Dentistry
We believe in a gentle approach to equine dentistry, taking care to keep the use of power tools to a minimum, and giving your horse breaks from the speculum, as needed, to relieve discomfort. We offer both routine and advanced dental diagnostics and procedures. Services include routine oral examination and float, tooth restoration, periodontal evaluation and treatment, standing oral dental extraction and treatment of sinusitis.
Oral Examination
An oral examination should be performed at least once yearly to assess the health of your horse's teeth. This doesn't necessarily mean that it’s time for floating and equilibration, but the best way to know when your horse is due again is to perform an annual dental exam. An often overlooked tool, this exam is the basis for any changes we make. An oral exam focuses on both teeth and gums, and assesses the health of the teeth to catch problems early before more drastic intervention is necessary. This exam not only looks for health of the crown of the tooth, but looks for findings that may indicate issues below the gum line. Balance is also assessed to ensure peak performance.
Dental Radiographs
Our portable x-ray equipment is available to further assess any suspect teeth. Radiographs allow our veterinarians to assess deeper structures like the tooth root and its attachment to the bone. Subsequent radiographs can be used to monitor a tooth and decide upon the best course of treatment.
Download and print our Dental Anatomy Poster
Periodontal Care
Abnormalities in periodontal structures are not uncommon. Addressing periodontal issues early can avoid more invasive, costly procedures in the future. For example, flushing of periodontal pockets packed with feed material can help avoid further bacterial migration to deeper structures such as the tooth root. If a tooth root becomes infected, it can lead to pain and tooth loss. Periodontal assessment and care at the time of a dental procedure can help keep your horse's whole mouth as healthy as possible.
Extractions
If deemed beneficial for the horse, to alleviate pain or stop further disease of adjacent teeth, an appointment can be set to extract the tooth or teeth involved. If the exam and imaging suggests that it is necessary, our team is highly trained in the extraction of problematic teeth.