This document discusses equine dentistry. It notes that horses naturally erode their teeth through grazing but domestic horses require floating to prevent sharp points from developing. Signs of dental issues include abnormal chewing, weight loss, and behavioral changes. Common dental problems addressed are retained caps, points, hooks, and fractures. Annual dental exams are recommended starting before bridling to thoroughly evaluate and float teeth as needed using sedation for safety and thoroughness.

1. Dr. Kelleyerin Clabaugh
Columbia Equine Hospital

2.  Teeth erupt. They do NOT grow.
 Horses are born with 18 deciduous (baby) teeth
• shed when adult teeth erupt beyond the gum line
 Teeth erupt approximately 2-3 mm a year
 Horse “floats” his own teeth by chewing
 Feral horse:
• teeth are worn down by constant grazing of coarse material
(silicates)
• life expectancy of 12 years due to rate of tooth wear
 Domesticated horse:
• is fed less frequent, softer meals
• Teeth last longer so horse lives longer (>30 years), but…
• develop sharp points from irregular bite alignment

3. dentalmaturity ~ 5 years
36-44 teeth
Incisors
Prehension & cutting
12
2 ½ to 4 ½
Canines
Defense & fighting
4*
4 to 6 years
Wolf teeth
Obsolete
4*
4 to 7 months
Premolars
Grind food
12
2 ½ to 3 ½ years
Molars
Grind food
12
1 to 3 years

4. Cup = cementum with enamel ring
Pulp cavity = dental star - appears at 9 years

5. Human tooth
 Human teeth are
shiny and white as
they are covered in
enamel
 but horse teeth are
covered in cement
 Cement is stronger
but porous - stains
easily
 Chlorophyll in fresh
grass discolours the
cementum.

8.  Abnormal chewing action
 Head shaking or holding head to one side
 Quidding/dropping feed
 Weight loss
 Bit evasion & resistance (head tossing)
 Bridling problems or head shy
 Unbalanced or one sided when ridden
 Facial swellings
 Odorous breath
 Unilateral (one sided) nasal discharge
 Long fibers, oats or corn in manure
 Impaction colic

9.  Over or under bite
 Shear/slant mouth
 Fracture
 Too long
• Preventing occlusion of PMs and Ms
 Retained caps

14.  “Wolf teeth”
 Retained caps
 Points - Shear mouth
 Hooks
 Wave mouth
 Tooth Fracture
 Loose/missing teeth
• Diastema formation
• Step formation

15.  Not canines!
 Maxillary arcade only
 0 – 2 (rarely 3)
• May be “blind”
 Bit creates pressure of
gums/cheeks against
sharp WT
 Remove prior to
bridling
• if sharp or loose
• or separated from the
second premolar

16.  Young horse should
lose caps between 2.5
and 4.5 years
 If caps persists, can
interfere with
mastication by
effectively elongating
that tooth
 A loose but persistent
cap can be painful
 Removed easily during
routine dental

17.  Shear mouth
 Maxillary arcade
• Buccal points
 Mandibular arcade
• Lingual points
 Results in oral
ulcers

19.  Abnormal chewing
motion results in
“dominant teeth”
that are not worn
down as rapidly as
their opposing
teeth.
 “Dominant” teeth
need to be reduced
to allow normal
circular motion

20.  Loss of tooth allows
opposing tooth to
continue to grow
without wear
 Restricts normal
circular mastication
 Can puncture
opposite gumline
and cause pain and
peridontal disease

21.  TMJ arthritis
 Tooth root abscess
 Sinus infection
 Neoplasia (cancer)

22.  Horse has difficulty chewing because
of pain in the joint
 Diagnosed with X-ray and/or
ultrasound
 Can manage with NSAIDS or joint
injections
 Many older horses need to be fed
small frequent meals due to arthritic
pain

23.  Tooth fracture or loss
• Feed material get impacted within or between
teeth
• Gingivitis and infection of peridontal ligament
and bone
• Results in loosening of teeth and pain
 Treat with extraction of tooth
• If reserve crown is long (young horse)…
 tooth must be retro-pulse extracted
 Open sinus and expel tooth from within the sinus into
the mouth
• If crown is short (older horse)…
 may extract the tooth orally

24.  Typically occur in younger horses
when the reserve crown is still within
the sinus
 Can occur in older horses if tooth is
fractured or infection is severe enough
to penetrate into sinus
 Clinical signs:
• Unilateral nasal discharge
• Reduced air flow
• Facial swelling
• Draining tract communicating with sinus

31.  Annual
 Start prior to bridling
 To be thorough, use sedation with a
full speculum

32.  Dentistry
• Gentle
 Power equipment allows a complete thorough dental to
be performed in a shorter period of time
 Jaw is held open for a shorter period of time
 No laceration of mucosa or tongue
• Thorough
 Maintenance dentistry and simple extractions
 Board certified Equine Dentist for complicated
extractions and oral surgery
• Price includes first sedation
• Reduced price if performed/examined annually