Proper dental care is a vital part of preventative healthcare of horses. Filing of sharp edges, removing hooks, and aligning proper grinding of the teeth should be done at least annually.
As a patient ages, changes within the mouth occur. Fractures of molars, missing teeth, diseased tooth roots, and “wavemouths” become commonplace.
The importance of equine dental care is becoming more and more apparent to horse owners. In order to stay competitive, equestrians need to have their horse’s teeth in perfect order so their horses respond appropriately to the bit and subtle hand signals.
What was once a physically demanding and difficult task is now an accurate, easy and somewhat gentle procedure on horses. The doctors at South Shore Equine Clinic & Diagnostic Center use a rotary mechanized float (POWERFLOAT) for most of the dental needs encountered with horses. In an average of 6 to 10 minutes, all floating procedures including reduction of enamel points, hooks, ramps, wave mouth, bit seats, and incisor teeth are accomplished with minimal discomfort to the patient. The small size of the abrasive surface and stationary guard permit easy access to all areas of the mouth on all breeds of horses. The instrumentation allows us to complete tasks quickly and with minimal contact to the soft tissues of the mouth. Trauma to the oral mucosa is virtually eliminated. View the powerfloat procedure in the video below.
Digital radiographs of teeth, skull bones, and sinuses may also help to determine if more invasive or alternate treatments are necessary for your horse. Consultations with dental specialists are available on an as needed basis.
If you have any questions or are interested in our dental services, please contact South Shore Equine Clinic at (781) 585-2611 or email [email protected]
We also offer the consultation services of an equine veterinary specialist in dentistry, Bayard A. Rucker, D.V.M.