Routine Equine Dentistry-Annual Care

Routine dental care is essential for the long-term health of a horse. Horses can spend up to 16 hours a day eating and therefore are constantly using their teeth to grind and digest food. Chewing of food is the first step in the complex process of digestion, so the health of their gums and teeth is vital in preventing choke, colic, weight loss, and nutritional deficiencies. The initial length of the permanent teeth is stored in the sinuses on the upper jaw and deep in the mandible in the lower jaw, the teeth constantly erupt throughout their life. The teeth are primarily worn down by chewing, research has shown that the teeth wear down more slowly if they are functioning normally with a proper grinding pattern. So regular dental care can help the teeth last longer.

The horse’s upper jaw is wider than the lower jaw and the chewing surfaces of the teeth are oriented at an angle of 10-15*. This allows for very efficient crushing of food but also leads to sharp enamel points on the outer edge of the upper molars and inner edge of the lower molars. These sharp points can cause ulcerations in the cheeks and tongue and can lead to discomfort of the mouth. As with humans, horses dental conformation abnormalities can lead to irregularities in how they wear as sen in the picture below. During our annual exams sharp points  irregularities along the chewing surfaces are noted and  properly managed..

During our annual exams we also observe each tooth for problems. Common problems seen on exam may include pulp horn exposure, fractured or lost teeth, infected teeth or gums, hooks or ramps, sharp points, abnormally long teeth, ulcerations on cheeks or tongue, foreign bodies between teeth, or misalignment of the mouth.

Annual sedated oral exams are important for the overall health of your horse. By keeping up with dental care we can find problems early, keep the mouth comfortable, and prevent irregularities from causing significant problems.

Here is an example of the importance of annual dental care.  In this picture we are looking in the mouth of Ms Vogue. She is an approximately 12 year old Gypsy Vanner with an unknown history of dental care prior to her current owner. On routine a routine oral examination and dental we were surprised to see a massive step of her first molar on the upper left side (209). This over growth has caused the opposing molar to be over worn and shortened below the occlusal surface. We will have to work on shortening this over long tooth in increments over time until it matches the occlusal surface. This case shows the importance of regular dental care. Annual oral exams and floats may have caught this malocclusion and allowed us to correct it before it became so severe. With time, the malocclusion will be able to be corrected and allow proper contact of the occlusal surfaces, allowing for proper alignment of the occlusal surfaces and proper mastication and digestion of feed!

Give us a call to today at 970-379-7100 if you would like to schedule one of the remaining 20% off appointment slots for our annual dental promotion for January and February.

Written by: Justine Stalnaker, DVM

Alpine Equine Hospital