The Equine Dental Exam

I first establish a rapport with the horse by introducing myself.  It is done in a quiet, non-threatening way involving soft talk and allowing the horse to come close and take a good look.  This builds trust and respect.

Next, a complete examination of the exterior of the horse -- not only the mouth -- but of the entire body.  I am is looking for asymmetries, body conditions, soreness and evaluating gaits. You will be asked about the horse's feed, breed, age.  It is also pertinent to evaluate how the horse is used (pleasure, showing, dressage, etc.) and how often the horse is ridden, trained, and or showed.  A health history will be taken to address common dental symptoms. 

Evaluating Dental Anatomy

Incisors
The incisor length and angle have a direct effect on the TMJ.  I check from the front to see if they are aligned top to bottom and if the upper and lower incisors are centered or off center. I look from the side to see if there is an overbite (or overjet) or underbite (or under jet). 

I will also check your horse's anterior and posterior movements.  When the head is raised, the mandible should slide back and when the head is lowered, the mandible should slide forward.  Any restriction of this sliding movement shows there may be pathologies in the molars or rims on the incisors.

Molars
I cue the horse to chew for me.  I observe the mandible movement and also listen for the sounds of the molars coming past each other.  This should be a clear resonance with no clunking or popping sounds in a balanced mouth.

TMJ
I lightly check the TMJ joints for asymmetries and pain response.

The Procedure

Since the incisors have the greatest impact on the TMJ, I will adjust the incisors first to restore proper length and balance, which is the foundation of Natural Balance Dentistry.

Next, I will put on the speculum to assess the molars.  The speculum is continuously closed down to give the horse a break between adjusting strokes with the instruments.  It is also opened to the bare minimum.  The horse may keep his head in a natural position.  It is not tied up in the air or put on a head stand.  Sedation, when needed, is done very lightly.  I want the horse to be aware of the subtle changes that are taking place in the mouth and subsequently, the nervous system.  I often will work on my knees as the horse puts his head in a natural lowered position.

Power Instruments and why I choose NOT to use them:

I believe that power instruments were created for the comfort of the practitioner and not the horse.  A practitioner power floating can get through a lot of horses in a short amount of time. 

• It is easy to take off too much clinical crown (tooth above the gum line).
• The natural molar table angles are often made flat.
• Too much dwell time on the tooth will cause thermal damage which shows up years later in the premature expiring of teeth. (losing teeth too soon).
• Tooth dust is a carcinogen.  Many practitioners wear a mask so as to not breath in the dust- but what about the horse?
• The speculum needs to be cranked open as wide as possible for the power tool to go in the mouth.
• The speculum in not closed down every few minutes to give the horse a break.  Sometimes it is left wide open for 30 minutes.
• The head is tied or hoisted up or on a high head stand.  This is very bad for the cervical vertebrae.
• Most times, the practitioner is right handed, doing one side more aggressively than the other side.
• Very heavy sedation is needed so the horse stays still- but one head shake can destroy the molar angles.
• Very often tissue is cut, resulting in large amounts of bleeding.
• Incisors are not addressed first and are later cut down to match the molars- further torquing the TMJ into a stressed position.

The Importance of Routine Care And Maintenance

Since most horse owners believe that if a horse is not showing any outward signs of a problem, dentistry is often an overlooked health practice.  Yet it can be the simplest and most affordable step to improve health, maintain well being and even extend life. Most equine dentistry involves prevention. If your horse's teeth are regularly cared for, the maintenance process is simple, and major health complications can be avoided. Each horse is an individual and Natural Balance Dentistry considers the whole horse and all of its environmental factors in developing a maintenance plan.

In addition to neglected dental care, equally detrimental to your horse's health is poor equine dentistry. It contributes to pain, lameness, poor nutrition and leads to neurological imbalance with a host of negative ramifications.

For optimum well being, every horse should have a complete dental exam on a regular basis, at least yearly. In some cases, such as younger horses or horses having issues, exams should be made every 3-6 months.

Symptoms of Dental Problems