|
Certified graduate of the Academy
of Equine Dentistry and World Wide Equine
Proud member of the Association of Equine Dental Equilibration
|
Equine Dentistry History:
download
printable copy
 Equine Dentistry is making the transition in
the horse industry from what we once knew as a “float” to what is now
known as a “complete equilibration” or “three-point-balance”. Horse
dentistry is now being performed at new levels of professionalism and
the basic float just won’t do. More and more competitive horse owners
have realized the importance of putting their horse into “balance”
often making the difference between winning and losing.
Three-point-balance today is the same as what was known
by horse dental specialists in the late 1800's when horses were a vital
integrated part of daily life. A “float and balance” was considered the
proper way to maintain horse’s health and teeth. Unfortunately, the
horse was turned out and forgotten when they were replaced by the
automobile; and oil changes became common place instead of a routine
dental check up for the horse. It was only after a good many years
pleasure riding developed popularity with those of wealth but the
normal chewing pattern of a horse still created sharp points on the
edge of their molars due to the unique shape of their teeth becoming
“points of pain”. When a halter or bridle was introduced, inadvertently
the cheeks, tongue and pouchy flesh of a horse’s mouth were pushed into
these sharp points. The horse would indicate they were in pain by
tossing his head, pushing away with their head, pulling back, nosing
out through the bit, and becoming difficult to catch, bridle or halter.
Unfortunately, a quick scrub on the sides of these “cheek teeth” became
what we know today as a “float” but was only a partial answer to many
horse related riding problems of the day. Since horse’s teeth always
grow, sharp edges and new points of pain develop in only a few short
months. In recent years, the horse industry has boomed and the demand
for professionalism and proficiency in the horse dental field
encouraged the development of the equine dental trade. It is through
the demand of horseman world wide that a clear understanding of horse
dentistry became a requirement.
Understanding three-point-balance
So, what is the ancient practice of three-point balance
and how does a horse lose it’s “balance”? It is important to first
understanding the difference between “three-point-balance” and a basic
“float” that will help us understand why expectations have changed.
“Floating” teeth merely remove sharp points from the sides of the
teeth, next to their cheeks but a “three-point-balance” not only
removes the sharp points from all of the horse’s molars but insures the
horse’s jaw, molars & incisors are in balance through a specific
process of adjusting the chewing surfaces, removing irregularities and
cutting the incisors down to meet in alignment with the molar table.
This allows the three points of balance an opportunity to work
comfortably together.
Captivity is a horse's teeth worst enemy
 Captivity alone has caused the need for regular dental
care.
Observation of horses in the wild show researchers that their teeth, as
well as their feet, are properly maintained by the environment in which
they choose to dwell. While in captivity, we as conscientious horse
owners must care for their teeth much the same as we care for their
feet. If a horse’s teeth are left unattended, many issues become
compromised and a downward cycle of poor performance, health, &
behavior begin to be a problem.
Hooks & ramps lock up a horse's jaw
One of the most common ways for a horse to lose balance
is directly
linked to the way they are fed. The understanding comes from knowing
that horses use their molars to chew every bite of food and with every
“chew”, small particles of tooth surface from the molars are ground
away. However, tooth particles from the incisors are only ground away
evenly when a horse nips grass as a daily food source. Therefore, when
horse owners provide hay, pellets or grain, the nipping is done for
them. Eventually a horse’s incisors are so long that they prevent the
horse’s molars from grinding together properly. Incisors that are too
long cause soreness in and around the joint that swings their jaw. The
farther the molars are held apart by overgrown incisors, the harder a
horse has to work at chewing their food. This causes pain in a horse’s
joint as they are forced to chew wider and harder than normal. An easy
comparison of understanding would be the soreness we would feel after
chewing a large piece of bubble gum, “all day”.
Fact is that the only time a horse’s teeth line up is
when their lips are on the ground (the way they were designed to eat).
For whatever reason, horse owners feel the need to provide food in
bunks, above ground level. This method of feeding elevates their head
and forces their jaw back, knocking the three points of balance out of
alignment. Since they grind small particles of their molars with every
chew; an elevated head causes their molars to wear unevenly. This
uneven wear pattern develops hooks on the front of the upper molars and
ramps on the back of the lower molars, literally locking their jaw out
of alignment. A horse suffering with hooks and ramps forces a horse
into a tug-of-war with the rider as they try to find and keep a
position of comfort; therefore, as speed increases when riding, the
head comes up and the nose moves out in front of them (generally to the
level of their feed bunk). Head tossing, nosing through the bit &
unable to turn without a stiff neck are all common and annoying
behaviors caused by hooks and ramps. Behavior problems differ with
every horse and their level of tolerance to pain.
