Equine Dental Care FAQ
What does an Equine Dentist do?
Equine dental technicians (also known colloquially as equine dentists, although this is not reflective of their official title) are veterinary paraprofessionals who specialise in routine dental work on horses, especially procedures such as rasping the sharp edges of teeth, also known as 'floating'.
How often do you need to get your horses teeth checked?
Teeth should be floated to remove any sharp points and they should be checked for any retained caps. The AEDP recommends the following:
Paddock fed horse 4 or younger - every 6 months
Paddock fed horse 5 or older - every 12 months
Stable fed horse 4 or younger - every 3-4 months
Stable fed horse 5 or older - every 6 months
Note: It can be harmful to file the teeth excessively; your Dentist will only render the necessary treatment.
Signs your horses teeth may need to be filed (also known as floating)
Determine if your horse has difficulty eating
Spot sloppy eating to identify oral pain
Look for signs of choking
Notice if your horse has puffy cheeks from packing balls of grass or hay
If your horse avoids or bites at the bit,
What does an equine dentist do when they file the teeth?
The goal of filing is to smooth or contour your horse's teeth with a file (called a "float"). Unlike your own teeth, your horse's teeth keep growing. At times, your horse's teeth may develop sharp edges, making it difficult for her to chew food, hold a bit, or simply have pain and discomfort inside her mouth.
How should an Equine dentist treat the horses in their care?
Regarding the practice and methods physicians should employ, the Australian Equine Dental Practice states the following:
Treating the horse sensitively and as an individual, without restraints such as head slings or sedatives. Where sedatives are required to be administered, this will be effected by a veterinarian.
Thoroughly examining and treating, without compromise, all relevant dental and oral conditions. Gum conditions may later lead to dental ailments and require early corrective action. Even a minor elevated ridge across a grinding surface of a molar can cause feed to impact between opposing teeth.
Providing treatment which respects the structure and function of teeth as part of the digestive system avoiding the use of rotary burrs or other high risk mechanical intervention. See the Equine Dental Practitioners Association AEDPA Inc. Statement on the Use of Power Tools
Hygiene is given careful attention. In the horse's environment this is always a compromise but instruments are sanitized by immersing in antiseptic liquid between patients. The mouth is also rinsed with an antiseptic solution after procedures.
Procedures which involve a high level of pain to the horse are not contemplated unless veterinary care is available.
Where it is necessary to reduce the length of a severely extended molar, incisor or canine, no cutting forceps or burr grinders are used. The only device appropriate for these procedures at present is a fine diamond rotary water-cooled disc or pin cutter. This prevents overheating or fracture of the tooth.
