Services > Equine Dentistry

Over the last decade or so, we have made tremendous advances in our understanding of equine dental physiology and pathology and treatment of dental problems. Simultaneously we have made dramatic advances in the development of equipment designed to perform equine veterinary dentistry.

One of the major advances in equine veterinary dentistry is the use of 'visual dentistry'. We now routinely sedate horses for dental procedures and use a full mouth gag and light. This allows us to do a complete examination and treatment of ALL the teeth including the back molars. Having its mouth held wide open is not a natural position for a horse, but, realistically, we cannot perform proper dental work with a partly closed mouth. Sedation lets us use a mouth gag without upsetting the animal. This is an enormous and essential advantage. Without sedation, the horse may experience discomfort and stress and the quality of the dental work performed may be severely compromised.

As well as using traditional hand floats, we now utilise a powerfloat. This is a motorised rotary equine dental float specifically designed and engineered for equine veterinary dentistry.

The advantages of using the powerfloat system and visual dentistry include:

• Accurate assessment and correction of dental abnormalities. Both the veterinarian and owner can observe the entire process.
• Safe and less stressful, both for the horse and veterinarian. The design of the powerfloat ensures that the rotating abrasive disc cannot injure the horse's gums, lips or tongue.
• Effective and efficient, this system allows the veterinarian to examine and appraise the status of the work with relative ease.

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Related Articles

These articles are compiled by our vets and are intended to complement our Veterinary services by giving you access to research articles and animal health information. They are only guides - we strongly recommend you consult your vet for a full diagnosis.

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