Equine Dental Services

14/11/2024

My diary is now open for 2025!!! I have limited appointments left for January, so book early. I think I've gotten back to everyone who enquired about a January appointment, but if I've missed someone, please drop me a message 😊

05/11/2024

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Quidding can be caused by a number of dental problems and is usually due to either the horse being in pain or because they are physically unable to chew long fibre forage efficiently. In pain related cases, the horse may be avoiding chewing in a specific area of the mouth due to discomfort. This can result from conditions such as periodontal disease caused by diastemata, or fractured, displaced, or even loose teeth, which may be causing soft tissue injury. In cases where they are physically unable to chew efficiently, the horse might be struggling due to uneven grinding surfaces, large malocclusions restricting lower jaw movement, or excessive tooth wear from old age, resulting in lack of occlusion and therefore compromised chewing ability.

If you notice your horse quidding, it’s crucial to have them checked by your EDT promptly. A thorough dental examination will identify the cause of the quidding, allowing you to discuss a treatment plan with your EDT and potentially any dietary changes.

If your horse lives out over winter, remember to regularly check the area around the hay for signs of quidding. It’s also important to monitor body condition under rugs throughout the season.

Regular lifelong dental care provides peace of mind, ensuring your horse is free from discomfort and allows early detection of any dental issues. If it’s been more than a year since their last checkup, now is a key time to book one, giving them the best chance to maintain body condition through the winter. Waiting for problems to arise may mean they are more difficult to manage long term.

16/10/2024

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✨ FAQ Friday ✨

03/10/2024

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Mind the gap! 🔍🦷

A diastema (singular) or diastemata (plural) refers to an abnormal space between teeth. Normally, horses have six cheek teeth in each dental arcade, tightly positioned to function as a single grinding unit. However, if a gap exists between these teeth then food can become trapped. A UK study indicated that 49.9% of horses of all ages are affected. The prevalence of diastemata increases in horses over the age of 15.

Diastemata are classified into two types:

Primary Diastemata

These are developmental in nature and can occur due to improper rostral-caudal angulation, dental buds that are too far apart, or teeth that are developmentally displaced or rotated.

Secondary Diastemata

These are acquired and may result from tooth displacement, pressure from occlusal overgrowths, drifting teeth following extraction, or the natural tapering of teeth with age, leading to senile diastemata.

There are two types of diastemata based on the gap's shape:

Open Diastema: The gap is the same width from top to bottom.

Valve Diastema: The top of the gap is narrower than the bottom, which can cause food impaction.

If food becomes impacted then bacteria can proliferate leading to gingivitis, and the breakdown of periodontal ligaments causing periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is considered the most painful condition in the horses mouth. Signs of periodontal disease includes quidding, halitosis, and in severe cases, weight loss.

The treatment of diastemata should be approached on a case-by-case basis. First steps include clearing any impacted food and good quality dentistry. In some cases, further intervention and referral to a veterinary surgeon may be necessary. More advanced treatments involve using materials to bridge the diastemata, preventing food from becoming trapped and promoting gum healing. In cases of valve diastemata, mechanically widening the top of the gap can facilitate less trapping of food material, which can be an effective solution. In some severe cases of displaced teeth, extraction may also be an option. Additionally, dietary adjustments may be required.

Every diastema is individual, therefore it’s important to discuss with your EDT regarding long term management.

02/10/2024

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Hello October! 🍁🍂

As you prepare for the colder months ahead, now is the perfect time to ensure your horse's dental care is up to date. If it’s been over a year since their last treatment, it’s really important to have them checked before winter. It’s especially important in older horses who may be prone to weight loss or may have reduced chewing surfaces.

A thorough dental treatment will ensure your horse is free from discomfort, detect early signs of dental disease, improve chewing efficiency, and allow them to perform at their best. Regular dental care will also help prevent future dental problems.

All our BAEDT members receive extensive training and are rigorously examined, ensuring the highest standards of care. Each member is approved by BEVA/BVDA, so you can feel confident your horse is in experienced hands.

Take the first step in preparing your horse for winter. Visit www.baedt.com to find a qualified equine dental technician near you!

12/09/2024

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Even though your broodmare isn’t in active work, regular dental treatments are still an important part of their welfare. Regular routine treatments will ensure they are comfortable, identify any dental problems early, and avoid any other potential dental problems in the future, this will allow efficient mastication and therefore ensure they receive adequate nutrition.

Broodmares are often overlooked, but it's essential to prioritise their dental care when it's safe to do so. Waiting for dental problems to arise may lead to problems becoming more difficult to manage.

Don’t let your broodmares be forgotten — make sure you schedule their dental checks regularly with a BAEDT member!

