Dentistry

Your horse's teeth are complex and dynamic, changing constantly as they erupt further and further with age. Horses are born with "baby teeth" (deciduous teeth) just like humans which need to come out so adult teeth can have plenty of room. All these changes happening in the horse's mouth give ample opportunity for problems to occur. Routine oral exams can help diagnose and treat common problems such as:

• Mal-occlusion: sometimes the horse's teeth don't match up well and make it difficult for the animal to eat comfortably. "Wave mouth", "Step mouth" and "Wedge mouth" are just a few of these mal-occlusion problems.
• Sharp enamel points: As your horse grinds his feed, the molars can form peaks and valleys as the crown of the tooth is slowly worn down. Routine dental "floating" will reduce these painful sharp points and make your horse a more efficient eater.
• Retained "Caps": as the deciduous baby teeth start to fall out and the adult teeth erupt, sometimes one or more of the "caps" (stubborn baby teeth) need a little help coming loose. These retained caps can be painful and even become a source of infection if left without treatment.
• Bit irritation: For performance horses, a comfortable mouth is essential, so the bit can function as it was designed. Sometimes a "bit seat" is placed on the first cheek teeth to ensure no interference or pain caused by bit or teeth.
• Sinus or tooth root infection:
• Fractured or broken teeth.