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Equine Dentistry

How It Can Improve Your Driving Horse

Horses have Hypsodont teeth Continuous eruption until expired Average tooth length 4-5 inches Visible crown much shorter than reserve

crown Younger horses = more tooth

Basic Anatomy

Human tooth vs. Equine tooth

Young tooth vs. Old tooth

Terminology & Purpose

Position

Incisors

Canines

Premolars• Wolf Teeth

Molars

Number

12

0 – 4

120 - 4

12

Purpose

Prehension & Cutting

Defense

Grinding of FoodstuffsVestigial First Premolars

Grinding of Foodstuffs

Eruption Process Foals born with 12 premolars & within days erupt first incisors Weanlings have 12 premolars & 12 incisors

First permanent molar erupts 1 ½ years old Second molar ~3 years old Third molar ~4 years old Molars do not shed caps, only erupt the permanent tooth Therefore, the oldest tooth in a horse’s mouth is the First

Molar (mid-arcade) Incisor caps shed at 2 ½, 3 ½, 4 ½ years old beginning with the

central teeth to corner teeth in pairs (2 upper & 2 lower) Premolar caps shed at 2 ½, 3, and 3 ½ years old in pairs (2

upper & 2 lower)

Wolf teeth usually erupt around 1 - 1 ½ years old Some draft horses have erupted wolf teeth later

Canine teeth erupt at 4 ½ years old

All adult teeth should be visibly erupted by 5 years old!

Every Tooth has Its Number

So What Do All Those Numbers

Mean? Young horses less than 5 years old starting their training

will have a lot of activity going on in their mouths!

This may cause discomfort for the horse - sharp enamel points, loose caps, erupting permanent teeth, cheek lacerations

Many “behavior” issues such as resisting the bit, head tossing, bolting, etc. can be mistaken when in actuality it’s caused by pain/discomfort

Young horses need more frequent dental care or floating due to new eruptions, deciduous caps and “softer” teeth that form enamel points quicker than mature horses

How Do I Know My Horse Has a Dental

Issue?Abnormal Eating

Habits

Not finishing feed Refusal to eat hay

or grain Slowly eating Dropping feed Quidding Head tilting Chewing with

mouth open “Squeaky” noises

when chewing

Clinical Signs

Maxillary or mandibular swelling

Malodorous nostrils or mouth

Nasal discharge Excessive salvation Drainage Choke Colic Undigested feed in

manure

Behavioral Issues

Resistance to bridling

Head shy Resisting the bit Head tossing Bucking Rearing Difficulty bending Gapping the mouth Refusal to collect

Form to Function

Natural head position is altered in performance horses

Dental malocclusions make it mechanically impossible for horses to maintain our desired head-set

Individual horses have different pain thresholds

Most hoses will NOT shows signs of dental abnormalities for long periods of time (months to years)

You don’t know what you don’t see…

Key Points

Case Example 12 year old Welsh Cob Stallion Champion Under Saddle & in Carriage Driving Previous farm had him “Floated” every 6 months w/o sedation New owner & Novice Driver requested dental exam “just to

check”

After consulting with previous owner, they were aware of missing lower premolar…

Pony was always slightly resistant turning to the right

BEFORE AFTER

Minis!

Deserve Special Attention (but you already knew that).

Same number of teeth as the larger breeds, but ¼ of the space!

Relatively HIGHER incidence of dental abnormalities

Overcrowding, abnormal eruption, retained caps most common problems

Minis less than 5 years old or with preexisting dental problems should be examined every 6 months

Virtually impossible to do a thorough exam or use dental equipment in such a small space without sedation

“Chipmunk Cheeks” are usually the result of feed packing between the teeth & cheeks, not necessarily a tooth abscess

Caused by crowding, missing & extra teeth. Or just a very small mouth!

My Horse Needs a Dentist, Now

What? Every dental exam should consist of a full mouth speculum,

light, and palpation of the entire oral cavity

Most horses should have mild, standing sedation for dental procedures

Safer for the horse Safer for the dental provider Safer for the owner/handler Less irritating for the horse Less stress on the TMJ (temporal mandibular joint) Less chance of soft tissue trauma to gums, lips, tongue Provides better access to the rear of the mouth

Wolf tooth extraction should be done under sedation due to the tooth’s close proximity to the palatine artery

Your vet determines the amount of sedation based on the type of dental work, patient’s disposition & horse’s physical condition.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a

Dentist

Education What courses have they completed specifically in Equine

Dentistry? Do they attend annual CE?

Experience How long have they been practicing equine dentistry? How many dentals per year do they do?

Equipment Do they have the necessary equipment? Do they use a disinfectant?

Professional Conduct Does each horse receive a detailed dental chart? Do they take time to explain what they’re doing?

Conclusion

Every horse should have annual dental care No eating or bitting issues do not equal no dental issues Increased levels of performance require the horse to carry its

head in more unnatural positions Providing annual, preventative dental care will make your

driving horse more comfortable, Addressing small dental problems before they get out of hand

will cost you less in the long run Thorough dental care by an experienced provider may

increase your horse’s longevity

Thank You!

Amanda Compton is a registered Equine Dental Technician (EDT) with the VA Board of Veterinary Medicine and has worked in collaboration with vets since 2001. She also works part-time with VA Techs’ Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center’s nursing department. She has coordinated CE programs on

equine dentistry for the EMC, Northern VA Community College & the American Assoc. of Veterinary Technicians. A graduate of WVU with a degree in Animal & Veterinary Sciences, she has worked with horses all of her life. She began her

love of driving while working at Ayrshire Farm from 2001-2006. Now she competes her Arabians in pleasure carriage driving and combined driving events.

Amanda & her husband, Stephen, live in Middletown, VA. She can be reached through her website at www.eqdent.com or by phone 304-582-5885.