22/08/2024

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Wolf Teeth

🦷 Wolf teeth are usually found on the upper jaw positioned in front of the first molars (06s), and less commonly on the lower jaw.
🦷 Wolf teeth typically erupt after 6 months of age.
🦷Wolf teeth are vestigial remnants, meaning they no longer serve a functional purpose. Their shape, size, and root length can vary widely.
🦷 Wolf teeth are found in both males and females, research suggests they are found in 13-40% of horses.
🦷 Wolf tooth removal is often considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on whether they interfere with the bit or cause any discomfort.

Canine Teeth

🦷 Equines can have four canines in total, two on the upper jaw and two on the lower jaw.
🦷 Canines are situated in the interdental space, just behind the incisors.
🦷 Canines typically erupt between 4.5 to 6 years of age.
🦷 Canines are a fighting tooth, while predominantly found in males, some females may have rudimentary canines which are generally smaller.
🦷 Canine teeth are prone to calculus buildup, which can lead to gingivitis. Regular dental check ups are necessary to remove the calculus and maintain oral health.

01/05/2024

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Modern equine dentistry entails so much more than “rasping a few sharp edges”.
Here’s what happens at a routine appointment!

1️⃣ Horse History

We start by gathering essential details about your equine friend: age, job, any eating or riding issues, and any previous dental history.

2️⃣ External Examination

We then look for any external clues that may indicate dental issues. Looking at overall body condition, the symmetry of the muscles of the head, palpating for any lumps and bumps on the head and under the jaw, checking for any nasal discharge, examining the lips for any sores or damage, examining the bars of mouth for any injuries, checking for wolf teeth, checking the canines, and finally examining the incisors for bite plane, lateral excursion, rostral-caudal movement and any signs of disease.

3️⃣ Internal Examination

Using a full mouth speculum and both palpation and visual inspection with a mirror and high quality LED light source, we thoroughly examine each tooth and aspect of the mouth. We use dental picks and probes to assess any lesions and water irrigation to remove any trapped food material. This allows us to identify any signs of pathology or dental disease.

4️⃣ Dental treatment

Based on our findings, we create a treatment plan for your horse with the goal of maximum comfort and maximum mastication efficiency. This will include removing all sharp enamel points which may cause soft tissue damage, and correcting/reducing any occlusal overgrowths. If not properly addressed occlusal overgrowths will worsen over time as the teeth naturally erupt. This can restrict movement of the lower jaw and can hinder efficient mastication, and can also lead to painful dental disorders such as diastemata and periodontal disease, therefore it’s very important that these overgrowths are managed appropriately.

5️⃣ Aftercare

Following your horse's dental treatment, we'll provide guidance on the recommended timeframe for their next dental examination. If any dental disorders/diseases are detected, we'll discuss them with you, and if additional treatment by an Equine Veterinary Dental specialist is necessary, we'll provide appropriate recommendations.

⚠️ Regular thorough dental maintenance by a qualified professional is crucial for your horse's overall health and lifelong wellbeing. Don’t compromise on your horses dental health ⚠️

Visit www.baedt.com to locate your nearest BAEDT member

28/03/2024

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What on earth…?? So here is the problem with the equine dental industry in the UK, and also worldwide. Horse owners do not know who is properly qualified and well trained to perform dentistry on their horses.

It costs a fortune to own and look after a horse as anyone who has a horse knows only too well, and dentistry is an extremely important but usually only small part of that overall package of care. It’s only once or twice a year, and that is the opportunity to make sure everything is in order, properly balanced and there are no problems lurking. If treatment is needed, then that treatment (and also the routine treatment) must be performed by someone with appropriate legal status and qualification.

In this case, ‘treatment’ was carried out by an individual without the appropriate training or qualifications: the result? The horse has not been able to eat for months since this ‘remedial’ work was performed - I’ll leave it to those that know to comment on this - if you know, you know. I’ll add some comments later but suffice it to say this is NOT specialist advanced remedial work as it was described. Individuals must not described themselves as ‘occlusal specialists’, ‘remedial specialists’, ‘natural balancing specialist dentists’ etc etc - the word ‘specialist’ is a protected term for RCVS/EBVS veterinary specialists but sadly is used by some to confuse and trick horse owners into thinking they have qualifications and experience way beyond what is actual reality.

We will do another post, and an upcoming video and podcast on how to choose the right person for the right job but meanwhile please check - routine dentistry yes an experienced vet or qualified EDT (BAEDT/WWAED) - advanced work for problems (eg diastemas or gaps between the teeth as in the case in the photo) - this must be undertaken under sedation by an appropriately qualified vet with preferably Advanced Practitioner status or better Specialist qualification - not a dentist under vet supervision, not a dentist, not a balancing specialist, not a farrier, not the tooth man, not the tooth fairy, not the osteopath with a tooth rasp etc etc. The horse is the one that suffers.

