A Power Point presentation with some of the most common equine dental questions often asked by horse owners.

1. AMANDA COMPTON, EqDT
VA Registered
International Assoc. of Equine Dentists
Member

2. Why Do I Need To
Float My Horse’s
Teeth?
 Better mastication (grinding) of grass/hay/grain
 Perform better in a bridle or hackamore
 Prevention of future dental problems

3. How Often Does My
Horse’s Teeth Need
Floating?
 Every horse at least once a year
 Younger horses (≤5 years old) twice a year
 Older horses (≥20 years old) twice a year
 Performance horses twice a year
 Horses prone to or with existing malocclusions (dental
abnormalities) twice a year or more

4. How Much Will It
Cost?
 Routine work is usually less than $100 per visit
 Simple Extractions are typically $25-75 per tooth
 Power work starts at $100
 The more severe the problems, the more difficult to
correct and higher the cost
 The longer a problem has been developing, the longer
it will take to correct, hence the more expensive
 Prevention is the key!!!

5. Who Can Perform Equine
Dentistry in Virginia?
 Veterinarians
 Veterinary Technicians
 Equine Dental Technicians registered with the Board
of Veterinary Medicine
 There are currently only 26 registered EqDT’s in VA. In
comparison there are 215,000 equines in the state.
 Only licensed veterinarians are allowed to sedate or
prescribed medications to your horse.

6. Will My Horse Need Sedation?
 Not always. It depends on the horse and situation.
 A well mannered, relaxed horse can often have routine work performed
without sedation.
 Sedation is required for any extractions, severe malocclusions, or power
work.
 For the horse’s & the technician’s safety, sedation is necessary for any
horse that is unruly, scared, nervous, rears, or pushes.
 If your EqDT recommends sedation, it is for your horse’s best interest!
 Resistance or “fighting” the horse during floating will result in a poor or
unfinished job.
 Depending on the procedure, horses usually only need (standing)
sedation to last 30-45 minutes, with no long term adverse affects.

7. Should I Have My Vet or EqDT Float My
Horses Teeth?
 The decision is yours (depending on state laws).
 Regardless of who you choose, you should make sure that he/she is
experienced in equine dentistry.
 EqDT’s should have working relationships with local veterinarians.
 EqDT’s are NOT legal to sedate or prescribe medications.
 EqDT’s are not veterinarians, therefore some procedures may need to
be referred to a vet.
 Some veterinarians have chosen to specialize in equine dentistry & are
very skilled and informed about proper preventative & corrective care
(although few & far between).
 It’s been estimated that 80% of vet schools only teach less than 3 hours
of equine dentistry in their curriculum!

8. Is a Power
Float Better?
 Power floating is the term used when the dentist
uses motorized equipment to perform the procedure.
 Hand-floating is the term used when non-motorized
equipment is used.
 In skilled hands, either types of equipment can be
used to properly do the task. One is neither better
than the other.
 In some cases, horses with severe problems will
require the use of power tools in order to correct the
malocclusion.

9. When Should I
Start Floating My
Horse’s Teeth?
 Horses should be examined at birth or by the time
they are weanlings.
 Start routine dental work as yearlings, and every 6
months until all permanent teeth have erupted at 5
years of age.

10. Why Start So Young?
 There’s a lot going on! Between the ages of 1 ½ years and 4
½ years, your horse may erupt up to 44 permanent teeth
and will shed 24 deciduous caps.
 Young, erupting teeth are much softer than older
teeth, and will sharp enamel points after just a few months.
 Permanent teeth do not erupt one right after the other; the
rows are often uneven during this time.
 Wolf teeth are easier to extract when the horse is younger.
 Your horse can concentrate on his training without pain
from sharp points, saving you time & money!

11. What Are The Difference Between
Wolf Teeth & Canines?
 Canines are predominately found in males, although a
smaller percentage of females do develop them.
 Canines are longer rooted, sharp teeth that would be used
for fighting. The bit is placed behind them.
 Either males or females can develop wolf teeth.
 They can range in number from 0-4 teeth.
 Wolf teeth are smaller, short rooted teeth. They are not
used for chewing or fighting.
 The use of a bit often interferes with the wolf teeth, causing
pain or discomfort.

