Routine examinations are invaluable for early diagnosis and management
of oral abnormalities that affect your horse's well-being, health and performance.
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A simple oral exam at the time of your yearly health checkup, (followed by a full mouth speculum examination of the oral cavity if needed), can alert us to any developing issues in your horse's mouth.
We offer dental care treatments including:
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Below you will find the most common dental abnormalities in horses.
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Sharp Enamel Points: This is the most common problem of horses' teeth. Horse teeth are composed of both soft and hard parts. As their teeth erupt continually, the edges of their teeth can grow without being worn down and then develop sharp points (buccal side, or outside of the upper jaw and lingual, or facing the tongue on the lower jaw).
Such sharp points are the most common causes of pain and discomfort by eroding the cheeks and tongue and causing laceration and scarring. |
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Hooks: This occlusal abnormality occurs when the upper jaw is slightly forward in relation to the lower jaw first upper premolar. In these cases the front part of first premolar tooth keeps growing and becomes long and sharp, which can cause pain, ulcers and even infection.
This abnormality is often seen in horses with various degrees of an overbite (parrot mouth) conformation. |
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Ramp: A ramp is basically the same thing as a hook, but it's on the lower jaw. Ramps can be associated with the first lower premolar (#6) or the last lower molar (#11). They can cause the same complications as hooks.
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Stepped Molars: This often occurs when one molar (cheek) tooth is missing. The opposing molar grows into the gap left by the missing one creating a situation where the lower jaw is unable to move. This inability to move also makes it nearly impossible for the horse to break at the poll and hence interfere with collection.
Wave Mouth: This abnormality is similar to a step mouth, but with more teeth involved. |
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Incisors:
The most common occlusal abnormalities of Equine Incisors include:
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