27/03/2024

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When was your little ones last dental?

Just because they are retired, companions, or “good doers” doesn’t mean they don’t need their teeth checked.

It’s common to underestimate the dental needs of these smaller equines, especially as some may be on restricted diets for weight management. Horses, ponies and donkeys all have the same amount of incisors and molars and that means these little guys are prone to many dental problems as they have such tiny heads to fit all those teeth in.

It’s so important that they are checked at least once if not twice per year to ensure they are free from any discomfort, detect early stages of disease, and to give them the best chance of having efficient chewing surfaces as they go into old age. Having hypsodont teeth means that the teeth continually erupt so will always be developing sharp enamel points and any overgrowths will become worse over time.

Don’t let them suffer in silence.
Together we can improve equine welfare.

Every Equine, Every Year 🦷

www.baedt.com

🦷

17/03/2024

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What does it take to become a BEVA/BVDA qualified Equine Dental Technician?

As we approach this week's practical exam, we're eager to shed light on the journey each of our members has undertaken. It takes several years of intensive training and rigorous examinations to achieve full qualification.

The examination process entails:

➡️ Completion of BEVA/BVDA advanced theory course
➡️ Evidence of education- either
- BSc or FdSc in Equine Dental Science/Studies
- Training under direct supervision of BAEDT member or Veterinary Surgeon with expertise in equine dentistry
- RCVS membership
➡️ Submisson of 300 case studies, of which 40 are advanced case studies countersigned by the attending Veterinary Surgeon
➡️ 2 references -one from BAEDT member and one from a Veterinary Surgeon with expertise in equine dentistry
➡️ Minimum of 5 days working alongside a BAEDT member or Veterinary Surgeon with expertise in equine dentistry
➡️ BEVA/BVDA Theory exam
➡️ BEVA/BVDA Practical exam

Not to mention the countless hours spent shadowing, undertaking unpaid work, traveling expenses, investing in training courses, and the financial outlay for equipment.

We take immense pride in our members for their relentless passion and unwavering dedication to equine welfare.

Visit our website to locate a BAEDT Equine Dental Technician near you ➡ www.baedt.com

📸 Kim Kilner BAEDT

08/03/2024

International Woman's day!!!!!

This is a shout out to my support team. To the women who make this job and my life so much more.....

The theme this year is, "invest in women". And boy do my friends and college's go above and beyond in this department. They invest their time listening to me when I've had a challenging day. They invest their knowledge and experiences, helping me navigate the stresses and strains of being self employed.

Most importantly they invest their trust in me... as a friend and as a colleague. They call on me when they need a sympathetic ear, a sounding board to bounce ideas off. They call on me to share their workload, to include me and trust me with their clients.

For this I am eternally grateful to have these women in my life. And I will continue to support and invest in these women. Xx ❤️❤️

13/02/2024

Equine Dental Services on tour!!! Today I had the pleasure of experiencing Daphne the Mechanical Horse 🐎, Ireland only dressage simulator.

I didn't really know what to expect from the experience, having never sat on a Mechanical horse before. If I'm really honest, I thought, how hard can it be??

Boy was I wrong 🙈.... after identifying some issue's with my right leg, Eilish made a few adjustments to my position. This allowed me, for the first time, to engage my core correctly and ride with ease and balance. I will certainly be feeling it tomorrow 😂🙈

I would definitely recommend a lesson on Daphne, I found the whole experience Informative, giving me plenty to work on at home. This will most certainly benefit my horse.

11/02/2024

I always like to check in at the start of the year, so now that the year long month of January is over and we have settled into our routines, making plans for this coming season, I would, again, like to take this opportunity to say a huge heartfelt thank you to all my clients for their continued trust and support.

In this climate i appreciate the support even more as i know things can be tight. There are also many "dentists" to choose from now, but you choose me, and l'm very humbled by that.


Every year I strive to improve my knowledge and further my understanding of equine dentistry. I do this by working alongside a wide range of the industries professionals to ensure I can offer my clients the best level of service and care. This also helps me feel like I'm working as part of a large team made up of horse lovers like myself 🐎♥️

Again.... thank you to all my clients and their amazing equine friends, who have helped make my passion into a living.

06/02/2024

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02/02/2024

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13/10/2023

I am on holiday from today, 13th Oct untill 23rd Oct inclusive. If you would like to book in for your routine dentals, then please send a text or leave a voice mail, and I'll pick them up on my return.

31/07/2023

We have been treating a number of ponies and miniature breeds recently, so thought we would share an interesting case each week in August
Did you know that because of the size of their heads and comparatively large size of their teeth, ponies and miniature breeds are prone to a number of dental conditions, such as overcrowding and tooth root infections?
Check out this skull from a young miniature pony with some of the outer bone removed, showing the size of the teeth compared to the size of the head.