Equine teeth are very different compared to other species. Horses have two sets of teeth, deciduous teeth (‘baby teeth’) and adult teeth. The horse will lose their deciduous teeth slowly throughout the first 5 years of its life, and the adult teeth will slowly replace them. Equine teeth are ‘continuously erupting’. This means that only a small portion of the tooth is actually exposed in the mouth (the clinical crown). The rest of the tooth, the ‘reserve crown’, is hidden within the gums. The roots of the tooth are at the base of the reserve crown. Equine teeth have evolved to wear against the tooth above or below as the horse chews, and this wear is important to prevent overgrowth. As the tooth wears down over time, the reserve crown will slowly descend to replace what was worn away. Thus, it is vital that the horse’s mouth is correctly balanced to ensure even wear and prevent the development of irregularities.

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The horse’s upper jaw is wider than the lower jaw. This creates a pattern of wear that results in the creation of sharp enamel points and sometimes hooks that can lacerate the gum tissue and the tongue. This will occur in all horses, though the severity may differ.

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Dentistry is a critical facet of your horse’s overall health and quality of life. Many horses with dental pain will show only very subtle abnormalities. While the incisors and canines can be easily evaluated, we can only feel the first two premolars in the back of the mouth on manual palpation. A majority of dental abnormalities will occur farther back than we can feel. This necessitates a sedated oral exam with a speculum in order to properly evaluate all the teeth. Our veterinarians routinely use a dental mirror and periodontal probe to evaluate the occlusal surface of all teeth and the gum line.

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Yearly dental exams are essential to maintain oral health. These allow our veterinarians to spot sharp points, cheek ulcers, loose/broken teeth, tumors, and other dental problems before they worsen and cause significant pain. Our veterinarians can perform dentals in the field or in the hospital, and are experienced in correcting many dental abnormalities such as hooks, ramps, waves, sharp points and incisor malalignment to name a few. Our doctors are also trained and qualified in extractions of broken and/or lose/diseased teeth. Our doctors have the capability and training to take dental X-rays, perform nerve blocks, provide local anesthesia, and administer sedation. It is important to recognize that tooth extraction is considered a surgery, and therefore can only legally be performed by a licensed veterinarian.

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Signs of dental problems can include:

• Poor performance

• Weight loss

• Head tossing

• Reluctant to collect and stay collected under saddle

• Dropping/quidding feed

• Reluctant to turn to one side or the other.

• Opening their mouth while carrying the bit.

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Remember that some horses can have severe dental problems but may only show very subtle signs! All horses need routine dental exams regardless of whether or not they are demonstrating clinical signs.