Steve Burgess Equine Dentistry

Preventitive, Corrective, and Performance Dentistry "Not just a float, total equilibration of your horses mouth"

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FAQ
Question: My horse is fat already, so why should I have his teeth floated?
Answer: Body fat is not a very good indicator of Dental Health. Although we associate a fat horse with a happy horse, one of the worst mouths I have ever seen was on an obese horse. He had first upper molar hooks that had become so long they were piercing the lower gingiva. I doubt he was comfortable. Horses are all individuals, with different pain tolerence, just like humans. At some point a horse may stop eating. But remember what his choise is. Starvation.   

Question: My Grandpa never had his horses teeth floated, why should I?

Answer: Some people have the opinion that Dentistry is something new, a fad. Actually the art of Equine dentistry is an ancient one. When the automobile came to be, most of the travelling equine dentists "toothfairys"as they were sometimes known, slowly ran out of work. Autos replaced the horse as a means of transportation and Tractors replaced him in the field. As these men ran out of work, the trade was almost forgotten. Veterinarians ended up with the job. With everything else they needed to know, they were also expected to know Dentistry! So even if your grandpa never used a dentist, his grandpa probably did!

Question: How often does my horse need dentistry?
Answer: Good Question. Again, all horses are individuals, with all sorts of issues. But the basic rule of thumb is; Once a year for horses over 5 years old. Horses under 5 should see a Dentist twice a year. Young horses are in a constant state of change with baby teeth needing out and permanent teeth erupting into their mouths. Your Equine Dentist will recomend a schedule for your horses.
Question: If dentistry is so important, why dont wild horses need it?
Answer: Wild horses generally have great teeth, because they are in their natural enviornment. They eat rough feed, and eat 16-18 hours a day. There is silica in their feed, which is what sandpaper is made of. This is what their teeth are designed for! The teeth are erupting into the horses mouth throughout most of ther lives and are made to be ground down a little bit every year. On the other hand, we feed our horses processed feed. Soft hay with very little silica and beautiful pastures with lush green grass isn't what they need.  Wild horses have sage brush or tree branches to chew on if they need to get rid of a cap (baby tooth) that is hanging on. How can a stalled horse help himself if he needs to? Pretty hard. Remember, if a wild horse has bad teeth, he will not live long, thus he is removed from the gene pool.  An Equine dentists  job is to resore the domesticated horses mouth to a more natural state.  
Question: What are some symptoms my horse needs Dentistry?
Answer: Even though we said weight is not a good indicator of dental health, Weight loss can be a symtom. If this is the case, we are already behind! Fighting the bit or head tossing is also a good indicator. Quidding feed (when a horse spits out balls of feed) is also a warning sign the horse isnt comfortable swallowing his food. Yawning is also a sign the horse may have some pain in the mouth or TMJ. Dunking hay in water is a way for a horse to soften it up so he can chew it. Chewing on objects is also a signal the horse is not comfortable with his mouth. The best thing I can tell you, is if your horse hasn't had dentistry within the last year, by a competent dentist, the odds are he needs it now!
Question: How long do I have to wait until I can ride my horse after dentistry?
Answer: Generally a few hours is enough. If there are extractions, you may want to give him 72 hours, when he is mostly healed up. Remember, if you have a show soon or your horse is going to work, ride him a few times so he can feel the difference. Horses are creatures of habit and it may take a few rides for him to realize he doesnt have to react out of pain. (such as head tossing)
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Question: I am concerned about sedating my horse, is it safe?
Answer:  I have had hundreds, if not thousands of horses sedated for me by competent Veterinarians without a problem. Sedation will always carry a small amount of risk, so be sure you have a Veterinarian administer it. They are familliar with the drugs involed and the right dose.  We only uses enough sedation to get the job done, and make it a more pleasant experience for the horse. Horses sedated for dentistry stand on their own and its usually harder on their owners than the horse! Remember a small amount of sedation is no where near as hard on horses than living with pain in the mouth or TMJ.
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Question: Why should I have an Equine Dentist do my horses teeth? Cant my Vet do it?  
Answer: I like to answer this question with another question. We dont go to our M.D. with toothaches do we? We use someone who is a specialist in their field. I leave medicine to the Veterinarians, and I specialize only in dentistry. 
Ask your Vet about his training in dentistry.  If it is a weekend class, or less, pass. If he has devoted the time and money into getting Certified by a reputible school, he will be happy to show you his credentials. There are some Veterinarians who can do fine work, but dont assume because they are Veterinarians, they have training in Dentistry.
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