Research findings, encouraging
 “Three-point-balance” research stands firm, encouraging
its
reintroduction in North America and is becoming routine to thousands of
horses. In-depth studies of horses with their teeth routinely and
correctly balanced, grind their food correctly providing horses with
good nutrition. Horse nutritionists stand firm with sound statistics of
a horse’s ability to grind up feed and the link to properly processing
and passing feed evenly through a horse’s system (colic). The research
shows that when food is properly processed it reduces voids throughout
the horse’s system. Good nutrition therefore provides for better
health. Healthy horses in turn have stronger hooves, a better coat and
a stronger resistance to illnesses. Horses with their teeth routinely
and correctly balanced perform better; when they are able to freely
move their jaw, the horse begins to listen to the rider and not the
pain in their mouth. As a matter-of-fact, studies are now showing an
increased number of professional trainers that are finding great
success when they have their horse’s teeth balanced prior to
introducing equipment or getting on their back for the first time.
Another research study has recently proven that when the teeth have
been “balanced” in broodmares and stallions, breeding programs become
more consistent showing higher conception rates and fewer losses.
Comprehensive dentistry is important
Dr. Clay Stubbs, D.V.M., specializing in equine for over
25 years
believes that comprehensive dentistry for horses is as important as
dentistry for people. A horse’s mouth is complicated and finding a
qualified Equine Dentist is a must when it comes to proper balance.
Equine specialists note that ensuring the health of your horse’s teeth
rank right up there with good nutrition and regular hoof care but
preventative maintenance by a competent horse dentist is the key to a
horses good health and longevity.
Look for a Certified & Qualified Equine Dentist
Why is it so important to have a “horse dentist”
complete the dental examination? Whereas it is in humans; doctors and
dentists specialize in different areas of the body. Horse dentistry is
very intricate, and like human specialists, veterinary and dentistry
work is equally specific. For example, equine dentist certification
requires a minimum of 500 hours in the horses mouth and must be
proficient in all areas of dentistry. An equine dentist must know the
specific angles of the molars for proper lateral (side to side) grind.
Molar tables in a horse’s mouth are not flat and if they are floated
flat, a horse will be unable to grind their food. An equine dentist
must also know the incisors degree of angle in relationship to the bars
and molar tables. If the angles are made too steep the molars won’t
touch, making it difficult to chew; if the angles are not steep enough
the incisors will not be able to come together, making it nearly
impossible to nip grass. An equine dentist must know the vital
importance of accurately in aging a horse. Teeth are soft at certain
ages and hard and brittle at other ages. Specific instruments used at
some ages should be restricted at others. An equine dentist must know
young horses need extra care. A young horse is changing 24 teeth
between one and five years old. They shed 24 baby teeth and find homes
for 12 additional permanent teeth in five years, making 36 teeth that
they need to find space for. Some baby teeth refuse to fall out on
their own and can easily act as slivers in a young horses’ mouth. Bones
are setting and teeth are soft therefore extra care should be taken
when looking into the mouth of a young horse. Horses between the ages
of two and a half and five years old should be looked at every six
months to ensure all their teeth are meeting in the middle. Wolf teeth
and canines can also be a problem when bitting a horse. You can quickly
find your horse unable to grind their food, nip off grass and still
suffer from pain if the horse dentist is not certified and qualified.
Dr. Stubbs says “I can’t stress enough how important it is for horsemen
to find a competent equine dentist.” Unfortunately, there are not many
certified horse dentists in Canada as of yet and they are even more
difficult to find in rural areas.
 Grant D. MacKinnon, C.Eq.D. is a certified equine
dentist and one of only a handful of qualified dentists traveling and
specializing in equilibration or three-point-balance. MacKinnon
received his training from the Academy of Equine Dentistry, one of a
few specialty schools, located in Glenns Ferry, Idaho. As of this
writing, Grant has over 30,500 hours of practical dentistry experience
that he brings with him while working with veterinarians, training
facilities and individual horse owners alike. Grant has been invited to
teach others from around the world, the fine art of Equine Dentistry
for the last ten and a half years. He continues to find himself
intrigued with new developments in the ever changing field of equine
dentistry and strives to continually learn as he teaches. MacKinnon is
committed to strengthen his work on Equidae with the sole intent of
improving the health, performance and comfort through the horse’s
mouth. MacKinnon is committed to his dental practice and notes, “proper
dental care with regular maintenance is such a small part of the
overall investment we make to ensure a comfortable and cooperative
riding companion”.
MacKinnon’s horse dentistry business, MacKinnon Equine
Services, Ltd. provides a traveling educational clinic called “Behavior
Problems & Horse Dentistry, Does My Horse Need a Dentist?” The
clinic addresses questions pertaining to poor performance, behavior
problems and poor condition that “might just be his teeth”!
|