12. Wolf Tooth vs. Canine

13. What Are “Caps?”
 Caps are deciduous teeth (or baby teeth).
 Horses begin shedding caps at 2 ½ years of age, and
continue until 4 ½ years.
 Horses have 12 incisor and 12 premolar caps.
 The back cheek teeth, or molars, do not develop caps.
 Caps can cause irritation or discomfort when loose and
may need to be removed.
 Retained caps can cause a malocclusion, pushing the
permanent teeth out of place.

14. What Are Signs of a Dental
Problem?
 Weight Loss  Choke
 Failure to Gain Weight  Colic
 Dropping Feed  Facial Swelling
 Quidding  Nasal Discharge
 Eating Slowly  Foul Oral Odors
 Refusal to Eat Hay  Head Tossing
 “Squeaky” Noises while eating Head tilting
 Head Shyness  Bitting issues

15. Failure to gain
weight/weight
loss
Quidding
Evading the bit
Head tilt when chewing
Abnormal
chewing/ Bucking
drooling

16. What is the Most Common Sign of
Dental Problem?
Nothing!
Many horses won’t show any indications
that something is wrong until the problem
is severe.

17. Do I Need To Have My
Horse’s Teeth Floated If I
Don’t Use a Bridle?
 YES!
 Even if you never put a bit in your horses mouth, it’s
teeth are erupting & wearing away, forming sharp
points that can be painful.
 Not all teeth will wear evenly, which can lead to
malocclusions.
 Cheek ulcers are often caused from sharp points and
are easily prevented through routine dental care.

18. What is a
“Bit Seat?”
 A bit seat refers to buffing the sharp edges off the first
4 premolars, behind where the bit rests on the bars of
the horse’s mouth.
 The purpose is to prevent soft tissue (gums & cheeks)
from being pinched between the mouthpiece and
premolars.
 Most horses benefit from bit seats, especially ones
with fleshy bars

19. How Long Have People Been
Floating Their Horse’s Teeth?
Dutch painting, 1648
by Paulus Potter
 A lot longer than you think! There is evidence
hundreds of years old.
 The US Calvary routinely floated their horses
teeth, even during the Civil War.

20. Do Certain Breeds Have More
Dental Problems?
 Yes, some breeds are more prone to
certain issues or abnormalities.
 Minis often have under or over bites
 Arabs are prone to hooks on molars
 QH’s have more muscular
cheeks, which can lead to soft tissue
abrasions against sharp teeth

21. What About Wild Horses?
 Horses in the wild do develop dental abnormalities, but to
a lesser extent.
 Their diets consist of coarser grasses, shrubs, leaves, etc.
 They spend more time grazing than their domestic cousins
in stables and paddocks.
 If a major dental problem does arise, nature usually “takes
it’s course.”
 Horses in the wild do not live as long as our own equine
companions.
 Wild horses never have to carry a bit in their mouths.

22. Is Floating My
Horse’s Teeth
Painful?
 If the equine dental practitioner is skilled in
placement of his tools, then floating is generally
painless.
 Horses have hypsodont teeth: longer reserve crows and
shorter roots than human teeth.
 An uncooperative horse can damage soft tissue
(gums, tongue, cheeks) on sharp instruments &
should be sedated by your veterinarian.

23. How Do You
Look In A
Horse’s Mouth?
 The only way to perform a full exam is with
a speculum, good light, and feeling the
dental arcades (rows of teeth), tongue, and
soft tissue.
 Just pulling the tongue out to the side
DOES NOT constitute a thorough dental
exam & will surely miss many problems!

24. If you have any other questions or would
like to make an appointment, please
contact:
Amanda Compton, EqDT
1196 Hites Road
Middletown, VA 22645
Cell: 304-582-5885
Email: eqdent@aol.com
www.eqdent.com & now on
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