Will this procedure hurt or be painful to my horse?
- While I would consider the procedure 'uncomfortable', I would not consider it painful.
In fact, it is my opinion that the great majority of horses are much more comfortable
after the procedure. One of the drugs I use during the sedation is an excellent
analgesic, and that prevents most horses from being sore. Dentistry should NOT be a
'bloody' event. Of course, if your horse has teeth extracted, this may not apply.
Will my horse need to be sedated for his dentistry? - And is it safe?
- Yes, all horses will need to be sedated for proper oral examination and dentistry.
However, your horse will be examined first, and great care will be exercised in the
choice and amount of sedation used. Should your horse have a heart murmur, or
some other problem which would preclude safe sedation, it will be discussed at that
time. The goal is to have him sedated enough to tolerate the procedure (which, while
uncomfortable, is not painful) but awake enough to stand solidly and walk out of the
stall when we are finished. Every horse is an individual, and will be dosed accordingly.
If you have had any previous experience sedating your horse, and can offer me any
information regarding dose (ie - last time he was very light with his drugs...) it is
extremely helpful.
I have read about power instruments, and am concerned - would
hand floating be better?
- There are many articles written about the dangers of power equipment - and for good
reason. In the wrong hands, power equipment can be very dangerous. However, with
proper care, they are by far the better choice for use in performance dentistry. I use
the more expensive Blue Diamond Chip coated burrs. These offer a more precise
cutting surface with lower vibration than the older/less expensive carbide burrs. Each
tooth can be addressed individually, and there is little or no trauma to the soft tissues
of the mouth. The older method of hand floating can be very traumatic both to the
tissues and the horse. Thermal trauma from heat from the power instrument is only a
problem if the operator is unskilled, and keeps it on a tooth too long. Repeated
flushing with cold water is an extremely effective in totally eliminating thermal trauma.
What is the difference between a 'lay dentists' a 'veterinarian'
and a 'veterinary dentist'?
- a 'lay dentist' is an individual who practices dentistry, but is not a veterinarian. While
there are many fine lay dentists out there, this is ILLEGAL in the State of Georgia.
All lay dentists MUST work with a veterinarian. They are not trained to administer
sedation, there is no regulatory or disciplinary board governing them, and in the event
of an emergency - they are not equipped nor educated enough to assist your horse.
Many veterinarians practice dentistry because they own a 'powerfloat'. Owning an
instrument does not imply ability to use it properly. I personally have over $50,000 tied
up in equipment, have received advanced training in dentistry from both the University
of Georgia and the American School of Equine Dentistry, attend dentistry conferences
yearly or more often, and have performed over 5,000 performance floats. The bottom
line is: Get referrals before you have someone work on your horse's mouth. And -
ASK QUESTIONS!!
Can Horses be 'Over-Floated'?
- YES! Overly aggressive dentistry can negatively affect the viability (or life) of the
tooth. Not all malocclusions can be fixed at one time. They may have taken years to
occur - they will certainly take at least a year or more of routinely scheduled dentistry
to correct.
What exactly are 'bit seats' - and are they necessary?
- the term 'bit seats' is a misnomer that often causes confusion. A proper bit seat is
the rounding of the first tooth visible in the molar arcade. This should be a subtle
rounding that affects only the very edge of the tooth - and does not extend into the first
pulp chamber. The purpose is to help protect the sensitive tissues of the mouth from
being pinched by the upper and lower teeth. It is a routine procedure in performance
horses, and any horses that are ridden with a bit. There is absolutely NO DANGER
from a PROPERLY done bit seat, but there are many advantages.
- While I would consider the procedure 'uncomfortable', I would not consider it painful.
In fact, it is my opinion that the great majority of horses are much more comfortable
after the procedure. One of the drugs I use during the sedation is an excellent
analgesic, and that prevents most horses from being sore. Dentistry should NOT be a
'bloody' event. Of course, if your horse has teeth extracted, this may not apply.
Will my horse need to be sedated for his dentistry? - And is it safe?
- Yes, all horses will need to be sedated for proper oral examination and dentistry.
However, your horse will be examined first, and great care will be exercised in the
choice and amount of sedation used. Should your horse have a heart murmur, or
some other problem which would preclude safe sedation, it will be discussed at that
time. The goal is to have him sedated enough to tolerate the procedure (which, while
uncomfortable, is not painful) but awake enough to stand solidly and walk out of the
stall when we are finished. Every horse is an individual, and will be dosed accordingly.
If you have had any previous experience sedating your horse, and can offer me any
information regarding dose (ie - last time he was very light with his drugs...) it is
extremely helpful.
I have read about power instruments, and am concerned - would
hand floating be better?
- There are many articles written about the dangers of power equipment - and for good
reason. In the wrong hands, power equipment can be very dangerous. However, with
proper care, they are by far the better choice for use in performance dentistry. I use
the more expensive Blue Diamond Chip coated burrs. These offer a more precise
cutting surface with lower vibration than the older/less expensive carbide burrs. Each
tooth can be addressed individually, and there is little or no trauma to the soft tissues
of the mouth. The older method of hand floating can be very traumatic both to the
tissues and the horse. Thermal trauma from heat from the power instrument is only a
problem if the operator is unskilled, and keeps it on a tooth too long. Repeated
flushing with cold water is an extremely effective in totally eliminating thermal trauma.
What is the difference between a 'lay dentists' a 'veterinarian'
and a 'veterinary dentist'?
- a 'lay dentist' is an individual who practices dentistry, but is not a veterinarian. While
there are many fine lay dentists out there, this is ILLEGAL in the State of Georgia.
All lay dentists MUST work with a veterinarian. They are not trained to administer
sedation, there is no regulatory or disciplinary board governing them, and in the event
of an emergency - they are not equipped nor educated enough to assist your horse.
Many veterinarians practice dentistry because they own a 'powerfloat'. Owning an
instrument does not imply ability to use it properly. I personally have over $50,000 tied
up in equipment, have received advanced training in dentistry from both the University
of Georgia and the American School of Equine Dentistry, attend dentistry conferences
yearly or more often, and have performed over 5,000 performance floats. The bottom
line is: Get referrals before you have someone work on your horse's mouth. And -
ASK QUESTIONS!!
Can Horses be 'Over-Floated'?
- YES! Overly aggressive dentistry can negatively affect the viability (or life) of the
tooth. Not all malocclusions can be fixed at one time. They may have taken years to
occur - they will certainly take at least a year or more of routinely scheduled dentistry
to correct.
What exactly are 'bit seats' - and are they necessary?
- the term 'bit seats' is a misnomer that often causes confusion. A proper bit seat is
the rounding of the first tooth visible in the molar arcade. This should be a subtle
rounding that affects only the very edge of the tooth - and does not extend into the first
pulp chamber. The purpose is to help protect the sensitive tissues of the mouth from
being pinched by the upper and lower teeth. It is a routine procedure in performance
horses, and any horses that are ridden with a bit. There is absolutely NO DANGER
from a PROPERLY done bit seat, but there are many advantages.
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