Licensed in the states of:Horses need a Dentist too!
Starting from birth, examination by owner or veterinarian of the mouth of horses is important. Most primary incisor teeth of horses start to erupt through the gums between 6 weeks and 8 months. Between 2 and 5 years, a horse will loose the primary incisors and replace them with permanent “nippers”. So by the time a horse is 5 years old, 24 of their 40 teeth will change. Horses have teeth known as Hypsodont, which is unlike the teeth of humans called Bunodont. Hypsodont teeth have a large amount of crown below the gum surface and continue to grow throughout life. When these teeth do not have an opposing tooth, they can become too long and cause problems. Different chewing patterns, types of feed, activities, and age can all factor into how the teeth wear and how often they need to be evaluated.
Floating is the process of grinding down the sharp points and hooks that develop because of normal growth, opposition differences and wear. Usually this process isn’t needed until the horse is older than five but examination of the teeth every year is very important. The goal of floating the teeth is to lower the teeth down so the grinding surfaces are flat, allowing for optimum food grinding and digestion. If the surfaces aren’t even, horses may drop feed, lose body condition, not eat, or have other health problems.
During a dental visit, your horse must be sedated for a thorough oral examine and so the experience is rewarding and easier. All the teeth will be examined and areas of opposition will be corrected. If “hooks” are found, they are usually on the front or back of the molar teeth and develop because of a difference in alignment between the upper and lower jaws. We will also lower the incisors if needed so your horse can pick grass effectively. We use a Dermal tool to lower the incisors to give your horse an even bite. We can also remove wolf 
teeth if they are present. Wolf teeth are remnants of premolars (not canines) that may not be present in each horse. Most owners that ride with a bit will need to have these very small teeth removed because they can cause unwanted pinching while riding. Another recommendation for owners that ride with a bit is a “Bit Seat”. The Dermal is also used to provide a notch in the first premolars so the bit will fit comfortably in the horse’s mouth.