What Happens When the Dentist Comes?

Usually a dentist will ask about the horse’s dental history but we have only ever used the same dentist so he will ask if our horses have experienced any of the following issues from the last time he's seen them: 

• Dropping feed from the mouth while chewing.  This is also known as “quidding” and can happen while eating hay or grain/pelleted feeds.

• Awkward chewing motions while eating.  This may look like exaggerated chewing action, chewing on one side of the mouth, or slow or intermittent chewing rhythm.

• Trouble placing a bit in the horses’ mouth or difficulty riding when the horse has a bit in the mouth.  This may be seen as fighting the bit, shaking or tossing the head when contact is made with the bit, or potentially the horse can be less willing to travel in one direction.

• Weight Loss

• Nasal Discharge

Next the dentist typically will sedate the horse.  Sedation allows for a more thorough oral exam, as well as a more thorough dental float and treatment.  Once the sedation has taken effect, the dentist will place a speculum within the horses’ mouth.  The speculum holds the horses mouth open to allow the veterinarian to safely examine and work in the horses’ mouth.

The first thing that the veterinarian does once they have the horses’ mouth open is perform a comprehensive exam of the mouth, including the gums, teeth, and tongue.  Once the exam is performed and problems are identified, then the dentist will begin treatment.

The most important part of equine dental care is a procedure called the Dental Float, which is to use a power or hand tool to grind the teeth in certain locations to either adjust the alignment of the mouth, or to smooth out sharp or protruding points in the teeth.  Once these sharp points are smooth, and the tooth surfaces are level, the horse will need to rest until the sedation has worn off.