New to Equine Dentistry?
Your Horse, Donkey, and Mule
Is a hypsodont, this simply means their teeth erupt thought their lifetime until no longer usable tooth remains. Combined with differing styles of care and feeds, equine now living longer lives with teeth that wear in unnatural ways. Opposing teeth will wear unevenly, inner and outer edges of cheek teeth will sharpen, and front incisors deviate from their natural state of wear. Dental malocclusions such as these and many more, all manifest themselves as an all-around frustrated horse, venerable to poor health and performance.
An Equine Dental Technitions Job
As an equine dental technician, I specialize in addressing unnatural tooth wear through tools and teqneaques that bring teeth back to a more natural state. Scheduling an annual or biannual equine dental checkup is a necessary part of equine ownership, that maintains both oral health and performance.
Equine Young and old
Young horses up to age five and older horses starting at age twenty should receive biannual dental care. This is due to the constant changing nature of younger and older horse's dentition. In younger horse's biannual care is necessary to ensure all baby teeth (caps) shed properly and all adult teeth are erupting normally. In older horse's biannual care is necessary to maintain comfort, maximize forage processing, and observe any unhealthy developments.
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Building A Foundation
Did you know that Introducing your horse to dentistry at an early age is not only recommended for health and safety but can save money as well. McDavid Equine Dentistry and Services takes an overall training type approach to introducing young equine to dentistry. This not only creates an overall good experience, but helps eliminate potential costs associated with a horse that has low tolerance for dentistry. A training type approach means the necessary time is taken to introduce dentistry to a young horse, thus ensuring a foundational start for a lifetime of oral care.
Take for example
The Compounding Effect
Which story line will your horse be?
Overlooked annual dental
- Sharp molar edges develop
- Feed is now processed on the side with less cheek discomfort
- Front teeth wear into a slant as a result
- The TMJ becomes sensitive due to imbalance
- Horse shows discomfort with the bit and frustrated when ridden
-Barrel pattern times increase/ show scores diminish as a result
- A trainer is hired to correct the performance issues, costing both time and money
- noting the behavior, the Trainer recommends having the teeth checked
- I identify the above reasons for discomfort and likely behavior
- A dental float is preformed, and balance is reinstated
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Scheduled annual dental
- The common sharp molar edges develop
- I identify and properly addresses the sharp edges with a scheduled annual dental float
- horse maintains their level of oral balance, health and performance
- Owner saves both time, frustration and potential further costs.