DIRECTOR-LED EQUINE DENTISTRY
Dentistry
A horse's teeth erupt continuously and grind against each other for thirty years. Left alone, they develop sharp edges, gaps that trap food, and painful infections — and horses hide all of it, because a prey animal that shows pain gets eaten. Which is why the mouth needs looking at, rather than waiting to be told.
Why dentistry is a directorship at Atticus
At most practices, dentistry is something the vet fits in at the end of a visit. At Atticus it belongs to Penny Brownings, our Director of Dentistry — three decades in equine practice, and the first veterinary nurse in the UK to qualify as an Equine Dental Technician.
That isn't a marketing arrangement. It means the person doing your horse's teeth has spent a career doing exactly this, and sits at the table where the practice makes its decisions.
What owners notice first
Most horses never tell you their mouth hurts. These are the ways it leaks out.
Quidding — a classic sign
"Dropping feed"
Often the mouth, not the schooling
"Fussy in the contact"
"Breath smells"
Always worth investigating
Skin, allergy, parasites. We need to look.
"Lost weight"
Something on one side hurts
"Tips head to eat"
"Undigested food in droppings"
Whole grains mean poor chewing
"There are balls of grass in the field"
He or she can't chew properly
Worth ruling the mouth out
"Head tossing"
The most common presentation of dental pain
"Something just feels off"
What a dental visit involves
A typical appointment takes half an hour, but this very much depends on what we find.
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Sedation
2
3
4
A proper look
The work
We agree a plan
Sedation removes the stress for the horse, making for a calmer, more efficient treatment plan.
Oral speculum, head torch and mirror. A thorough examination of all oral dental structures and soft tissues.
Balancing the mouth, reducing sharp points and talking through any further treatment required.
We'll show you what we have found, explain it in clear language and agree a plan. Welfare will be the first thing considered.
What we do
Routine care
For most horses, once or twice a year is the whole story.
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Detailed oral examination
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Routine reduction of sharp enamel points
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Sedation for dental work
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Wolf tooth removal
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Removal of retained caps
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Ongoing treatment plan and appointment reminders
Advanced Treatment
Specialist work, sometimes requiring referral.
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Incisor and cheek tooth extraction
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Minimally invasive extraction
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Surgical extraction and buccotomy
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Diastema widening, flushing and packing
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Periodontal treatment
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Infundibular and pulp horn restoration
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Dental fracture management
Looking closer
When something isn't right.
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Oroscopic examination
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Dental radiography at the yard
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Sinus investigation related to dental disease
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Assessment of quidding and dropping feed
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Bitting and ridden problems related to teeth
Older horses
Where good dentistry makes the most visible difference.
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EOTRH assessment and management
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Dental care for veteran horses
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Managing worn and missing teeth
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Feeding advice for a compromised mouth
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Weight loss management
On who should do this
Some dental work can lawfully be done by a qualified equine dental technician, and some — extractions, anything requiring sedation or nerve blocks — must be done by or under the supervision of a veterinary surgeon. Not everyone offering "horse dentistry" is qualified to do so.
Ask whoever does your horse's teeth if they are a Registered Equine Dental Technician, and what they'd do if they found something beyond their scope of care. If you're not sure, you can check if your chosen practitioner is registered. We'd rather you asked us that too.
Both are covered here, in the same visit, by people who can show you their qualifications.