08/29/2026
There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding equine dentistry, and unfortunately, a lot of fear-based information gets passed around about what equine dental providers do.
So, let’s talk about what we actually do and what we don’t.
For us, equine dentistry has never been about simply “floating teeth.” We take a whole-horse approach because the mouth does not function independently from the rest of the horse.
Before we ever make an adjustment, we look at the horse as a whole. We evaluate facial symmetry and muscling, gingival health, and ask about the horse’s complete health and dental history. We check for sensitivity around the TMJ and poll and take into consideration how the horse is eating, performing, maintaining weight and using its body.
Once we are in the mouth, we work with a bright light and full-mouth speculum so that we can actually see and evaluate what we are doing. We aren’t working blindly or simply running a tool over the teeth.
The goal is balance.
We balance the mouth so the teeth can receive appropriate, even pressure during mastication while maintaining the natural angles that the horse was designed to have. We are not trying to create a perfectly flat, perfectly smooth mouth.
Our precision equipment is approximately the same diameter as the individual tooth, allowing us to address teeth individually and remove only what is necessary. We use equipment and techniques designed to avoid thermal damage to the teeth and preserve as much healthy tooth structure as possible.
The chewing surface matters. Those ridges and contours have a purpose.
We maintain the integrity and longevity of the grinding surface and only reduce excessive transverse ridges when they are contributing to abnormal pressure, imbalance or premature wear. The goal is never to grind away healthy anatomy simply because it isn’t perfectly smooth
We also pay attention to how the horse is positioned while we work. We keep the head as close to its natural resting position as practical rather than unnecessarily elevating and hyperextending the poll
And dentistry doesn’t stop when the speculum comes off
The condition of the mouth can tell us a lot about how that horse needs to be managed. When appropriate, we make feeding recommendations based on chewing ability, tooth loss, wear and the overall condition of the mouth. We can also remove teeth when appropriate and within our scope of practice
So what DON’T we do?
We don’t flatten the teeth.
We don’t round off the teeth.
We don’t make the entire chewing surface smooth. We don’t indiscriminately remove healthy tooth structure
We don’t use techniques that cause thermal damage. We don’t ignore the rest of the horse when deciding what adjustments should be made
We don’t work blindly and we absolutely do NOT replace veterinarians
Veterinarians and qualified equine dental providers have important roles in equine health care, and good horsemanship means recognizing when a case requires veterinary diagnosis or treatment and working together when necessary
Good equine dentistry should be conservative, precise and mindful
The goal isn’t to make every mouth look the same. The goal is to preserve healthy anatomy, improve function, address abnormalities and help that individual horse chew comfortably and efficiently for as many years as possible
Don’t let fear mongering scare you away from quality dentistry. Motorized equipment is NOT what it used to be and hand floats can absolutely cause damage in the wrong hands
