A power point presentation put together for the James River Driving Club March 2012 meeting. Equine dentistry is an important aspect of keeping your carriage driving horse going comfortably.

1. Equine Dentistry
{ How It Can Improve Your Driving Horse

2. Basic Anatomy
 Horses have Hypsodont teeth
 Continuous eruption until expired
 Average tooth length 4-5 inches
 Visible crown much shorter than reserve crown
 Younger horses = more tooth
Human tooth vs. Equine tooth Young tooth vs. Old tooth

4. Terminology & Purpose
Position Number Purpose
Incisors 12 Prehension & Cutting
Canines 0–4 Defense
Premolars 12 Grinding of Foodstuffs
•Wolf Teeth 0-4 Vestigial First Premolars
Molars 12 Grinding of Foodstuffs

5. Eruption Process
 Foals born with 12 premolars & within days erupt first incisors
 Weanlings have 12 premolars & 12 incisors
 First permanent molar erupts 1 ½ years old
 Second molar ~3 years old
 Third molar ~4 years old
 Molars do not shed caps, only erupt the permanent tooth
 Therefore, the oldest tooth in a horse’s mouth is the First Molar (mid-
arcade)
 Incisor caps shed at 2 ½, 3 ½, 4 ½ years old beginning with the central teeth
to corner teeth in pairs (2 upper & 2 lower)
 Premolar caps shed at 2 ½, 3, and 3 ½ years old in pairs (2 upper & 2
lower)
 Wolf teeth usually erupt around 1 - 1 ½ years old
 Some draft horses have erupted wolf teeth later
 Canine teeth erupt at 4 ½ years old
 All adult teeth should be visibly erupted by 5 years old!

6. Every Tooth has Its Number

7. So What Do All
Those Numbers
Mean?
 Young horses less than 5 years old starting their training will have a
lot of activity going on in their mouths!
 This may cause discomfort for the horse - sharp enamel points, loose
caps, erupting permanent teeth, cheek lacerations
 Many “behavior” issues such as resisting the bit, head
tossing, bolting, etc. can be mistaken when in actuality it’s caused by
pain/discomfort
 Young horses need more frequent dental care or floating due to new
eruptions, deciduous caps and “softer” teeth that form enamel points
quicker than mature horses

9. How Do I Know My
Horse Has a Dental Issue?
Abnormal Eating Habits Clinical Signs Behavioral Issues
 Not finishing feed  Maxillary or  Resistance to bridling
 Refusal to eat hay or mandibular swelling  Head shy
grain  Malodorous nostrils or  Resisting the bit
 Slowly eating mouth  Head tossing
 Dropping feed  Nasal discharge  Bucking
 Quidding  Excessive salvation  Rearing
 Head tilting  Drainage  Difficulty bending
 Chewing with mouth  Choke  Gapping the mouth
open  Colic  Refusal to collect
 “Squeaky” noises when  Undigested feed in
chewing manure

12. Form to Function

13. Key Points
 Natural head position is altered in performance horses
 Dental malocclusions make it mechanically impossible for horses to
maintain our desired head-set
 Individual horses have different pain thresholds
 Most hoses will NOT shows signs of dental abnormalities for long periods
of time (months to years)
You don’t know what you don’t see…

14. Case Example
 12 year old Welsh Cob Stallion
 Champion Under Saddle & in Carriage Driving
 Previous farm had him “Floated” every 6 months w/o sedation
 New owner & Novice Driver requested dental exam “just to check”
BEFORE AFTER
 After consulting with previous owner, they were aware of missing lower
premolar…
 Pony was always slightly resistant turning to the right

15. Minis!
 Deserve Special Attention (but you already knew that).
 Same number of teeth as the larger breeds, but ¼ of the space!
 Relatively HIGHER incidence of dental abnormalities
 Overcrowding, abnormal eruption, retained caps most common
problems
 Minis less than 5 years old or with preexisting dental problems should
be examined every 6 months
 Virtually impossible to do a thorough exam or use dental equipment in
such a small space without sedation

16.  “Chipmunk Cheeks” are
usually the result of feed
packing between the teeth &
cheeks, not necessarily a tooth
abscess
 Caused by crowding, missing
& extra teeth. Or just a very
small mouth!

17. My Horse Needs a
Dentist, Now What?
 Every dental exam should consist of a full mouth speculum, light, and
palpation of the entire oral cavity
 Most horses should have mild, standing sedation for dental procedures
 Safer for the horse
 Safer for the dental provider
 Safer for the owner/handler
 Less irritating for the horse
 Less stress on the TMJ (temporal mandibular joint)
 Less chance of soft tissue trauma to gums, lips, tongue
 Provides better access to the rear of the mouth
 Wolf tooth extraction should be done under sedation due to the
tooth’s close proximity to the palatine artery
 Your vet determines the amount of sedation based on the type of
dental work, patient’s disposition & horse’s physical condition.

18. Factors to Consider
When Choosing a
Dentist
 Education
 What courses have they completed specifically in Equine Dentistry?
 Do they attend annual CE?
 Experience
 How long have they been practicing equine dentistry?
 How many dentals per year do they do?
 Equipment
 Do they have the necessary equipment?
 Do they use a disinfectant?
 Professional Conduct
 Does each horse receive a detailed dental chart?
 Do they take time to explain what they’re doing?

19. Conclusion
 Every horse should have annual dental care
 No eating or bitting issues do not equal no dental issues
 Increased levels of performance require the horse to carry its head in
more unnatural positions
 Providing annual, preventative dental care will make your driving horse
more comfortable,
 Addressing small dental problems before they get out of hand will cost
you less in the long run
 Thorough dental care by an experienced provider may increase your
horse’s longevity

20. Thank You!
Amanda Compton is a registered Equine Dental Technician (EDT) with the VA Board of
Veterinary Medicine and has worked in collaboration with vets since 2001. She also works
part-time with VA Techs’ Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center’s nursing department.
She has coordinated CE programs on equine dentistry for the EMC, Northern VA Community
College & the American Assoc. of Veterinary Technicians. A graduate of WVU with a degree in
Animal & Veterinary Sciences, she has worked with horses all of her life. She began her love of
driving while working at Ayrshire Farm from 2001-2006. Now she competes her Arabians in
pleasure carriage driving and combined driving events. Amanda & her husband, Stephen, live
in Middletown, VA. She can be reached through her website at www.eqdent.com or by
phone 304-582-5885.