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 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 to both 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 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 veterinary
practices offer 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 7,000 performance floats. Veterinary Medicine has advanced so
much in the last 10 years, that - like human medicine - you should expect the practitioner to have specialized
training in their field of expertise. So, there are lameness vets, repro vets, etc., and dentistry is no different.
You would not expect your personal GP (general practitioner) to work on your teeth.... 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 (see Dentistry Photo page for a picture). 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 on 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 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 to both 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 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 veterinary
practices offer 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 7,000 performance floats. Veterinary Medicine has advanced so
much in the last 10 years, that - like human medicine - you should expect the practitioner to have specialized
training in their field of expertise. So, there are lameness vets, repro vets, etc., and dentistry is no different.
You would not expect your personal GP (general practitioner) to work on your teeth.... 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 (see Dentistry Photo page for a picture). 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 on 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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