Equine Dentistry:

As horse owners and care takers we need to educate ourselves aobut the care we need to take with regards to our horse's teeth.  Horses today are designed the same as in the days of long ago, before civilization when they ran wild and free.  They grazed continuously.  This resulted in the new tooth growth erupting from the jaw replacing what was worn away by constant use.  A horse was born with enough tooth stored away in its jaw for about 30 years, which was thier life expectancy.

Thier teeth and digestive systems are still designed the same way today.  But today few horses roam free.  Most live thier entire life in confinement.  Their teeth process hay and grain rather then cropping grass.  This lack of wear, or unnatrual wear to thier teeth over time creates problems.

In this short article I will address some of the most common asked questions about the horse's teeth and equine dentistry.

At what ages or time in a horse's life might they need dental care?

People seem to think dental care is only for 'the old horse'.  Not so.  Horses need dental check-ups starting at birth.  Babies need to have thier teeth checked as soon as possible.  If they are born with problems, such as an overbite, it can be corrected with prompt attention.

Horses shed their baby teeth or "caps" as they are called, just like other young mammals.  Some times these caps fail to come out like they should, causing problems when the permanent teeth come in.  Because of this, check-ups are recommended every 6 months until all thier baby teeth have been replaced with permanent teeth.

Before a young horse, or any horse for that matter, goes into training, they need to have thier teeth checked.  This is of utmost importance.  If a problem exists, the horse will soon learn to associate pain with the bridle.  Resulting in the horse aquiring a bad attitude towards training, right from the start.  Also the horse's wolf teeth should be removed and a "bitseat" filed to make a comfortable place for the bit to rest in their mouth.

By the age of 7 years all the horse's permanent teeth are in full wear and their dental check-ups can become an annual affair, unless indicated other wise by his behavior.  After the age of 18 years, however, the horse once again needs semi-annual check-ups to ensure his comfort as he approaches his older years.

What are the signs that your horse may be in the need of dental care?

Horses front teeth are designed for grazing by cutting off the grass they eat.  Their back teeth grind the food, which releases it's nutrients for their body to use.  In confinement a horse's grazing is replaced with hay and grain.  Thier front teeth aren't used the way they were intended, therefore they don't get adequate wear.  However, the teeth continue to grow just the same.  In time, the front teeth become too long and work as a wedge, not allowing the back teeth to touch.  This disables the horse to grind his good.  Unground food is unobtainable to the horse's system and will pass through unused.  Over time the horse will slowly starve to death even while it's fed plenty of good quality feed.  If this is happening to your horse, you will notic particles of whole hay in his manure as well as his inability to maintain weight.  Also, the mouth being out of balance is a cause of discomfort in the "TMJ" (tibular mandible joint), located where the lower jaw pivots.  Some horses learn the nasty and unhealthy habit of "cribbing" to relieve the pain.  When the front teeth have become too long an "incisor reduction" is needed, the excess tooth is filed away until the grinding plain is once again in the balance.  Also with the "TMJ" if the horse has a uneven balance with the molars, ramp or hooks in the mouth when you are asking the horse to put its head down and give to the bit; in order for a horse to do so.  The horse must first beable to use its "TMJ" and beable to slide the bottom or top molar forward inorder to lower its head and position itself correctly.  But what most people do not know, is that if the horse is unbalanced in its mouth by having a uneven spot or wear spot in its molars, hooks or ramp, that this will make it impossible for the horse's mouth to move the "TMJ" like it needs.  Thus, this will create alot of pressure on the "TMJ" and will give the horse a head ache and can later cause serious problems.  So it is in the utmost importance that the horse is balanced in the mouth and correct inorder for him to respond and preform correctly.  Alot of people read the horse incorrectly; thinking that the horse is misbehaving and acting badly.  And really the horse is trying to tell you he has a sore mouth!

Horses chew thier food with a crossway motion rather then up and down like we humans chew.  Unlike our teeth, which have a very hard surface, a horse's tooth surface is soft.  The grinding of the food causes wear to the surface of the teeth.  The side to side chewing motion of the top teeth over the bottom create razor sharp edges on the outside of the top teeth and the inside of the bottom teeth.  If you have the opportunity to see into their mouth, a horse with sharp edges will have visible lacerations on his tongue and cheeks.  A horse might pack hay or grass in its cheeks as protection against such sharp edges.  If you find hay packed in your horse's cheek he is telling you he needs help.

