Just Kidding! While we did begin a weekend Dentathon today, there is much more to equine dental care than brushing.First, a thorough exam, checking for sharp points, hooks, ramps, loose or decayed teeth, gum disease and watching for any pain reaction from the horse. (Brushing helps remove grass or feed between the incisors so all surfaces of the teeth are visible for evaluation.)
Our first patient, Jubal, had two very loose teeth and areas of tartar build up (indicated by black arrow below.)
Below, the dentist explains why this tooth with decayed roots was very loose and needed to be removed. Jubal was already missing several teeth before today, but regular checkups are still important to detect problems like decay or fractures, or to correct sharp edges that may cut the cheek, tongue or gums.
Finally, the remaining healthy teeth are hand floated to remove sharp edges and make chewing action more efficient.
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