South West Equine Dentistry

18/02/2025

Well, another nightmare day at the coalface 😂, luckily, my new apprentice was picking up the slack, and keeping a close eye on things.

He did so well on his first day of ‘toothing’, I’ve cleared him a space in the car 😍😍

11/02/2025

This job is utterly terrible. 0 stars, would not recommend 😂… on the other hand, I am now right into redheads 😍😍😍

10/02/2025

Little teaser for all the clients I’ve told I’d love to take their horse home 😂😂

Beware, it could happen …

06/02/2025

Had an absolutely brilliant weekend with Keith Evans Equine Dentist and Ian Hargreaves Equine Dentistry, looking at teeth and eating pizza… and maybe trying to fit a pony in Keith’s van.

Then this week has been mostly catching up with some very lovely, longstanding clients and their horses, and meeting some lovely new ones too.

Apologies, I’ve been a bit tardy on the sticker front, but look at this absolute stunner! The super gorgeous and very talented Rocky was an angel to treat this morning, even though he swears he definitely didn’t see my visit on his calendar 😂

30/01/2025

Wow, what a privilege to work with the amazing Banksy! (Or as I apparently called him, ‘little brown bean’!?). We were up against it with our height discrepancies, but luckily for me, Banksy was an utter gentleman

26/01/2025

👀 Uh oh …. These arrived this morning 😬

23/01/2025

Safe to say, these went down a storm today 😍😍

22/01/2025

True dat

It’s easy to overlook the dental needs of small ponies, especially those on restricted diets for weight management. However, these smaller equines sometimes face unique dental challenges due to the size of their petite heads. These tiny heads must accommodate the same number of teeth as their larger counterparts, 12 incisors and 24 molars, however with limited space it can often result in significant dental problems.

Smaller breeds, such as Welsh As, Welsh Bs, and Shetlands, are particularly prone to:

• Overcrowding and tooth displacement: This can lead to diastemata (gaps between teeth) and painful periodontal disease.

• Uneven wear patterns: Misaligned teeth wear abnormally, leading to occlusal overgrowths which can impact comfort and chewing efficiency.

• Missing molars: Due to lack of space sometimes molars are absent, therefore the opposing teeth will hyper-erupt, leading to large, very uncomfortable overgrowths that will continually worsen over time if not addressed. These large overgrowths will cause a lot of pain over their lifetime and will cause difficulty eating.

Routine dental checks, at least once or twice per year, are so important for ensuring:

• Early detection of dental disease and discomfort.

• Proper maintenance of chewing surfaces to promote efficient mastication.

• Comfort from sharp enamel points and occlusal overgrowths, which are inevitable without intervention.

Since horses, ponies, and donkeys have hypsodont teeth (continuously erupting throughout their lives), dental issues will ALWAYS escalate if left untreated.

At this time of year, equine dental technicians frequently encounter older small ponies struggling to chew hay. Often, these ponies have been overlooked due to their reputation as “good doers.” Unfortunately, by the time their difficulty eating is noticed, their dental issues may be severe, causing unnecessary pain and possibly even malnutrition.

By prioritising regular dental care, we can improve the welfare of these animals. Together, we can ensure they remain comfortable, healthy, and able to enjoy their food as they age.

21/01/2025

Security is tight today 😍😍

17/01/2025

Some really interesting cases this week of all shapes and sizes, ranging from beautiful showjumpers, very tasty eventers, gorgeous (and tall) dressage horses, and some stunning, and much loved, companions. Luckily, with a boot full of kit, there’s instruments to fit everyone.

Only one or two have ended the week with a tooth less than they started with 😂 (these were milk teeth, or ‘caps’ extracted from young equids where they had become wedged and retained by adjacent crowns).

A few more referral cases again this week, made all the more straightforward by the use of the dental endoscope 😍

13/01/2025

… so, there may be a small delay in getting back to everyone, but rest assured I will reply as soon as humanly possible 🫣

06/09/2024

It’s a common misconception that a horse’s teeth keep growing indefinitely. In reality, horses have evolved to have hypsodont dentition, meaning they have teeth with a large reserve crown that gradually erupts over their lifetime whilst being worn down through grazing.

