Routine Dentistry

Horses need regular preventive dental maintenance every six months to one year. Unlike people, horses' teeth have an eruption rate of two-three mm per year. The teeth should wear in correspondence to yearly eruption rate. Malocclusions, or improper position of the teeth, can lead to many health issues and behavioral problems.

Identifying dental problems as early as possible is important. There are several factors that come into play at a young age that might increase treatment needed, or make a remedy even possible: loss of food while eating; eats hay before his grain; grain in water bucket; difficulty chewing or excess salivation; loss of body condition; large undigested food particles in manure larger than one quarter inch; head tilting or tossing; bit chewing; tongue lolling; tries to rear while bridling; fighting the bit or resisting the bridal; bucking or failing to stop or turn; foul odor from the mouth or nostrils; traces of blood in the mouth; or nasal discharge or swelling of the face. Other horses may not show noticeable signs, because they just simply adapt to their discomfort.


Preparing the sedated horse for dentistry by rinsing the oral cavity with an antiseptic solution.  All debris is rinsed away prior to a thorough oral exam.

Often times hay or other feed particulate will be packed into areas of concern, like missing or fractured teeth.








The initial exam is made with good light and visualization provided by the full
mouth speculum.  The veterinarian will look and feel for problem areas with
her light, mirror and probe.
After identifying dental issues, a treatment  plan will be implemented.