You owe it to your horse to get the best equine dentist for him you can.
How do you do that?
Let’s look first at what you don’t want in a horse dentist.
There are three issues that come up over and over in horse owners’ experiences with getting dentistry done for their horse. And the results are often really bad for the horse.
You can avoid making the same mistakes for your horse by learning what these pitfalls are.
So, what do you want to avoid?
Ø Choosing a dentist solely because of the letters behind his or her name.
Ø Falling for the “power tool only” approach.
Ø Paying for your horse to be “worked on” with no clear understanding of what is being done to him or why.
I’ll explain exactly what I mean with each of these dangers.
Hiring someone to work on your horse’s mouth because he has some impressive letters behind his name is like hiring a hairdresser solely because she has a certificate from a hair dressing school.
Not all hairdressers or equine dentists are created equal! Just because a person went to vet school or has a certificate from an equine dentistry school doesn’t mean he or she is a good equine dentist.
Now you are probably thinking, “Wait a minute, Cliff! You mean credentials don’t mean anything?”
No, that’s not what I mean. What I am saying is that a title doesn’t tell you much about the person’s abilities.
An equine dentist that is any good at all will definitely have schooling and should be able to tell you what that included if you ask. But there’s a lot more to being a good equine dentist than having gone to the right school.
I’ll talk about what you should be looking for in a minute. First let’s look at the other two mistakes you want to avoid.
Power tools for floating horse’s teeth have become popular lately. Look out for this. Be especially leery of the practioner that gives you the “one power tool does all” pitch.
A good, balanced floating of your horse’s mouth cannot be done with a power tool only. Period!
There are some good power tools available and their use has a place. However, a power float will take a lot of tooth off very quickly. In the wrong hands this can spell disaster for your horse.
Some of the dangers to your horse of having a “power float” done by an inexperienced practioner are:
Ø Major soft tissue damage – blood everywhere
Ø Too much tooth removed from the wrong places
Ø Damaged tooth root and nerve because of excess heating caused by prolonged use of the power tool
One other aspect of power tool use is that drugging the horse is a must. An experienced vet with a good understanding of sedation can tranquilize a horse safely. Even in experienced hands, though, drugging has an element of risk. If the work needed can be done without drugs so much the better.
With power tool use this is not an option. If a power tool is going to be used drugs will also have to be used. A horse won’t stand for a power tool being used in his mouth without being drugged.
The third mistake that I hear about often is a horse owner allowing work on their horse without knowing what is being done or why.
This “floating without explaining” often comes with catchy buzzwords. A “performance float”, “power float” or “bit seat” are some of the more common ones.
Now a bit seat can be a legitimate procedure if done correctly and for specific reasons. You should be told why it needs to be done and how it will benefit your horse. Done incorrectly – especially with a power tool – can result in loss of a lot of the useful part of your horse’s front molars.
A performance float still remains a mystery to me. The horse owners who told me of paying to have this done had no idea what this included – other than a hefty bill at the end.
A competent equine dentist will explain what is going on in your horse’s mouth. He will tell you his recommendations for what needs to be done and why. And he will ask if you want him to do the prescribed work on your horse.
Let’s sum up the three things you want to be on the watch for when choosing a dentist for your horse. Then we’ll talk about what you should expect from a competent equine dentist.
Ø Don’t rely solely on the “credentials” of an equine dentist in choosing who you want to work on your horse.
Ø Beware of the power tool approach – especially if it is the only tool to be used.
Ø Watch out for the buzzwords. A competent horse dentist will take all the time necessary to be sure you understand the procedure he is recommending for your horse. Don’t settle for anything less!
So, what should you expect from a good equine dental experience for your horse?
Your dentist should have adequate training that results in some credentials and this should be backed by experience. The best way to verify this is from other horse owners. A good dentist, like a good professional in any trade or skill, will be in demand and have a loyal clientele. If you don’t know anyone who is using this dentist ask him for references – this is not unreasonable.
Once you have a dentist on your yard you still have the right to reserve judgement.
A thorough dental exam is very important. This should include looking and feeling inside the mouth – all the way to the back. Some of the most common tooth problems that are missed occur in the back of the horse’s mouth.
Here’s a rule of thumb for you. A good exam and definitely a good job of floating your horse’s mouth can’t be done without the use of a speculum. This is an absolute essential tool in a dentist’s tool kit.
Lastly, be sure you understand what your dentist has found in your horse’s mouth. Ask enough questions to be clear what procedures are being recommended and how this will benefit your horse.
When the job is finished you should get a detailed dental chart that shows the work that was done, which specific teeth were worked on and what future work the horse may need. Good record keeping is important for your horse’s ongoing dental care.
Note: do not get drawn into the vets versus lay dentist debate. A competent equine dentist – like any true professional – is where you find them.
Take the time to educate yourself and shop for someone you have confidence in. A conscientious dentist for your horse will extend his life span and insure a pain free journey through it.
The benefit to you will be less expensive overall care for your horse. And you will have much happier interaction with him because he is not distracted by mouth pain.
It is your right to choose who will do the dental work on your horse. It is your responsibility to insure that the most competent professional available to you is that choice.
By taking the time to be tooth savvy you will insure that you and your horse don’t join the list of horse owners with unhappy stories to tell.
All the best to you in whatever horse ventures you find yourself in!
Cliff Hanna
www.TheHorseDentistryHandbook.com