Equine Dentistry
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At Twin Pines Equine, we offer routine and advanced dentistry for horses, ponies, miniature horses, donkeys and mules. We use a combination of motorized and hand floats, and we are able to perform standing extractions of wolf teeth, loose molars and incisors as necessary.
Our dentistry services are priced as packaged bundles, which include the following services: o Sedation tailored to each horse's needs o A complete oral exam using an oral speculum, bright light, mirror and picks o Motorized and/or hand float reduction of enamel points, steps, hooks, ramps, waves, etc. o A dose of intravenous pain medication, if necessary *Extractions are generally not included in the package price, due to the time involved. To schedule an appointment, or if you have any questions regarding this services, please call our office at (860) 376-4373. |
 An oral speculum |
Frequently asked questions regarding equine dentistry:
1. How often should my horse have a dentistry?
We recommend at least a once yearly oral exam on all horses, to check for abnormalities. Most horses will benefit from a yearly dentistry. There are exceptions: some horses with good, level cheek teeth and a normal wear pattern can go for two years between dentals. On the other hand, older horses or those with significant abnormalities may need to be done twice yearly, or even more frequently.
2. Does my horse have to be sedated?
Most horses do. A complete oral examination can only be performed by inserting a full mouth speculum, which holds the teeth apart and allows us to safely insert our hands and mirrors. Most horses will not tolerate this examination without some sedation. Since we use motorized equipment, there is some noise associated, so many horses do better with at least a light amount of sedation. We always perform a brief physical examination before we use any sedative, and we tailor the drug and amount to each individual horse. The sedatives we use are quite safe, resulting in a calm, quiet horse who remains standing throughout the procedure and wakes up fully in a few hours at most.
3. Is motorized dentistry equipment safe?
In the hands of an experienced person, yes - motorized dental equipment is very safe. The equipment we use is very efficient at removing excessive tooth without damaging the soft tissue structures in the mouth, such as the gums and cheeks. We take frequent breaks to rinse and cool the equipment to avoid overheating. We are also very careful not to remove too much tooth - if we cannot safely reduce the tooth to a "normal" level, we will stop, and recommend another visit in about 3 months, to give the pulp horn a chance to regress. Failure to stop at this point can result in exposure of the pulp cavity (sensitive root) and potential damage to the tooth. We have extensive experience with this dentistry method, and are very comfortable with its use.
That being said, if used by an inexperienced person, motorized dentistry equipment has the potential to be unsafe. In the wrong hands, too much tooth can be removed, or the teeth may be heated to the point of being damaged. Always make sure the person performing ANY procedure on your horse has sufficient experience.
4. Why should a veterinarian float my horse's teeth?
This is a great and sometimes controversial question. There are lots of people out there calling themselves "equine dentists", with varying amounts of training, and many people are confused by this term. This term generally refers to someone who floats teeth but is not a veterinarian. They may go by the title "Certified Equine Dental Technician" or something similar, since they are not legally allowed to refer to themselves as a "dentist". (As a side note, veterinarians aren't allowed to use that term either - we may have a "focus in dentistry" or "specialization in dentistry", but the word "dentist" is reserved for human dentists.) Unlike veterinarians, "Equine Dental Technicians" are generally not regulated by the government or any national board, and they are not a "licensed" profession in either Connecticut or Rhode Island. Most do not use an oral speculum, so they are unable to visualize or feel the back of the mouth - so they can reduce enamel points, but they are not usually able to address hooks or waves. Legally, they cannot sedate, perform extractions, or prescribe medications.
Only a veterinarian has the appropriate training to identify and treat all of the various dental abnormalities that can affect a horse's mouth. We have the ability to safely sedate the horse to allow for a full and complete examination, and a calm dental procedure. We are able to perform extractions if necessary, and prescribe antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs.
For more information on Equine Dentistry, please see our blog entry on the subject.
We recommend at least a once yearly oral exam on all horses, to check for abnormalities. Most horses will benefit from a yearly dentistry. There are exceptions: some horses with good, level cheek teeth and a normal wear pattern can go for two years between dentals. On the other hand, older horses or those with significant abnormalities may need to be done twice yearly, or even more frequently.
2. Does my horse have to be sedated?
Most horses do. A complete oral examination can only be performed by inserting a full mouth speculum, which holds the teeth apart and allows us to safely insert our hands and mirrors. Most horses will not tolerate this examination without some sedation. Since we use motorized equipment, there is some noise associated, so many horses do better with at least a light amount of sedation. We always perform a brief physical examination before we use any sedative, and we tailor the drug and amount to each individual horse. The sedatives we use are quite safe, resulting in a calm, quiet horse who remains standing throughout the procedure and wakes up fully in a few hours at most.
3. Is motorized dentistry equipment safe?
In the hands of an experienced person, yes - motorized dental equipment is very safe. The equipment we use is very efficient at removing excessive tooth without damaging the soft tissue structures in the mouth, such as the gums and cheeks. We take frequent breaks to rinse and cool the equipment to avoid overheating. We are also very careful not to remove too much tooth - if we cannot safely reduce the tooth to a "normal" level, we will stop, and recommend another visit in about 3 months, to give the pulp horn a chance to regress. Failure to stop at this point can result in exposure of the pulp cavity (sensitive root) and potential damage to the tooth. We have extensive experience with this dentistry method, and are very comfortable with its use.
That being said, if used by an inexperienced person, motorized dentistry equipment has the potential to be unsafe. In the wrong hands, too much tooth can be removed, or the teeth may be heated to the point of being damaged. Always make sure the person performing ANY procedure on your horse has sufficient experience.
4. Why should a veterinarian float my horse's teeth?
This is a great and sometimes controversial question. There are lots of people out there calling themselves "equine dentists", with varying amounts of training, and many people are confused by this term. This term generally refers to someone who floats teeth but is not a veterinarian. They may go by the title "Certified Equine Dental Technician" or something similar, since they are not legally allowed to refer to themselves as a "dentist". (As a side note, veterinarians aren't allowed to use that term either - we may have a "focus in dentistry" or "specialization in dentistry", but the word "dentist" is reserved for human dentists.) Unlike veterinarians, "Equine Dental Technicians" are generally not regulated by the government or any national board, and they are not a "licensed" profession in either Connecticut or Rhode Island. Most do not use an oral speculum, so they are unable to visualize or feel the back of the mouth - so they can reduce enamel points, but they are not usually able to address hooks or waves. Legally, they cannot sedate, perform extractions, or prescribe medications.
Only a veterinarian has the appropriate training to identify and treat all of the various dental abnormalities that can affect a horse's mouth. We have the ability to safely sedate the horse to allow for a full and complete examination, and a calm dental procedure. We are able to perform extractions if necessary, and prescribe antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs.
For more information on Equine Dentistry, please see our blog entry on the subject.