YOUR HORSE'S TEETH ARE AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP IN IT'S DIGESTIVE MECHANISM. ONCE YOUR HORSE PICKS UP IT'S FEED WITH IT'S LIPS AND INCISORS THE HEALTHY FUNCTIONAL MOLARS GRIND THE FEED TO A PULP SUITABLE FOR SWALLOWING.

HORSE'S MOLARS EMERGE FROM THE GUMS ABOUT 3-4 MM EVERY YEAR TO MAKE UP FOR THE ABRASIVE WEAR OF EATING GRASS. IF THE MOLARS DON'T WEAR ADEQUETELY DUE TO THE TYPE OF FEED AND THE WAY THE HORSE USES IT'S JAW, SHARP EDGES OR UNEVEN LEVELS SOON DEVELOP. 

THE GOLDEN RULE: WHEN TEETH ARE FILED, THE DENTIST MUST ENSURE THE HORE'S ABILITY TO GRIND IT'S FEED IS RETAINED. REMOVING TOO MUCH MATERIAL IS A COMMON ERROR AND CAUSES PROBLEMS FOR THE HORSE!

EQUINE DENTISTS FILE TEETH SO THAT:

1. THE TABLES OF THE MOLARS WEAR EVENLY AND THE HORSE CAN GRIND IT'S FEED PROPERLY

2. CHEEKS ARE NOT LACERATED BY SHARP EDGES, MAKING IT PAINFUL TO CHEW AND WHEN RIDDEN

3. IRREGULAR JAW MOVEMENTS DON'T RESULT IN EXTENDED TEETH DUE TO UNEVEN WEAR, CAUSING LONG TERM ISSUES

4. FEED CONVERSION REMAINS EFFICIENT MINIMISING FEED WASTE

5. FEED IS NOT RETAINED IN THE MOUTH DUE TO SHARP EDGES, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT GUM AND TOOTH HEALTH PROBLEMS OVER TIME

7. TOOTH LEVELS REMAIN EVEN SO THE HORSE CAN EAT WELL AS IT AGES

DID YOU KNOW?

1. HORSE'S TEETH ARE DESIGNED TO EAT GRASS AND OTHER HERBAGE. A DOMESTICATED ENVIRONMENT OFTEN RESULTS IN RESTRICTED ACCESS TO GRASS DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS, COMPETITION AND DROUGHT

2. HORSE'S TEETH WEAR BEST ON CONTINUED EATING OF GRASS

3. HORSES FREQUENTLY FED HAY/HARDFEED REQUIRE MORE FREQUENT DENTAL TREATMENT AS THESE TEETH WON'T WEAR THEIR TEETH THE SAME AS GRASS, RESULTING IN SHARP EDGES AND UNEVEN WEAR DEVELOPING QUICKLY

4. HARD TIMES SUCH AS DROUGHT CAUSE CHANGES TO FEED ROUTINES. WITH THE INCREASED COST OF FEED, DENTAL TREATMENT WILL ENSURE THE HORSE GETS THE MOST OUT OF THE FEED PROVIDED.

COLIC IS OFTEN CAUSED BY DENTAL PROBLEMS. 

IF A HORSE IS UNABLE TO GRIND IT'S FEED ADEQUETELY, LARGE WADS OF FEED MAY BE SWALLOWED, RESULTING IN COLIC

YOUR AGED HORSE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT FEEDING REQUIREMENTS 

DUE TO THE FUNCTIONLITY OF IT'S TEETH. YOUR EQUINE DENTIST WILL ADVISE WHICH FEED YOUR HORSE CAN MANAGE TO EAT, AND OFFER NUTRITIONAL ADVICE.

3 1/2 YEAR OLD INCISORS SHOWING CENTRAL PERMANENT INCISORS IN WEAR, ADJACENT PERMANENT INCISORS NEWLY ERUPTED AND CORNER INCISORS DECIDUOUS

FROM BIRTH TO 18 MONTHS A FREE DENTAL CHECK UP IS RECOMMENDED TO ENSURE REGULAR ALIGNMENT AND TOOTH ERUPTION

AT 18 MONTHS - 2 YEARS REGULAR TREATMENT BEGINS

TREATMENT IS RECOMMENDED AROUND THE TIME OF YOUR HORSE'S EDUCATION SO THAT DENTAL PROBLEMS DO NOT IMPAIR TRAINING PROGRESS

AT 2 1/2 YEARS OF AGE YOUR HORSE'S DECIDUOUS (BABY) TEETH BEGIN TO SHED

REGULAR CHECK UPS 3-6 MONTHS UNTIL 41/2 YEARS OF AGE MAY BE REQUIRED TO ENSURE PROPER ERUPTION AND THE PROPER TIMING OF THE EXTRACTION OF CAPS (BABY TEETH)

12 MONTHS IS THE RECOMMENDED TREATMENT INTERVAL FOR A NORMAL MOUTH ON A MAINLY GRASS DIET

6-9 MONTHS TREATMENTS RECOMMENDED FOR AN IRREGULAR MOUTH OR A HIGH GRAIN DIET

"AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN A POUND OF CURE"

IN THESE YEARS YOUR HORSE'S TEETH WILL CONTINUE TO ERUPT, WEAR AND CHANGE WITH AGE.

MOST DENTAL CONDITIONS ARE MANAGABLE IF YOUR HORSE RECIEVES REGULAR TREATMENT IN MIDDLE AGE, KEEPING HIS MOUTH FUNCTIONAL AND HEALTHY AS HE AGES

REGULAR TREATMENT ENSURES NO DISCOMFORT IN THE MOUTH SO THAT HIS TEETH DO  NOT IMPAIR PROGRESS WHEN RIDDEN

A CHECK UP EVERY 6 MONTHS IS RECOMMENDED

AN EQUINE DENTIST WILL INFORM YOU OF WHAT FEED YOUR HORSE IS LIKELY TO MANAGE, SUGGEST CHANGES THAT MAY HELP WITH WEIGHT GAIN, AND DISCUSS YOUR HORSE'S AGE RELATED NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

YOUR HORSE'S TEETH WILL BE BEGINNING TO WEAR WITH AGE. MANY HORSES WITH HEALTHY TEETH WILL STILL BE ABLE TO MANAGE THEIR FEED WELL, HOWEVER YOUR OLD HORSE MAY SHOW SIGNS OF PROBLEMS....

HORSES WITH AGE RELATED DENTAL PROBLEMS MAY REQUIRE EXTENSIVE TREATMENT TO MAKE THEM COMFORTABLE AND FREE FROM PAIN AND INFECTION. TYHEY MAY REQUIRE SOFT FEED AS A COMBINATION OF REDUCED GRINDING SURFACES AND DECLINING TOOTH NUMBERS MAY MAKE GRINDING HAY/DRY GRASS IMPOSSIBLE.