Warner Brook Equine Dentistry

10/08/2025

Unlike the US insurance and healthcare system, we recognize that the mouth is indeed part of the body and not exempt from it 😵‍💫

08/28/2025

There is evidence that even ancient horses received dental care, and now caregivers can use motorized tools to keep the animals healthy.

04/11/2025

What’s their poo telling you?

Most horse owners will agree that it is time to call their dental provider if their horse is dropping grain while eating, tossing their head while bridled, or refusing the bit... Few would think to consider changes in their p**p.

“Normal” f***l production and appearance can vary from horse to horse, and it is important to know what is “normal” for yours. Consider it one of their “vital signs”.

Ideally, a horse’s manure should be well formed, round ball shaped matter with some stems present but no chunks of food. It should be fairly consistent in color, have a mild odor, and no mucus. A moderate amount of liquid expelled before or after the bowel movement may be normal as well.

If large or undigested food particles such as whole grains are present in the manure, that can be a tell tale sign that the horse is not chewing their food sufficiently. If the feed is not being chewed sufficiently, their bodies are unable to retain all of the nutrients and benefits the food has to offer.

Don’t let your money go in one end and out the other. Proper dentistry is arguably the most beneficial and cost effective way to ensure your horse is getting the most out of your feeding program.

Has your horse had a full mouth exam this year by a certified equine dental provider with a bright light and a speculum?

03/28/2025

Are you preparing to introduce your young horse to work this spring? It’s really important before you start your young horse to ensure their mouth comfort.

🦷 Before the age of 5 years horses undergo significant dental changes including:

- the shedding of 24 deciduous (baby) teeth
- the eruption of 24 permanent molars, 12 incisors, possibly four canines and possibly wolf teeth.
This period generally coincides with the introduction of the bit and bridle and then ridden work.

🗓️ Regular check-ups every six months for young horses are extremely important, providing an opportunity to detect and address issues early, also paving the way to allow the horse to perform at their maximum potential.

🔍 Common dental problems in young horses include:

Sharp Enamel Points

As horses teeth erupt and come into wear, they are gradually worn down from chewing. This natural process creates sharp enamel points that may cause painful ulcers on the cheeks and tongue. These sharp points develop on the outside of the upper cheek teeth and the inside of the lower cheek teeth. When a horse has a bit in and a bridle on, the tack can press the soft tissue against these sharp points, increasing the risk of painful soft tissue damage. Thorough rasping of the teeth removes these sharp edges and helps maintain balanced dental arcades, reducing the likelihood of future malocclusions. Because horses have hypsodont teeth, meaning their teeth continuously erupt, sharp points will keep forming over time. Regular dental treatments will give your young horse the best possible experience of a comfortable mouth as they start their career.

Problematic Wolf Teeth

Wolf teeth are small, vestigial teeth that typically erupt between 6 and 18 months of age. Wolf teeth can be present in both male and female equines. They are most commonly found on the upper jaw and rarely on the lower jaw. While the impact of wolf teeth on performance is widely debated, it’s traditionally common practice to remove them in young horses as they serve no useful purpose. Lower wolf teeth almost always certainly need to be removed and upper wolf teeth are usually assessed on a case-by-case basis depending on their location.

Retained Deciduous Teeth (Caps)

Retained deciduous teeth are baby teeth that are present beyond their normal shedding time, which can affect the proper eruption of adult teeth. Mobile caps or those with a clear junction between the baby and adult tooth should be extracted to prevent issues like food trapping, gum inflammation (gingivitis), or more severe problems such as periodontal disease, or even apical infections. Retained teeth may also cause dental displacements, which may lead to diastemata with periodontal disease, and soft tissue trauma if they are out of line and pressing against the cheek or tongue. However careful assessment of deciduous teeth is really important as premature removal can damage underlying adult teeth.

By prioritising early dental care, you’re not only ensuring your young horse’s comfort and willingness to accept the bit but also reducing the risk of dental disease in later life. It’s a really important component of your horses overall life long wellbeing and every horse should have regular dental treatments.

03/26/2025

03/25/2025

03/19/2025

Did you know horse teeth erupt throughout their whole life.
Once the growth of a tooth stops it has only that amount of tooth to erupt and wear for the span of its life.
This is a picture of approx a 24yr old on the left and approx 10yr old horse on the right. It shows how much wear a tooth can have.
Every horse is different, and there are factors that can change the wear pattern and eruption of their teeth.
Having proper regular dentistry done is a key factor in the proper wear and eruption of the teeth.
Horse teeth wear and erupt to pressure. If there is a hook and wave complex this will cause hyper eruption on some teeth and premature wear on other teeth. If there is a missing tooth the opposing tooth will hyper erupt and grow into the hole of where the opposing tooth used to be. There are many other scenarios, but that gives a general idea.
When a horse’s mouth is balanced correctly the teeth all work in unison, wear and erupt at normal rates of speed, and extend the quality and life of the teeth.
This picture is not concrete on a eruption scale because of the circumstances on each horse, but gives a visual on how much eruption and wear horse teeth can have.

Mark Allen Advanced Equine Dentistry
“It’s all about the balance”

03/19/2025

This is a laceration on a tongue due to the lower number 6, or the lower tooth right behind the bit having a giant ramp on it. It can also be caused from that tooth being extremely sharp or having and abrupt edge on it.

Mis conceptions are tongue lacerations are caused by a bit. Actually No, the bit supplies the pressure and the tooth causes the laceration.

You do not have to be heavy handed or abusive to have this happen. Remember you only have to move your hand a few inches before you bring the bit into contact with the tooth.
How many of us riding only move our hands a few inches? That usually is never the case. Our hands move several different directions several inches at a time. Not that that’s a good thing, but that is a normal.
Tongue lacerations can be prevented with proper dentistry. Sometimes I do see lacerations even after work was done. Unfortunately, the malocclusion or problem hadn’t been fully taken care of and addressed.
I have also seen severe lacerations when a horse steps on a rein. It happened to me early in my career.
A mare I was riding bucked me off. I had split reins, and when she took off she stepped on her rein and almost severed her tongue in half. I did get her stitched up and she made a full recovery. Things can happen even with proper dentistry, but unfortunately more often than not it is caused from the lack there of.
Reminder: keep your horse’s dental care up with proper dentistry to help prevent issues like these from occurring.

Mark Allen Advanced Equine Dentistry
“It all about the balance”

03/18/2025

Who you have doing your horses dental DOES matter !!

03/17/2025