Equine Dentistry It is important to catch dental problems early. Horses with dental problems might be obvious in showing they're experiencing pain or irritation, or they might show no noticeable signs at all. But left undiagnosed and untreated, a dental problem can develop into a much more significant health concern. In a 2006 study of horses suffering from chronic weight loss, 20% of the horses experienced weight loss due to dental disorders. In addition to weight loss, the inability to chew feed into small particles can lead to colic, and the bacteria associated with gum disease in the horse's mouth can migrate to other areas of the body, similar to what occurs with gum disease in humans.

Why is it important for my horse to have regular dental examinations?

An oral examination should be an essential part of an annual physical examination by a veterinarian. Every exam provides the opportunity to perform routine preventative dental maintenance. Read more...

Why "float"?

Horses are herbivores and have teeth that erupt over time and wear down as they erupt. As they wear down, points develop at the cheek side of the upper molars and the tongue side of the lower molars. These points make mastication (chewing food) uncomfortable and for performance horses, can limit their performance. Horses with sharp enamel points are more predisposed to colic than horses that have had the points removed by floating. In nature, the horses with poor jaw confirmation die off and do not pass on the genes to offspring. In our domesticated horses, poor dentition or jaw conformation has been propagated.

What is "floating"?

Floating is a word used to describe filing off of the sharp enamel points that horses develop as their teeth erupt and wear down. During floating, abnormalities such as hooks, ramps, and waves are corrected. During a good balancing float, the incisors are also evaluated and corrected as needed.

How often do I have my horse's teeth floated?

Young horse's teeth are softer, and the teeth wear down faster, and thus need to be floated more often than older horses. The first float can be down at 6 months to one year. Young horses can be floated every 6 months as they are losing "caps" (or baby teeth) and the underlying tooth is usually sharp. Middle aged horses can be floated every year for maintenance. Geriatric horses can be floated every 1.5 to 2 years, but need to be examined for loose teeth and dental disease yearly. As horses age, the teeth become harder so it takes longer to develop sharp enamel points.

Wolf Teeth

Horses have 6 incisors on the top and 6 on the bottom. These are the teeth that you usually see, and they use them to crop grass. In males, there are two canines on the top and bottom, These are their fighting teeth, and you can see them behind the incisors. They can be sharp if regular dental care is not provided. The long row of molars that horses use to grind are often not seen. They extend from behind the bars of the mouth to the level right in front of the eye.

This all brings us to the discussion of "wolf teeth". The wolf teeth are the first premolars. In other words, they re the very first tooth in the long row of grinding teeth. The thing that is different about them is that they are tiny. Sometimes they are even hidden under the gums. Wolf teeth start to com in at 6 to 9 months of age.

Wolf teeth need to be removed while the horse is young, If they are left in, they will cause problems with bitting when the horse begins training. They can be easily removed, but in older horses, it is more difficult. Removal of wolf teeth is often done when colts are castrated. They are also present in fillies, so it is important to begin dental care at about 6 months of age. At this stage, the wolf teeth can be removed easily, and the horse will be ready for the bit.