| Your Dentistry Appointment | | | | There are four main reasons why in today's modern |
| Dentists will have their own method in which they | | | | world, there is the need for Equine Dentistry. |
| perform a dental examination and work but the | | | | A good equine dentist treating your horse regularly |
| following is a rough guide to the stages that should | | | | will; |
| be incorporated. | | | | Maximise the function of the horses mouth |
| When your chosen dentist arrives they should | | | | - Ensuring the horse can masticate correctly and |
| acquaint themselves with your horse. Usually if it is | | | | efficiently, in turn, |
| the first time the dentist has been to see you had | | | | - Reducing the cost of feeding horses as they will be |
| your horse they will take a history of your horse and | | | | able to gain the maximum nutrients from the food |
| may even enquire into any previous dental work | | | | ingested. |
| carried out. After this the dentist will palpate the | | | | Maximise the performance of the horse |
| head of the horse, feeling for any tenderness in the | | | | - By improving the function and comfort within the |
| temporomandibular joint or uneven distribution of | | | | horses mouth |
| muscles across the horses head. Once this overview | | | | - By ensuring there are no problems withing the |
| has been established the dentist will put on the | | | | horses mouth that could hinder the anterior-posterior |
| speculum on the horse. After slowly racheting the | | | | movement of the horses head when moving. |
| horses mouth open the dentist will palpate the inside | | | | - Preventing soreness that problems associated with |
| of the horses mouth. Mainly using feel they will be | | | | poor dentition could create when ridden. |
| determining the areas withing the horses mouth that | | | | Improving health and welfare |
| need work, any soreness, the presence of wolf | | | | - By ensuring horses are not in any discomfort / pain |
| teeth, the angles of the arcade tables, the presence | | | | - Evolution of the horse indicates long periods of |
| of any hooks or ramps and any other abnormalities. | | | | trickle feeding as the most natural way of eating, this |
| After this some dentists like to offer the owner the | | | | can be achieved in comfort with a correct dental |
| chance to feel what they have. This allows them to | | | | routine. |
| gain a greater understanding of what problems may | | | | Increasing the longevity of the mouth |
| be present and the dentist can then explain the | | | | - Due to the continuous eruption of horses |
| procedures they will go through to correct them. | | | | hypsodont teeth, any small problem will only become |
| The dentist aims to round any rims, reduce the | | | | worse. |
| height of any large enamel points, correct any | | | | - A suitable dental routine will prevent these problems |
| number of malocclusions and create a comfortable | | | | from becoming serious, increasing the lifespan of the |
| correctly functioning mouth for the horse. | | | | teeth. |
| The need for Equine Dentistry | | | | |