Routine dental care is essential to your horse’s health, and we believe that athorough oral examination is key to providing quality dental care. Our exam begins by sedating your horse and using a speculum to open the horse’s mouth. This will allow our veterinarian to look at each tooth individually identifying any abnormalities or problems within your horse’s mouth.
Through skilled floating by one of our veterinarians we can achieve occlusal equilibrium or ‘a balanced mouth’, this is the term used to describe the smoothing of enamel points, correcting malocclusion, balancing dental arcades, and correcting other dental problems.
An annual dental exam and appropriate teeth floating will help to prevent periodontal disease as well as ensuring any abnormalities are identified and addressed in a timely fashion.
We also offer advanced services which include dental radiography and molar and incisor tooth extractions.
Here are some common dental problems that your horse may be experiencing
• Sharp enamel points causing lacerations of the cheek or tongue
• Retained caps in younger horses
• Hooks on molars
• Abnormal or uneven bite planes (wave, ramp or step mouth)
• Periodontal (gum) disease
• Incisor abnormalities (uneven or unlevel incisors) that can impede molar occlusion
FAQ’s
1. Does my horse need a dental exam even if they’re eating normally?
Yes. Horses can have dental problems before they show obvious trouble eating. An annual oral exam helps us identify issues early and determine whether floating or other care is needed.
2. What can dental X-rays reveal that an oral exam alone might miss?
Dental radiographs allow us to assess parts of the teeth and surrounding structures that we cannot fully evaluate by looking inside the mouth. They can help us investigate a suspected dental problem and plan treatment.