A Visit From My Lay Equine Dentist

March 10, 2020

A good stable management program must include regular dental visits for my horses.

Twice a year, my horses are paid a visit by their lay equine dentist, Brian Stuart. Unlike human teeth, equine teeth are constantly growing, which means their bites are always changing. Because of this, it is very important for a horse’s mouth to be examined for any sharp edges or misaligned molars. The process of correcting these conditions is called floating - filing or rasping an equine’s teeth so that chewing surfaces are smooth and properly contoured for eating. These days, power floating has become a popular method, but I prefer the all-natural, more traditional hand filing process.

Here are some photos.

: Brian, the lay equine dentist, has been practicing for more than 30-years. My horses know him well and are very comfortable around him. Brian always works in the horse stalls where they are most relaxed. Here he is with Sasa.

: The key to working with horses is to gain their trust, which in turn helps them calm down. Brian spends a few minutes just talking to each horse before he begins working.

: Much of Brian’s work is done through feel. He feels for any abnormalities in the horse’s mouth. Horses have 42 teeth in all. Of those, 24 are molars and premolars that are constantly growing and being worn away.

: Regular dental exams and floating are an important part of a horse’s preventative health care plan, so Brian comes to my stable twice a year. After a thorough exam, Brian says Sasa’s teeth are in excellent condition and won’t need any floating today.

: Next was my Fell pony, Banchunch. Here, Brian feels every tooth and assesses its condition. Banchunch is younger than the Frisians, so he is not as still during the exam, but he is being very good today.

: These are the tools of the trade. They are called floats. When not being used on a horse, Brian soaks them in a Chlorhexidine solution, an antimicrobial disinfectant.

: Each float is fitted with a sharp tungsten carbide blade made of chips that are bonded to the base. This is what files each tooth during the floating process. Brian has 10-floats in his bucket. The floats also come in varying angles for use on different teeth. By using these floats, Brian can file sharp enamel points to correct any dental imbalances.

: Floats are about 21-inches long. The long handles allow Brian to get to the back molars.

: This is an “s” file, a two-sided file used for finishing areas and for polishing the front of the molars section where the horse’s bit sits.

: Brian begins by filing the uneven and high edges of the front molars. The process of teeth floating and occlusion adjustment are not painful, but the sound of the rasp may need some getting used to, especially for a horse that is new to dental care.

: Brian works slowly, always talking to the horse to keep him relaxed. Banchunch is being a very good boy.

: This is a McPherson full mouth speculum. It keeps the horse’s mouth open during the floating process.

: Brian places the speculum on Banchuch.

: And then reaches in – this time to assess the back molars and float those that need it. Banchunch is done within 30-minutes.

: Next was Rutger. Just as he did with the others, Brian starts by looking closely at the front teeth.

: Brian is very gentle when floating teeth – being a lay equine dentist requires excellent horse skills.

: Rutger needs a bit of floating on his molars, but overall, he too is in good condition.

: Brian puts the speculum on Rutger after it is properly soaked in the antimicrobial solution.

: Brian checks Rutger’s teeth and bite one more time before moving on to the next stall and horse. He also runs his hand up and down the cheek to check for scratches or sores or anything unusual.

: Over the years, power floating has become more popular than traditional hand filing, but this manual method is more natural and does not require anesthesia. All that is needed is a knowledgeable practitioner and a trusting relationship between horse and dentist.

: By the afternoon, after the horses’ teeth are done and each horse is groomed, they’re off to their paddock for the rest of the day.

: This is what is called the “run-in” paddock. It is the largest of the horse paddocks and has a run-in shed in the distance. Here are four of the five Friesians – Rinze, Meindert, Ramon, and Rutger. Sasa and Banchunch are turned out in another paddock.