Dental and Health Services

Aims

It is our aim to provide a service to the horse which benefits the horse and the owner by improving oral and digestive health and oral comfort.

The well-being of the horse is paramount.  Treatment is rendered with a caring approach and by means of effective methods.  These methods respect the natural structure of equine dentition and have the objective of correcting abnormal dental conditions which may be caused by dietary, genetic, traumatic or other causes. 
 

Procedures

Services provided by the Australian Equine Dental Practice emphasize:

• Treating the horse sensitively and as an individual, without restraints such as head slings or sedatives.  Where sedatives are required to be administered, this will be effected by a veterinarian.
• Thoroughly examining and treating, without compromise, all relevant dental and oral conditions.  Gum conditions may later lead to dental ailments and require early corrective action.   Even a minor elevated ridge across a grinding surface of a molar can cause feed to impact between opposing teeth.
• Accepting a responsible role in the well-being of the horse and serving the client with appropriate advice about:

• • dental and oral health
  • responsible dental care
  • good riding and driving techniques
  • good nutritional management.

• Providing treatment which respects the structure and function of teeth as part of the digestive system avoiding the use of rotary burrs or other high risk mechanical intervention. See the Equine Dental Practitioners Association AEDPA Inc. Statement on the Use of Power Tools
• Hygiene is given careful attention.  In the horse's environment this is always a compromise but instruments are sanitized by immersing in antiseptic liquid between patients.  The mouth is also rinsed with an antiseptic solution after procedures.
• Procedures which involve a high level of pain to the horse are not contemplated unless veterinary care is available.
• Where it is necessary to reduce the length of a severely extended molar, incisor or canine, no cutting forceps or burr grinders are used.  The only device appropriate for these procedures at present is a fine diamond rotary water-cooled disc or pin cutter.  This prevents overheating or fracture of the tooth.

If you have any questions about procedures and would like to know more, please E-mail us from the Contact Page.