Another way to check for sharpness is to run your hand along their tooth line on the outside of thier face.  If they pull away they are indication discomfort or pain.  Also watch them eat.  If they are dropping abnormal amounts of grain, eating slower then normal, or not eating thier grain at all, and of course weight loss - their teeth need to be checked.

Another indicator may be thier behavior in the bridle.  As you take up the reins, turn or stop, the bridle puts pressure on their cheeks.  If there are sharp edges this will be painful.  They will react in various ways.  Often this is dismissed as simply bad behavior or attitude.  A bad attitude is so often the result of discomfort or pain in the horse's mouth.  Their refusing to take a bridle may be due to anticipating pain.  A horse that is not feeling well tends to be grouchy and unfriendly.

Uneven wear on thier grinding plain can also cause points to erupt way in the back of the horse's mouth.  These are located so far back they are difficult to see.  Special instruments are needed to find and remove these points.

Is dental care painful to the horse?

No.  Unlike humans, horses don't have nerve endings in thier teeth.  Most dental care done properly is no more painful then trimming their hooves.

How can you tell if your verterinarian or equine dentist is doing a good job?

Be it an equine dentist or a veterinarian an indication of competence would be that they have a complete set of insturments to do the job.

When we open our mouth it is easy for us to see all of our teeth.  Not so in horses.  The size of a horse's mouth is relatively small in comparison to the size and length of its jaw.  The horse's jaw reaches all the way back, ending below and slightly in front of their ears.  One of the first things your dentist or verterinarian will need is a "[full mouth]" speculum.  The speculum holds the mouth open while he looks around.  It also keeps the mouth open while he works on the teeth.  A well equipped dentist will have a variety of instruments, such as a different rasps to reach the different areas in the mouth, instruments for loosening teeth and instruments for removing teeth, such as wolf teeth or a tooth that has been injured and or a abscessed tooth.

Your dentist or verterinarian might explain what he is about to do.  He might show you the problem that he is about to work on, or even offer you the opportunity to put your hand in the horses mouth to feel the before and after.  Before doing a "bitseat" he should ask you what type of bit you plan to use in order to know what type of bit rest to form.

The sign of blood does not necessarily mean your dentist is doing a bad job.  Remember there are times when there is blood in your own mouth as your dentist works on you.  It depends what your dentist is doing.  Pulling a tooth for example may be a reason for bleeding.  Some blood is normal.  Excessive bleeding might be cause for concern.  Appropriate instruments, in addition to the knowledge and skill to use them ensure minimal discomfort to your horse.

Dental care is so expensive!  How can I afford it?

As the saying goes "A horse is only as good as his feet".  How good is a horse with bad teeth?  How often does your farrier see your horse?  What does a set of shoes cost you these days?  Your dentist sees your horse only once or twice a year.  If a horse's teeth are left unattended for long periods of time it may require lots of work to get his mouth back to a healthy state.  This will of course be more expensieve then regular maintenance.  Preventative care would be the more sensible approach.  An honest dentist or verterinarian will not do unnecessary work or charge you unnecessary costs.

Good dental care will add years to your horse's life, as well as making thier life more comfortable.  It will also lessen your feed bill as your horse will be a more efficient food processor.  And will also be alot more agreeable to ride and get along with all the way around!  How can you afford NOT to have your horses teeth done regularly!?

Below is what a dental charts looks like.  This dental chart belongs to B.J.  B.J.'s a 7 year old gelding that I could tell had something going on in his mouth because for one.  You would have to all but pry his mouth open to get a bit in his mouth.  His k-9 teeth (which are only in male horses) were razor sharp.  But he would try to stop on me all the time when I rode him in the arena working on bending and flexing.  But he would go fine down the road (going straight) and leaving his face alone.  And then at times out of the blue he'd agressievely throw his head straight up in the air, then continue what he was doing.  And I was right B.J. had some really bad things going on in his mouth.  And boy what a difference it made!  But anyone doing your horses teeth should have a chart like this below to fill out and keep track!

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www.cappsmanufactoring.com