KBR Horse Health Information

Care AND Prevention

Equine Tooth Problems
& Dental Care

Part Three

Lucky takes his turn

HELPFUL EQUIPMENT

Keeping the horse's head in position for serious dental repairs can be a cumbersome task. In this example Ben Koertje and Antony de Cserantony used approved veterinary sling halters and slings run over a bow gate to position the horses' heads at the proper level for work being performed, yet still keep the horses comfortable during the procedure.

(Antony hails from West Yorkshire, England and is working with Ben in preparation for his certification exam.)

The mobile vetting chute has also made it a great deal easier to safely hold and work on most horses.

This particular rig belongs to equine dentist (and former Buffalo goalie) Clint Malarchuk and travels easily behind his pickup.
"Here's what I think of this!

  CONSTANT EVOLUTION

Many of the advanced dental practitioners are developing more advanced tools and techniques. Dr. Scott Greene has designed some new ideas shown here. (These new developments must be carefully engineered since "more power" is not desirable unless it is properly designed and applied.)
Power reciprocating float.
("Power tools" need to be designed by
experts to prevent undesirable tooth trauma!)
A stand utilizing the principles of
a flexible temporary highway sign.

  AFTERTHOUGHTS

In at least a couple of states, the veterinary associations have managed to place significant restrictions on equine dentistry. They pretty much require that a veterinarian do most of the procedures. While we certainly do not advocate that untrained and uncertified personnel perform any procedures on a horse, and we believe that a veterinarian should administer any tranquilizers, overregulation such as is in the state of Maryland is at best provincial. It would be akin to requiring us humans to go to a medical doctor for a periodontal problem.

Except for a few DVM dental specialists, most honest veterinarians will admit that they neither have the specialized training, instruments or experience to efficiently perform advanced dental work. Thus not only does the cost for advanced dental work become out of reach for many average "family" horse owners, but the horse and consumer are getting a lower quality product for that money. Equine dentistry should be limited to schooled and certified practitioners, but regulations should not be so strict that they actually preclude animals from getting affordable needed care.

Since dental problems can be the root cause for a number of health related issues in the horse, appropriate services must be accessible to the whole spectrum of horse owners. Hopefully these few states will see what the others are doing and join us in the 21st century.

Please also see
Dental Care is More Than Just Floating

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