Why should I choose a veterinarian who specializes in dental care?
Does every horse need a specialized veterinarian?
What should I expect when you examine my horse?
Is sedation really necessary?
How long does the procedure take?
What can I expect after the procedure?
How often does a horse need a dental examination?
How much does a thorough dental evaluation and correction cost?

Why should I choose a veterinarian who specializes in dental care?
The knowledge, techniques, and equipment required to perform a thorough dental exam, make proper corrections, and balance a horse's mouth are difficult to acquire and time consuming to master. As specialization is becoming more and more common in other areas of medicine, so too is the case in veterinary medicine. I believe it is unrealistic to expect an equine veterinarian to be an expert in all aspects of the field. The knowledge base is far too extensive and growing constantly.
The improved health and performance that a veterinarian with specialized training can bring your horse through proper, dental care is impressive. You will see and feel the difference.

Does every horse need a specialized veterinarian?
Every horse will benefit from the care that a specialized veterinarian can provide. As you know, it is much better to prevent a problem than try and correct it once it's well established. A horse's mouth is no exception. Domestic horses by virtue of being domesticated are prone to dental aberrations for a host of reasons.
On a basic level: wild horses with serious dental problems can't eat and will die. By natural selection, their genes are removed from the pool. We humans don't usually breed or buy our dream horse for dental soundness. Natural selection is removed from the equation and dental problems can accumulate.
Secondly, domestic horses don’t exactly live as their wild cousins do. Horses evolved over the centuries with access to forages 24 hours a day. Full time foraging encourages more normal dental wear. Most of our horses aren’t so lucky.
Thirdly, domestic horses do things for us that wild horses don’t have to worry about. Remember, we communicate with our horses through their mouths! If things are amiss inside that mouth, how good is the communication likely to be?
Lastly (I could go on forever,) we all want our equine partners to be around for a long time. The truth of the matter is, if the teeth go, the horse may not be far behind. While senior diets are a huge boon for aging horse owners, the longer the horse can retain useful teeth, the longer he can eat hay and pasture, the happier he'll be, the longer he'll live. If the tendency toward a problem is detected early and properly corrected, it may never become a problem at all. It doesn’t make sense to wait until you perceive your horse is having difficulty. With timely evaluations by a skilled professional, most horses can have a healthy, solidly functioning mouth well into their geriatric years.

What should I expect when you examine my horse?
I will discuss with you the procedure before any work begins. There must be a safe place for your horse, yourself and the veterinarian. I prefer a clean stall with an even floor and fresh bedding. Good footing for your horse is paramount. Warm water and a nearby source of electricity is also necessary. After a physical exam and an inquiry about your horse’s general health, I perform a cursory exam of your horse’s mouth. I note any pain response, abnormalities in appearance, relative resistance to examination. I like to watch him/her chewing hay.
I will sedate your horse with a safe and effective combination of intravenous anesthetics. He/She will get very groggy, may sway a bit or even stumble once or twice. This is all normal and desirable. I then apply an instrument called a full mouth speculum. This instrument holds your horse’s mouth open safely and without pain. With it, I can see and feel all the way to the back of a horse’s mouth.
Once I’ve made my initial assessment, I give you a tour of your horse’s mouth from over my shoulder. We discuss the strong points and the weak points and what can be done to make his/her mouth as close to normal as possible. If you agree with my suggestions, I begin working. My handling technique allows me to work with your horse safely and efficiently without assistance. It is safest for you to be outside the stall. This way you can watch my work as it progresses! I use a combination of motorized and hand tools to best address your horse's needs. My motorized equipment includes both rotary and reciprocating instrumentation. My broad selection of tools allows me pin point accuracy. I can address each portion of each tooth individually as I work to make the whole mouth a smoothly functioning unit.
Whenever possible, I like my clients to see my work as it is occurring. It is important to me that you understand how the mouth functions and why the changes I make help it function more comfortably and efficiently. Any and all questions will be gladly answered.
When my work is complete, most patients are beginning to emerge from the sedation. If a horse has a particular sensitivity to the sedative drug I choose, and seems groggy for a bit too long, I can use another medication to reverse the sedative effects for faster recovery. Most of my patients are ready to move as soon as I am finished with the work and most can be loaded into a trailer (if they came to me) within 20 minutes.
You will receive a detailed chart outlining your horse’s mouth before and after the corrections, a discussion of the procedures, a list of recommendations, and a summary of charges.

Is sedation really necessary?
Yes. Most leaders in the field agree that it is not possible to perform a thorough examination and correction without substantial sedation. While the procedure is not painful, it is cause for apprehension for most horses. The sedation is safe and allows him/her to relax so that the work can be done effectively and without stress to the horse.

How long does the procedure take?
It varies from horse to horse, but in general, 30-40 minutes per horse is necessary. Horses with serious abnormalities may take longer. I have to be very careful to let the horse periodically rest during long procedures. It is not safe to keep the mouth open wide for long periods of time without a break.

What can I expect after the procedure?
Your horse should not eat hay or grain for at least 2-3 hours after a sedation and dental procedure. Once they are fully awake, most horses never miss a beat. A few horses seem to be sensitive to even minute changes in their mouths, even if the changes are for the better. These patients may require a day or two to adjust to the new feel. I am available and happy to address any concerns at any time following the procedure.

How often does a horse need a dental examination?
Following a horse's first thorough examination and correction, the majority will require annual follow-ups to maintain his/her mouth in optimum functioning order. A few will require more frequent attention, rarely more than every six months. A horse requiring major initial corrections may be best served if the work is broken into two or three sessions a few months apart. Some performance horses will appreciate touch-ups every 6-9 months to keep them comfortable. Horses under the age of 5 benefit from examination every 6-9 months.
A note on follow-ups: Once a horse has had his/her initial examination and correction, the annual follow-ups are a much less dramatic affair. They require less time, less sedation and the cost is correspondingly lower.

How much does a thorough dental evaluation and correction cost?
The cost varies significantly from horse to horse based on the necessary corrections for each individual. The following information will apply for 2009.

• For horses that have not been regularly treated by a dental specialist, the following are typical of the dental fees for three general age groups:
  
  • Mature Horses, (7 yrs. to 17 yrs.)- $225.00 to $325.00 including sedation.
    
  • Young Horses, (1 yr. to 6 yrs.)- $185.00 to $250.00 including sedation. May be slightly higher if wolf teeth are present.
    
  • Geriatric Horses, (17+ yrs.) - $225.00 and up depending upon how much functional tooth there is to work with. This includes sedation.

• For horse that have been regularly treated by a practitioner with advanced dental training, routine maintenance requires less time and is therefore less expensive. The typical dental fees for yearly touch ups range fron $195.00 to $235.00 including sedation.

• Set Up fees vary according to geographic location within the state and the number of horses at one facility. They are usually $75.00 and are split between the number of owners present; minimum $20.00/owner.

I welcome calls and emails to answer any specific questions you may have about the cost of equine dentistry. Call 1-866-208-1268 (Toll Free), or E-mail to: drmary@nwequinedentistry.com