Equestrian Network Magazine


	Three Questions On Equine Teeth

	Q. Dear Dr. Miller, I have a 12 yr old thoroughbred gelding that has been recently losing weight. My trainer says that it is probably a dental problem. How can I tell for sure. Paige.


	A. Your trainer is probably correct, but there are several other issues that need to be considered. We will presume that your parasite prevention is adequate and a comprehensive deworming program is in place. We will also presume that your trainer has advised you on basic nutrition and the diet has been formulated to meet the caloric requirements of the discipline that you are attempting. Thoroughbreds are known to often have a higher metabolic rate than a walking horse. At age 12, he is not likely to still be in race training but if you are eventing, large doses of complex carbohydrates may well be necessary to maintain weight. If you are in endurance training, the diet may well need to be supported by a high fat diet. Another situation to be considered is competition from pasture mates is your horse being fed with other horses and if so, is he dominant enough to get his fair share. If not, he may well need to be separated, to have enough time to eat at his own pace. This is not usually a problem at this age, but the combination of a major malocclusion plus sharp enamel points that are lacerating the cheeks, may compromise the masticatory efficiency.

	If your horse is being seen by a certified, qualified dental practitioner yearly, this would not be an issue as all of the equilibration of the molar arcades would be performed regularly. A list of certified members is available upon request.

	Please note, however, horses with severe dental problems, may not show weight loss as long as the diet is served in a palatable form and in sufficient quantity, without competition. In these situations, by the time you recognize the need for dental intervention the molars are usually destroyed.

	Q. How long do horses' teeth generally last before they either are worn down, or become loose or...what else do we need to know??

	A. If a horse is genetically and environmentally lucky, the paradigm is close to 20 yrs. In the wild this is not a limiting factor. In captivity, our health advances such as antibiotics, worm medicines, vaccines and nutritional supplements, plus the protection offered by civilization and loving humans, have lengthened the lifespan to over 30. In the meantime, domestication has caused many more feet and teeth problems. This artificial environment has not made the job of the farrier or the dentist any easier. But given an enthusiastic, compliant, cooperative client such as yourself, who is willing to endure the dentist's presence on a yearly basis , we can maintain good dentition well past the 20 yr paradigm and often into their 30's but we must start early in their careers so we have something to preserve. As a final note, many people ask how we can preserve teeth if we keep filing them off. The teeth keep erupting whether we like it or not. If all teeth erupt equally and evenly than filing off sharp enamel points that are exacerbated by artificial diets is all that is necessary. But in the case of malocclusion where we encounter overlong teeth that have erupted past the occlusal plane or the balance line inside the mouth' than this material must be removed or it compromises the opposing teeth.

	Q. At what age should I begin dental care? How often? What exactly do you do when you examine the horses' mouth? Do you ever x-ray their teeth? Do you clean their teeth, or just make certain they are properly aligned?

	A. I often look at newborn foals to evaluate them for underbite or overbite, and as weanlings/yearlings, for sharp enamel points on the upper premolars and eruption of wolf teeth. But when I most often see a patient for the first time, is when someone plans to put a bit in their mouth. This is when care and comfort is most important when extraction of wolf teeth and installation of bitseats, and reduction of exaggerated transverse ridges is essential. If this time frame comes early as it does for walking horses and race horses, than we are under control until 2 yrs. and 8 mo. At that time, a sequence of eruption events begins that will last until four and one half years when loss of temporary dentition is complete and permanent dentition is in wear.

	An oral exam begins with an evaluation of the head for symmetry and sensitive areas of the head. It proceeds with an evaluation of age related phenomena such as eruption cysts that should be expected in 3 yr Olds. Do a thorough oral examination with a full-mouth speculum. This should include both visual and manual techniques. X-rays are occasionally required to assess proper eruption as well as to evaluate the source of pain, swelling or nasal discharge. The problem here is that even board certified radiologists do not evaluate as many head images as they do other parts of the body. The message here is to have more than one opinion.

	Balancing and alignment are the foundation of good dentistry but cleaning and scaling becomes a very important issue in geriatric dentistry and whenever periodontal problems exist.

	If you would like to have a question answered by Dr. Miller, send it to info@equestmagazine.com with "Dr. Miller" in the subject line. In the message include your question and your email address. Dr. Miller may send you a longer answer than what is published. He may want to ask you additional questions, in order to better answer your question.


	Dr. Miller graduated Magna Cum Laude from Washington State University, receiving his undergraduate degree in 1957 and his DVM in 1961. He spent the next fifteen years in private practice in Lexington, Kentucky, principally in reproduction and pediatrics but his involvement as a polo player and fox hunter gave him an appreciation for dental needs. From 1976 to 1987 he practiced on the southern Ca. racetracks. Again dentistry was a significant part of practice but the level of knowledge was still very minimal. In an effort to change this, Dr. Miller left general practice in 1987, to devote his full attention to the advancement of the art and science of equine dentistry. After collaborating with the few technicians in the U.S. that had been successful in rejuvenating equine dentistry, he helped found the International Association of Equine Dentistry in 1998 and has been an officer/director ever since. He is also certified with this organization at the Advanced/Examiner level, and 15 of the certified members of the organization have been trained by Dr. Miller. His practice area is San Diego to northern California and he operates out of a state of the art mobile clinic which has been carefully designed to keep the safety and comfort of the patient in mind. This facility can be seen at www.richdent.com.


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