Question 1

What is the difference between my treatment and rasping/floating?

Accepted Answer

Rasping usually means removing sharp and pointy enamel edges that develop especially on the upper molars and can cause lesions in the horses buccal mucosa.Undoubtedly it is a necessary treatment contributing to painfree eating.But sharpness is by far not the only source of pain in the mouth. While I also remove sharp edges, my treatment focuses on what is called "Equilibration", correcting the occlusal restrictions and overgrowths that cause uneven pressure and therefore pain and which are the cause of most dental diseases as well as many riding and bitting problems. I work on the front teeth and cheek teeth to bring them back into the physiological correct contact and balance. And of course I make sure that every single tooth is examined to catch other dental diseases like caries or periodontal disease early!

Question 2

Why do horses need a dentist? What about wild horses?

Accepted Answer

Horses are herbivores and permanent grazers. They are designed to eat for 16-18 hours a day with short breaks and to travel up to 20-30 km/day in a slow, grazing, forward movement. The incisors pluck and nibble (and scratch herd mates) and the row of 6 cheek teeth acts as one long surface, grinding food with tons of pressure and great shear forces, sometimes on the left side, sometimes on the right side.The molar chewing surface is kept rough and sharp by constantly grinding plants rich of fibre and silicate. In order to cope with permanent abrasion, the teeth slowly erupt out of the upper and lower jaw (approx. 3-7mm per year) and thus constantly replace the worn tooth substance. Thus In natural conditions there is a good balance between abrasion and growth.Wild equids teeth are in relatively good condition for most of their life, but as they get older they will slowly develop the same problems as domestic horses and ultimately, their teeth will be worn and „used up" or they suffer from periodontal disease, fractures, malocclusions or other problems like our domestic horses.Unfortunately, we keep horses in a way that cannot sufficiently support this delicate system of dental wear and eruption. Domestic horses lack both, multiple, frequent feeding times in a grazing motion and species- and fibre-rich feed. Some more, some less. Depending on the way they are kept and fed, sooner or later this leads to irregular wear patterns, singular teeth grow longer than their neighbors and dominate their counterparts - these malocclusions develop an all equids as a similar, recurring pattern with few variances.Everyone has probably heard of dental terms like ramps, wave mouth, steps and hooks. These malocclusions restrict normal function and mobility during mastication, meaning the chewing surfaces of the upper and lower jaw can no longer grind freely without punctual pressure and unnatural shear and leverage forces causing pain and leading to other diseases such as periodontitis, pulpitis, apical infections, fractures and tooth decay. However, horses are masters at hiding dental problems, partly because they can continue to eat on the other, better side. Therefore, regular dental exams including the removal of all  recurring malocclusions are a must in order to keep the horse healthy. It goes without saying that a horse free of dental pain and in occlusal balance is the prerequisite for a straight, flexible and happy riding horse.

Question 3

How do I know if my horse needs a dentist?

Accepted Answer

70% - 85% of horses have undiagnosed dental problems. Commonly, the problems become apparent when the horse is ridden, but most horses show no, or very subtle, problems eating. Annual dental checkups catch problems and irregularities early and make sure that the horse keeps its good dental condition! Have you noticed anything unusual about your horse?Typical symptoms are for example abnormal jaw movements or head tilts when eating, spitting out hay (quidding) or eating slowly.Typical ridden signs are tilting the head, being hard in the mouth, not bending to one or both sides, headshaking, gaping mouths, head high and neck stiff or being behind the bit/ultralight... just to name a few. Ask me if you are not sure.

Question 4

When and how often should a horse go to the dentist?

Accepted Answer

It is recommended to have young horse have their first dental exam by the age of 2.5 to 3 years, latest before they are being ridden. The first deciduous(milk) teeth shed by the age of 2.5 years and the horse continues to shed every half year until the age of 5. There is a lot going on during that time! Wolf teeth are already present at 9 months and ought to be removed before the first experience with the bit.From age 4.5-5 years a treatment interval of 1(-2) years is sufficient. Horses that require significant occlusal corrections must initially be treated at shorter intervals to restore normal anatomy before the rhythm can be set back to 1 year.

Question 5

Do old horses always have dental problems?

Accepted Answer

No, at least they shouldn't automatically have problems. I take care of a lot of old horses who are well over 20 years.I had to rehabilitate some of them in several sessions, they are all in good shape now and they don't need a lot of work to stay there. The basic principle of prophylactic dental treatment is to keep all teeth balanced so they „age“ as a complete and functional entity, without constantly having to correct and removing a lot of tooth material. Precise treatments in regular (annual) intervals pay off. Don't let small mini-malocclusions grow big - that's the formula for dental health in horses.

Question 6

Do you use by handrasps or electric instruments?

Accepted Answer

I work with diamond-coated tools for molars and incisors, powered by my trusty Makita machine. These tools are effective and can be worked very precisely, especially if only tiny adjustments need to be made. I use a vacuum system to remove dental dust - so I can see what I'm doing and we don't breathe in that fine dust. In some cases I use water-cooled tools.

Question 7

Do you always sedate?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I sedate all horses. A thorough oral examination and treatment is otherwise hardly possible. I want the horses to experience the procedure as fear free as possible. Ultimately it is a question of quality, a horse that is awake is not going to stay still for long and since half of my work is precision work i need a calm patient.By the way, the sedation only has a calming effect. For painful procedures, such as wolf tooth extractions and major surgery, patients must also be given local anesthesia.

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