Routine Dentistry
Evolution vs Domestication
Horses today are out living their teeth. Majority of our domestic horses do not live under optimum natural conditions in which they evolved.
In its natural state, the horse would graze 16-18 hours a day on grasses, rough forage, herbs, and trees. The silica content in their forage abraded the teeth in such a manner that the front teeth wore at the rate they erupted, thus the mouth would stay in balance. These incisors (front teeth) are the key to balance in the mouth.
The domestic horse is fed soft feed like grain and pre-cut hay that does not abrade the front teeth. The incisors of our domestic horses begin to exceed the appropriate length and angle, which leads to limited to no occlusion on the molars and causes abnormal rotation of the TMJ. The rotation of this joint and the range of motion on the incisors dictates the wear pattern of the molars. Rather than traditional dentistry which combats the symptoms and sets up a cycle of imbalance, balanced dentistry treats the cause by maintaining the proper length and angle of the incisors first.
Why is routine dentistry so important?
Mature horses can have up to 44 teeth! They have 12 incisors, 4 canines (not common in mares), 2-4 wolf teeth (often extracted at a young age), 12 premolars, and 12 permanent molars, 6 in each molar arcade (row of teeth). The mandible is narrower than the skull, which means the lower arcades sit to the inside of the upper arcades. This is why biomechanics of mastication plays a huge role in the wear pattern of the teeth. The jaw should have full lateral (side to side) and anterior- posterior (front to back) range of motion. The elliptical chewing pattern and molar table angles allows these sharp enamel points to form on the inside of the lower teeth (towards the tongue) and outside of the upper teeth (towards the cheeks). Sharp points and abnormally opposed teeth can impede this range of motion, causing tension in the TMJ, affecting performance, and the ability to comfortably masticate (chew).
Routine dental care can prevent the premature attrition of the teeth, leading to a longer, better quality of life. Major malocclusions (misalignment) start when the horse is young and gets worse over time, this is why it is so important to start routine dental care at the age of 2. Horses start shedding their deciduous teeth (caps/ baby teeth) around 2.5 years old until they are around 5 years old. Dental exams are so important at a young age to ensure caps are shedding on schedule, teeth are not sharp, and there is no malocclusion impeding the growth of the maxilla (skull) and mandible (jaw). Horses as young as 18 months old can have ulcers on their cheeks. Between the fast eruption rate of young teeth and mixed dentition, young horses should have dental exams every 6-8 months. Deciduous teeth are softer than permanent teeth, so they get sharper faster.
After the age of 6, most horses can go to an 8–12-month routine schedule depending on the individual. As horses age the eruption rate slows down. Horse's teeth start to wear down and expire in their 20s. In the picture at the top of this page, you can see the 25-year-old skull has very limited reserve crown left (tooth under gumline) compared to the 5-year-old. Geriatric horses that start having loose stool, quidding hay, losing weight, are all signs of inability to masticate forage or something painful in the mouth such as a loose tooth. At this stage of life, it is important to go back to a 6–8-month schedule to ensue your senior is comfortable.
Proper nutrition and the type of feed being fed is so important at this age to maintain body condition with the loss of the ability to masticate long stem forage.
Horse's teeth are not like a dog or human, which are covered in enamel (Brachydont teeth). Horse teeth are made up of enamel, cementum, and dentin (Hypsodont teeth). They erupt as they wear, meaning the rough forage wears down the teeth as the reserve crown erupts up to replace it. With enamel being the hardest material in the tooth, it is the last material to wear down, leaving sharp enamel points. The teeth erupt about 3-5 mm per year depending on the age of the horse and the molars are 3-4 inches long! If you do the math those teeth should last about 25 years. Without routine dental care throughout life, most domestic horse's teeth will not wear properly and function into old age.
Seniors are more likely to develop periodontal disease, fracture teeth, and have diseased roots. Horses are very stoic; they're designed to eat all day long. Most horses do not show signs of dental pain, and by the time the average owner notices a problem like dropping weight, the problem is severe and sometimes not correctable.
The KEY to equine dental health and longevity is PREVENTION.
