09/28/2025
In equine dentistry, three-point balance refers to the principle of balancing the horse’s mouth so that chewing, comfort, and performance are optimized. It’s a functional goal during dental equilibration (floating/adjusting the teeth), ensuring that pressure is distributed evenly and that the horse can move its jaw properly.🤠
1. The Three Points
The “three points” of balance are:
• Incisors (front teeth) – They determine how far forward and back the jaw can move. They are ised to nip grass.
• Premolars and molars (cheek teeth, back teeth) – They do the bulk of grinding and mastication initial feed breakdown .
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) – The jaw joint that coordinates the movement of the mouth and and absorbs stress.
2. Purpose
If any one of these areas is out of alignment (e.g., overgrown incisors preventing full lateral excursion, sharp enamel points on molars, or uneven pressure stressing the TMJ), the horse can’t chew efficiently or comfortably. This can lead to:
• Abnormal wear
• Difficulty eating
• Training and performance issues (resistance, head tossing, bit discomfort)
• Secondary problems in the neck, back, or overall biomechanics
3. Goal of Three-Point Balance
The dentist or practitioner aims to:
• Balance the incisors so the jaw can move forward, backward, and sideways without restriction.
• Balance the cheek teeth so pressure is even along the arcade and grinding is efficient.
• Ensure the TMJ is not stressed, keeping the horse’s jaw alignment comfortable and functional.
When all three points are in harmony, the horse achieves “three-point balance”—a state where dental anatomy supports natural chewing, digestion, and comfort.
CAEDP…….
