Horses have evolved to be constantly grazing, their incisors are designed to grab and sheer grass and their cheek teeth are designed to grind fibrous feed. This means that their teeth are an incredibly important part of their health and digestive system. We recommend annual oral exams and dental float in order to keep your horse healthy, comfortable, and their digestive system working properly.

The anatomy of a horse’s tooth is vastly different than our own. Horse’s teeth are hypsodont, or high crowned teeth, which means that they will continuously erupt over their lifetime, but they are born with a set length that extends below the gum line. There are three primary tissues that make up a hypsodont tooth: enamel, dentin, and cementum. Enamel (red) is the hardest substance in the body and is what is primarily responsible for grinding feed. Dentin (blue) is a slightly softer calcified tissue that wears faster than enamel and helps cushion it as enamel is brittle. Cementum is also softer than enamel and helps cushion it but it also helps secure the tooth to the periodontal ligament that secures the tooth to the bone. The upper cheek teeth have infundibulae (orange star) which are deep infoldings of enamel filled with cementum in the center of the teeth. The dark spots in the center of the dentin (blue) are pulp horns. Cheek teeth have 5-6 pulp horns each.

Any abnormalities of the location of the teeth are referred to as malocclusions. Regular dental floats allow veterinarians to correct malocclusions before they cause damage to other teeth or become a significant problem. Malocclusions are classified based on the jaw. Class 0 is normal alignment of the jaw and teeth. Class 1 is normal jaw length, but individual teeth are overcrowded or crooked. Class 2 is a horse with too long an upper jaw, also known as parrot mouth. Class 3 is a horse with too long lower jaw, also known as sow mouth. Class 4 is when one jaw is normal and the other is crooked or displaced. These malocclusions lead to irregular wear of the occlusal or chewing surface. This can lead to uneven wear, periodontal disease, wave mouth, steps, or ramps, reduced chewing efficiency, or pain.

Infundibular caries is another pathology we look for during a sedated oral exam. Caries are what we call cavities in horses. Caries are the erosion or destruction of the cementum filled cup on the surface of the tooth (infundibulum). Caries are often caused by developmental disorders on the tooth, reduction of cementum density, or absent cementum. This is exacerbated by bacteria in the mouth that cultivates in the infundibulum and erodes the cementum. Concentrated feeds can also contribute to caries due to increasing the pH of the horse’s mouth causing the cementum to erode and break down. Caries can progress and erode into the adjacent pulp. The pulp horns are made up of blood vessels and nerves, so invasion of a cary into the pulp horn can lead to infection of the tooth root through the pulp horn. This causes pain and can lead to weaking or fracture of the tooth.

Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in horses. Periodontal disease is the infection of the gums that commonly starts with feed packing in spaces between teeth (diastemas). This causes inflammation and recession of the gums and can lead to loss of alveolar bone eventually leading to tooth loss. Periodontal disease can be diagnosed on a regular physical exam if facial swelling, foul smelling breath, or draining tracts are present. This disease is more commonly diagnosed with a sedated oral exam. Periodontal disease is commonly thought to be caused by irregular alignment of the teeth, so regular oral exams to preemptively correct alignment can help prevent this disease. Once the disease has been noted, its important to thoroughly clean out areas of pocketing, correct any malignment, and occasionally we may fill any open spaces with a soft packing material to prevent further packing of feed and to allow the tissue to heal.

During an oral exam and dental, it’s vital that the horse be sedated. It is not safe to place a speculum in the mouth of an unsedated horse and a speculum is the only way to fully see every tooth. During an oral exam the doctor will note any pathology. The doctor will then float the teeth and reduce any points, hooks, or waves noted in the mouth. Motorized floating equipment is the most popular choice in the modern era. This allows us to be quick, efficient, and precise. Typical horses that have their teeth regularly cared for can go for a year in between exams and floats. Very young or very old horses or horses with significant pathology may need 6-month exams or 3-month staged reductions to correct malocclusions or monitor disease.

During the months of January and February we offer 20% off dentals and the associated sedation. Call today to schedule an appointment! 970-379-7100