I started my Dentistry career after an injury forced me to re-think my future as a ranch cowboy. Although I loved what I was doing, I found myself without a job and unable to get one until I recovered. I happened to meet an Equine Dentist while at a team roping near my home in Southern Oregon. When I was invited to travel with him, I accepted. The rest, as they say, is history. I enrolled at The Academy of Equine Dentistry in Glenns Ferry, Idaho, and became Certified within a year, in August of 2004, traveling with other dentists, learning from the best. It was a wonderful experience, but now I choose to stay close to home and concentrate on local horses and their owners. I work only with Licenced Veterinarians, as the state dictates. They say "no foot, no horse", And it is the same with the mouth. We strive for correct balance of the mouth, and for me every horse deserves the finest job I can provide. Each horse is evaluated prior to dentistry to ensure they are healthy enough for Dentistry. As I said, we strive for Three point balance. That is the balance of the Temperomandibular joint, (TMJ) The Molar arcades, and the Incisors. The TM joint needs to comfortable to the horse, and after maintaining the Molars, the Incisors most certainly will need to be cut to set the molars back down into occlusion. The picture below shows me finishing up an incisor reduction with a burr.
Although the mechanics of dentistry seem simple enough, we have to remind ourselves that each horse is an individual, and deserves to be treated that way. My goal is to err on the side of caution if there are doubts. I would much rather come back for another visit as to "over float" a horse. In other words....... I want the horse to be able to eat the same night he has his dentistry.
Some horses are more sensitive than others, and occasionally it can take a few days before they are back to feeling comfortable enough to chew and swallow. (just like humans) There are some big muscles involed, and they do get sore when changes are made.