Dental caries and fillings

[Caramac71]

We had the dentist out for our mare on Friday, just a routine check as she's not been having any problems although she does seem to have grown a canine (which is slightly unusual for an 11 year old mare!).

Dentist pointed out caries in 2 teeth and has recommended that we get them filled. He explained that they can only see what is on the surface and sometimes they go very deep, and they can spread across, and left alone will eventually cause problems. So his recommendation is to clean and fill them, before they become a problem. No guarantees as to how long the fillings will stay in but he said as the teeth are always growing, sometimes by the time the fillings come out they have managed to stop the decay and they grow down healthy. He's given me a rough cost of around £700 for 2 teeth.

I've not come across this before, and neither has my very experience yard owner. So I thought I'd come on here for some advice. I have no problem with carrying out anything that is preventative; however my concern is that if we start prodding and poking around in something that isn't currently a problem, are we likely to make it a problem? Just thinking of my husband who had no problems with his teeth until the dentist wanted to fill one, and then he's had no end of problems with it since!

Does anyone have experience of this, or any advice for/against?

 

[Chianti]

I think I'd get the vet out for an opinion.

 

[Caramac71]

I think I'd get the vet out for an opinion.

This was the vet, he's the dental specialist at the practice. I was thinking of getting a second opinion from another independent specialist though.

 

[ester]

nikib has had fillings on her oldie welsh A. Will direct her here

From my own experience it seems to be something that has a bit of a professional divide especially with older horses with some thinking it should be done early and others not so much.

 

[planete]

My 22 year old gelding had fillings done in two of his teeth three years ago at Liphook by Chris Day. He has had no problems with the fillings which are still in place. If the horse is old and the caries do not seem to increase in size over a few months many vets will not recommend fillings but a noticeable increase in size or caries in a younger horse will benefit from fillings as diseased teeth can crumble meaning pain and a need for extraction.

 

[ExRacers]

Yes my Welsh A had to have 6 teeth filled in February this year. He’s had dental check ups every year so I was quite shocked to hear he needed all this work done! It was done under standing sedation using human grade white fillings and cost £508 in total at the veterinary hospital. He got home and went straight out into the field and carried on as normal. Been no issues since *touch wood*! The vet said that a few years ago he would have been facing extractions so definitely the better option as he’s only 12 years old.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

My old mare has two caries which the vet monitors every 6 months to make sure they aren’t deepening quickly or cracking. It seems more routine to fill now to prevent the breaking of the tooth which will definitely be painful. My friends mare has a cavity and a broken tooth which will be treated in horspital tomorrow...in and out in the day.

 

[ycbm]

I found this very interesting.

https://www.doctorramey.com/horse-need-filling/
.

 

[planete]

And this: https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/issues/proceedings-10proceedings-z9100110000450.pdf

 

[ester]

I think it's complicated by the fact that they are hardwired to eat. As such some vets/dentist consider any damage= significant pain which I can understand. But others seem to think differently.
3.5 years ago F stopped eating, vet called (not our usual) teeth inspected 1 very large carie, 2 med/large ones but all on dentistry notes. Vet presumes those being the problem, bute in mean time (and soup fed iirc), I get quote from other vet which would either be walkable too and better mobile machine for xrays (no transport). Dentist popped by shortly after and reckoned they weren't any worse from previous visit few months before, F starts eating again and ate fine for the next 2.5 years.

He quids on chaff a bit now, gets on better with hay dentist still says no real progression and I can only be guided by him and my vets though 'teeth' are on the sweepstake list of what the final decision gets made for/when all the old horse niggley bits add up.

 

[Caramac71]

I found this very interesting.

https://www.doctorramey.com/horse-need-filling/
.

Thank you, I came across that article too in a search which added to my concern about going ahead with the fillings. It's hard with internet articles to know who to believe, but I found it strange that the vet said caries are common in horses and yet at our yard nobody had every come across a horse needing fillings. I think I will keep an open mind and get a second opinion before making any decisions.

 

[piglet2001]

I am sure there is the odd horse that requires ‘fillings’ but in my view and in the view of my vet they are a new fad and a money making exercise! I would definitely get a second opinion and proceed with caution.

 

[SO1]

My 18 year old pony had four fillings last year. Done by specialist dental vet. YO had never heard of any horses having filings before and I had never heard of it either. He is a native pony so does not even have a high sugar diet in fact quite the opposite.....

 

[planete]

The size of the holes in my horse's teeth had increased considerably in the six months between check ups. This was the deciding factor for me as I was keen to avoid possible extractions further down the line if possible.

 

[Accidental Eventer]

My older horse had terrible caries and ended up having a temporary filling, though his was between his teeth to help stop feed getting stuck and contributing to his issue. It came out of its own accord and the large gap was grown out when he had a check up. It worked for the purpose we needed it to, but I dont know about other types of fillings.