The teeth erupt and wear down at a rate of approximately 2-4mm per year. This process means that the length of the hypsodont tooth is finite; eventually, the tooth will wear down completely as the horse ages.

If dental overgrowths occur and are not properly managed, they will continue to worsen over time because the teeth will continue erupting. Regular dental check-ups are essential to address these issues and maintain your horse’s oral health.

24/05/2024

Another satisfied customer 😂😂

07/05/2024

Have you recently welcomed a new horse in to your life?

It’s a good idea before you begin your journey with your new horse to make sure they have a dental check by a qualified professional. This gives you peace of mind that your horse is not in any pain or discomfort.

A comfortable mouth means better communication and optimal performance, making sure your relationship starts off on the best note.

Remember, horses, as prey animals, may not readily display signs of discomfort.
Every horse, pony, and donkey requires regular dental care for their overall health and wellbeing.

If you’re unsure of when your horse last had their dental check then don’t delay booking an appointment. To locate your nearest BAEDT member visit www.baedt.com

25/04/2024

Regular dental maintenance is an essential component of your horse’s wellbeing.

Here’s why it’s crucial:

⭐️ Prevents discomfort: By addressing issues early, we spare horses unnecessary pain.
⭐️ Early disease detection: Catching problems in their infancy prevents escalation.
⭐️ Maximum eating efficiency: Proper dental care allows the horse to chew its food efficiently for digestion.
⭐️ Optimised performance: Comfortable mouths lead to better communication and performance.
⭐️ Long-term dental health: Investing in regular maintenance now helps prevent dental disease in the later years.

Prioritising regular dental treatments is a necessity for your equine companion’s lifelong welfare.

Don’t delay on your horse’s dental appointment. To locate your nearest BAEDT member visit www.baedt.com 🐎
📸 Jake Paterson BAEDT

23/04/2024

📝 Recent research highlights a significant increase in dental disorders among horses aged 15 years and older 1️⃣

🔎 Common geriatric dental disorders include:

➡️ Sharp enamel points, diastemata, periodontal disease, wear abnormalities, displaced teeth, mobile teeth, infundibular caries and equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH)

Early identification and treatment of these dental problems are crucial for extending the quality of life for ageing horses.

It's important to remember that horses often mask signs of dental pain, so there may be no clinical signs until advanced stages of disease.

By prioritising proactive dental maintenance every 6-12 months from a young age, we can ensure our equine companions enjoy their golden years comfortably and healthily.

1️⃣ Du Toit, 2023

➡️ Visit www.baedt.com to locate an approved EDT in your area!

16/04/2024

Don’t dismiss the Donkey!

🫏 Studies have found that in the UK over 73% of donkeys have dental disorders with the prevalence of disorders increasing with age. These studies have revealed significant deterioration in donkey dental health between the ages of 10-15 years. 1️⃣,2️⃣

🦷 Common donkey dental disorders include:

➡️ Sharp enamel points, diastemata, periodontal disease, wear disorders, displaced teeth, mobile teeth, fractured teeth, pulpitis, infundibular and peripheral caries, equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH)

🫏 Donkeys are prey animals so may exhibit no clinical signs that they are in pain. 2️⃣

🫏 Dental disease can also be present in overweight donkeys. This can lead to dental disease being undiagnosed until advanced stages due to their dental health being overlooked. 2️⃣

🫏 Dental disease and the inability to chew efficiently relates to impaction colic. In donkeys impaction colic has a 51% higher mortality rate than horses. This highlights the critical importance of regular dental maintenance. 2️⃣

🫏 By ensuring donkeys have 6-12 monthly dental treatments from a young age, it will reduce the risk of donkeys having severe dental disease in later life, give them the best opportunity of having efficient chewing surfaces, and overall improve their quality of life. 1️⃣, 2️⃣

Don’t let them suffer in silence.
Every equine, every year 🦷

1️⃣ Du Toit et al,2009
2️⃣ Fernández et al, 2023