Modern Equine Dentristry

Regular dental examinations help maintain comfort, optimise performance, and prevent small dental issues from becoming painful problems. Our experienced equine vets provide thorough examinations and tailored treatment for horses of all ages.

A healthy mouth is essential for every horse’s comfort, wellbeing and performance. Routine dental examinations help prevent painful conditions, improve chewing efficiency and allow horses to work comfortably, whether they are elite competition horses, racehorses or much-loved companions.

Our fully ambulatory equine dentistry service brings advanced dental care directly to your yard, using modern equipment and the latest techniques to provide a comprehensive examination and high-quality treatment in familiar surroundings.

Why Regular Dental Examinations Matter

A horse’s teeth continually erupt throughout much of its life. As they wear naturally, sharp enamel points, hooks, ramps and other abnormalities can develop, causing discomfort and affecting both eating and ridden performance.

Many horses show no obvious signs of dental disease until problems become advanced.

Routine examinations allow problems to be identified and treated early, helping to maintain comfort and reduce the need for more extensive treatment in the future.

A Thorough Examination Every Time

Every dental visit begins with a detailed assessment of your horse.

Following appropriate sedation, we perform a complete oral examination using a full-mouth speculum and bright LED illumination, allowing every tooth and the soft tissues of the mouth to be examined safely and thoroughly.

We assess:

• Tooth alignment and wear patterns
• Sharp enamel points
• Hooks and ramps
• Wave mouth and other occlusal abnormalities
• Loose, fractured or missing teeth
• Periodontal (gum) disease
• Diastemata (gaps between teeth)
• Soft tissue injuries and ulceration
• Wolf teeth and retained caps where appropriate

Our aim is not simply to rasp teeth, but to assess the overall health and function of the mouth.

Mobile Powered Dentistry

We use modern mobile electric dental equipment to provide precise, controlled and efficient treatment.

Compared with traditional hand rasps, powered dental instruments allow accurate correction of dental abnormalities while reducing treatment time and minimising unnecessary fatigue for both horse and veterinary surgeon.

Our electric equipment enables us to perform:

• Routine reduction of sharp enamel points
• Correction of hooks and ramps
• Balancing of the dental arcades
• Reduction of overgrown teeth
• Management of wave mouth and selected malocclusions
• Careful treatment tailored to each individual horse

Our philosophy is one of conservative, evidence-based dentistry—removing only the amount of tooth necessary to restore comfort and function while preserving healthy dental structures.

High-Definition Oral Endoscopy (Oroscopy)

One of the most valuable tools we use is our high-definition oroscope.

This advanced camera system allows us to examine areas of the mouth that cannot be adequately visualised with the naked eye alone.

Using magnified, high-definition images, we can identify subtle dental disease, fractured teeth, periodontal pockets, infundibular disease and other abnormalities with exceptional clarity.

Even more importantly, owners can see exactly what we see.

By displaying real-time images during the examination, we can explain any findings clearly, discuss treatment options and help owners better understand their horse’s dental health.

This technology transforms the dental examination from something hidden inside the horse’s mouth into a transparent, educational experience.   It also allows us to record and refer images to internationally recognised specialist around the world for their opinions on more tricky cases.

Dentistry for Every Stage of Life

Dental care requirements change throughout a horse’s lifetime.

Young Horses

Regular examinations help identify retained caps, erupting teeth, wolf teeth and developmental abnormalities before they interfere with training or bitting.

Adult Performance Horses

Routine dental maintenance helps optimise comfort, chewing efficiency and acceptance of the bit, supporting consistent performance throughout the season.

Veteran Horses

Older horses often develop loose teeth, excessive wear, periodontal disease and age-related dental changes. Regular examinations help maintain comfort, body condition and quality of life.

Putting Horse Welfare First

Every horse is treated as an individual.

Appropriate sedation allows a safe, thorough examination while minimising stress for both horse and handler. We take the time to explain our findings, answer questions and develop a treatment plan that meets your horse’s specific needs.

Why Choose Our Equine Dentistry Service?

Our ambulatory dental service combines experience, modern technology and a commitment to delivering the highest standard of care.

With portable electric dental equipment, advanced high-definition oral endoscopy and a thorough, evidence-based approach, we provide far more than routine rasping. We deliver comprehensive dental examinations designed to improve comfort, protect long-term oral health and support every horse’s performance and wellbeing.

Whether your horse is due its routine dental check or has developed a specific dental problem, our experienced equine vets are here to help keep every smile healthy for years to come.