Routine Dentistry
A good, thorough dental exam should be done at least once a year for most adult horses. In some horses, we recommend dental work to be done every six months.
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Horses need routine dental care, not only to remove sharp points that occur normally in their mouths, but to look for and assess any potential abnormalities that could be causing them discomfort or more serious problems.
It used to be believed that routine dentistry or a routine "float" was needed simply to remove the sharp points that horses normally make. We strongly believe that this is not the complete picture when it comes to your horse's oral health. Removal of sharp points is only one component to good preventative dental care.
One of the most important parts of good dental care is a thorough oral exam. The basis of our dental care program is a five-component oral exam that will help us recognize and evaluate any oral problems your horse may have, including cavities (decay to teeth), fractured teeth, periodontal (gum) disease, oral soft tissue injuries, or a tooth root abcess or infection.
The five components to this exam involve evaluating the external face, oral soft tissues, occlusion, periodontal status, and endodontic status of the teeth. Once this exam has been performed, we can properly proceed with the occlusal adjustment (float or removal of sharp points) which will bring your horse's mouth into proper balance and optimize its chewing function.
If we diagnose any further problems on the oral exam, we may recommend further diagnostics if necessary, and discuss appropriate treatment options to help restore good oral health.
A good, thorough dental exam should be done at least once a year for most adult horses. In some horses, we recommend dental work to be done every six months.
Horses can have decay happen to their teeth, similar to people, which can cause cavities or exposure to the vital portion of the tooth, the pulp, which may potentially lead to the fracturing of a tooth and/or other problems.
Midwest Equine Services offers both basic and advanced extraction services, as well as performing sinus surgeries on those horses that need them.
Horses can get periodontal disease (gum disease). This may occur for various reasons. Equine teeth are unique in that they continuously erupt into the mouth.
Dental examination should begin at birth. When your foal receives his first wellness examination at birth, a brief dental examination should be performed at that time.