Equine Teeth

Horses have evolved very successfully as consumers of forage and other plant material. Many of their physical characteristics such as body size and capacity have evolved around accommodating their large hindgut where populations of beneficial microbes are maintained, allowing the utilization of complex carbohydrates like cellulose as a source of energy. The teeth of horses have also evolved to allow horses to consume a steady diet of plant material.

Horse owners should know that good horse husbandry includes at least a yearly dental examination by a veterinarian for all the horses in the barn. This health care protocol is equally important for horses of all ages. Young horses need regular dental exams as their teeth change with growing. Performance horses need regular dental work as dental problems may cause performance issues. And seniors, perhaps most of all, need regular assessment of their teeth to ensure they are able to chew properly.

The dental examination may lead to floating of the teeth to smooth rough edges or address other abnormalities which might be causing discomfort for the horse. If the horse’s teeth have been neglected, there may be a need for a more rigorous program of dental work. Some horses need dental maintenance more often than others, and horses with problem teeth may need dental work as frequently as every three to six months.

Why do horses need to have their teeth floated?

Horses have hypsodont teeth with a large crown or portion of tooth above the gumline and a very large root below the gumline. Hypsodont teeth are constantly erupting and growing out of the gum. Continuous chewing of coarse plant material results in the enamel surfaces of the teeth being worn down. With open-ended roots, hypsodont teeth have a complex system of enamel, as well as tissues called cementum and dentin. Their structure and continuous growth over the life of the horse ensures that even though the forage diet of horses wears their teeth down, the horse can maintain a functional tooth.