Equine Dental Care NZEquine Dental Care NZ's main goal is to provide the horse with a high quality service that benefits its health. Our job as an equine dentist is to help your horses or donkeys to maintain a balanced mouth so optimal function of all the teeth such as incisor, premolar and molars is possible. This also aids in optimal digestion of their foods to increase their longevity. Comfort of biting (if used) is also essential; this is achieved by bit seating.
We are based in Okaihau, Northland at Valley View Farms and we cover areas from Warkworth to the Far north, Kaitaia. |
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The Equine Mouth
The horse has a total of 44 teeth, each tooth has a timeframe that it develops and erupts and then at the other end starts to pit out and come to the end of the length of that tooth. Have you heard of the saying the horses lifespan is as long as its teeth? This is correct, the horse is born with only so much tooth and once its worn that's the end of the tooth. The life experiences of a horse in the wild is around 10 to 14 years and this does come down to genetics. It's survival of the fittest/strongest for the environment the horse lives in. So if a wild horse has dental abnormalities it could have a shorter life than one that has a normal mouth. Our horses, in their domestic environment, can live up to their 30s and I even trim a donkey that is 40 years old. This shows that with a little bit of human practice (like dental care, hoofcare, and correct nutrition) the lifespan of the horse can lengthen. |
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The horse's teeth belong to the Hypsodont family. The Hypsodont family have teeth that continuously erupt and then are worn away by the opposing teeth. There are sustained parts of the teeth that don't come in contact with another tooth and over time these areas can become sharp and under worn. This unworn tooth can cause lacerations in the soft tissues, prevent correct chewing, cause pain and discomfort and if left unattended can lead to serious issues.
Another reason for under worn teeth can be because the teeth in the upper jaw, (maxilla) are 30% wider than the teeth in the lower jaw (mandible) and this means that the outer edge of the upper teeth and the inner edge of the lower teeth get reduced wear compared to the rest of the arcade. This leads to the development of sharp points on Buccal and Lingual rims, which can cause lacerations and ulcerations on the cheeks and tongue. The horse's whole mouth needs to stay in balance for the horse to utilise its food and gain the right nutrients for building and repairing cells, tissues and muscles. This balance is between incisors, premolars, molars, TMJs and the surrounding muscles. What are the signs that your horse needs to see an equine dentist?
Equine Dental Anatomy: The mouth of a horse is just as unique as its feet. The equine mouth/dentition can be divided into 4 categories: Incisors - main function is food preparation, by picking and sorting of food from the ground. The incisors are divided into three groups, which are Central, Middle and Corner incisors. Canines - are used as a defence mechanism. Premolars - main function is grinding of foods. There are four of them in each arcade. The first premolar is a bit different to the next three; it is commonly known as a wolf tooth. The wolf tooth has evolved to be a much smaller tooth and no longer has a purpose. Therefore they are often removed, as they are uncomfortable for the horse if the horse is ridden in a bit. Molars – The molars main purpose is the grinding of food to create a food bolus, that is then pushed further down the horse’s mouth and swallowed. All premolars and molars have an important job of breaking down the cellulose structure of the food, so once swallowed the amino acids can be released. |
