Why do horses need Dentistry?
Horses teeth are very different to a humans teeth, as is the chewing cycle.
Horses chew in a circular motion which creates sharp edges on the teeth. These cause discomfort.
Also, unlike humans, the chewing cycle of a horse’s teeth causes imbalances to form, for many reasons. These imbalances cause difficulties when chewing, and can interfere with riding performance.
Before and After Dentistry - The increased comfort is obvious
Why does a horse need its teeth seen once a year?
Horses teeth are different to humans, where they have a reserve crown (horses teeth once mature at 6 years old, do not grow!). This reserve crown erupts through the surface as the horse grinds its teeth away as it chews.
This means that after dentistry, within six months, only half the work done will remain, and after 1 year none of the work will remain.
Photo to right -
- The left tooth is from a 10 year old horse
- The right tooth is from a 27 year old horse
Does a horse ever need to be seen more than once a year?
Yes. All horses are different. Some horses are more sensitive to problems in their teeth than others. Also performance horses need to be seen more often, as there teeth need to be in top condition to ensure maximum performance.
If you are experiencing any of the problems listed it may be time to get your horse’s teeth checked:-
- Excessive mouthing of the bit
- Tilting head
- Rubbing their face
- Goes with head high
- Head Flicking
- Loss of top line
- Rolling their hay into balls/sausage-like shapes.
- Won’t take contact
- Swollen cheeks
- Swelling around jaws
- Bad odour from breath
This list is, by no means, the only problems that can occur from a horse requiring dentistry.
Be aware that with riding, dentistry will rule out any pain, but will not substitute good training.
The best method is prevention. Having your horses teeth checked before a problem starts is much easier than trying to solve bad habits that can occur from a time when the horse was in pain.
How many teeth does a horse have?
An adult horse with all its teeth will have 44 teeth.
For most mares, the maximum number of teeth they will get is 40. This is because most mares do not have any canine teeth.
Following the removal of all wolf teeth, most stallions/geldings will have 40 teeth, and most mares will have 36 teeth.
When does a horse get wolf teeth?
Wolf teeth can be found in horses as young a six months old. The wolf tooth is a small tooth which forms directly in front of the first premolar (where the bits sits). Due to the small size, wolf teeth will move under pressure (ie during biting) and cause discomfort.
Wolf teeth are best removed a few weeks before breaking.
Horses can form between 0 and 4 wolf teeth (on both the top and bottom jaws)
Not all horses get wolf teeth. If a horse does not have its wolf teeth by the time it is four years old, it is extremely unlikely that they will ever appear.
Elderly horses
Elderly horses need just as much care a younger horses, if not more. Even when your elderly horse is retired, he will still need his teeth checked to ensure eating doesn’t become a problem. As the body becomes older, the bowels can lose efficiently, so it is extremely important to the teeth are working 100%.
There is also a much greater chance for tooth loss. Like humans, it is very sore for a horse to have a loose tooth in their mouth.
What type of bit is the best?
There is no straight forward answer to the question. Also remember though that the bit is only as harsh as the hands that it is in!
Every horse is different and they have their own likes/dislikes. If your horse appears not to like a bit, check that he is not in pain (from teeth, back and tack!) before considering whether to change the bit.