Horses are grazing animals, and their teeth are perfectly adapted for that purpose. Like humans, horses get two sets of teeth in their lifetime. The baby teeth, called deciduous teeth, are temporary. By age 5, most horses have a full complement of permanent teeth.

COMMON DENTAL PROBLEMS:

Horses may suffer from many dental problems. The most common include:

1) Sharp enamel points forming on cheek teeth, causing lacerations of cheeks and tongue.

2) Retained caps (deciduous teeth not shed).

3) Discomfort from bit contact with the wolf teeth.

4) Long and/or sharp canine (bridle teeth which interfer with insertion or removal of the bit).

5) Lost and /or broken teeth.

6) Abnormal or uneven bite planes.

7) Excessively worn teeth.

8) Abnormally long teeth.

9) Infected teeth and/or gums.

10) Misalignment/poor apposition (can be due to congenital effects or injury).

11) Periodontal (gum) disease.

In part 2, we’ll discuss preventative maintenance and how to recognize dental problems.