the
job done in a shorter time frame.
Correcting large hooks, steps, and creating bit seats can generate too
much heat and should be done in stages or with frequent rinsing.
Preventing these problems from
occurring or catching them at an early stage is yet another reason why your
horse should have routine dental exams and treatments. An oral exam is also recommended as
part of a thorough yearly physical exam and during a pre-purchase exam. Teeth are a non-renewable resource and
should be handled with care.
Overall, horses’ teeth are a vital part to having a happy and healthy
horse.
For more information you may
contact Surgi-Care Center for Horses at 813-643-7177 or by email lkuebelbeck@surgi-carecenter.com.
This article was originally published in Horse & Pony magazine and is reprinted with their permission.