Diastema treatment

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lozzles

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My 23 year old has had diastemas for a while with six monthly check ups they haven't really caused any problems.

He now has a periodontal pocket in his upper jaw which was obviously sore when the vet touched round there. He's been harder to keep weight on this year although the peridontal pocket wasn't there at his check in the spring.

The vet has advised to take him in for a widening treatment. She also understands my hesitation with his age and the fact he hasn't travelled in many years. Have any of you had the treatment and seen long term success?
 
I would get a specialist equine dental vet on this who should be able to perform the procedure under standing sedation at home. Don't use a first opinion vet, get him referred on.

Has he been x rayed yet? That needs doing before any treatment starts, but the specialist vet dentist can do that when they come.
 
Interesting it's an option to do at home. She felt he'd need stocks to have a deep enough sedation. He hasn't been x-rayed as she was trying to suggest the most straightforward route bearing in mind he's obviously not insured.
 
My mare had two fillings and two incisor extractions done at home by an excellent fully ambulant specialist vet dentist. Two separate sessions.

The horse needed more sedation than any other of his patients have, but he just topped it up as necessary. She has made a brilliant recovery, she was 17yo at the time, not insured.

This is the fillings being done.

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Gory pic alert below.

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Yes my mare had a diastema widened at Three Counties Hospital in 2020.

She's 19 now and had no issues since. I was very pleased with the procedure and her EDT is happy with an annual checkup going forward. In your position I'd see if you can get a vet to do it onsite but just be careful what they say she requires and if needs be get a couple of quotes/opinions...

The vet hospital near me (who I've used for other things and would highly recommend) wanted to do two extractions and quoted £1.5k as a starting point but said it could be closer to £3k. I happily booked in but they cancelled on the day due to emergencies. EDT suggested trying Three Counties and this was the bill;

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So a huge difference and she got to keep all her teeth!
 
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I've recently had mine on 3 monthly visits and they widened the gaps at home. All 4 diastemas apart from 1 now have closed up completely! No more food getting stuck. Was no longer than a routine visit.
 
Are any of you in the south east? Just thinking it would be good to know of any vets who are comfortable offering that. Did they need a power source? I can move him to where one is but he'd more relaxed by his field shelter
 
2 gaps were widened and packed on pony. Previous horse also had diastema done at home, really doesn't take them long to do. My vets are B&W Equine, one vet and one dental come to yard. I don't have mains electric it's all battery operated equipment they use.
 
lozzles said:
Are any of you in the south east? Just thinking it would be good to know of any vets who are comfortable offering that. Did they need a power source? I can move him to where one is but he'd more relaxed by his field shelter
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If taking xrays then yes, they'll usually need mains power. Generators pulse too much for xray machines. Can you box to vets to get xray done 1st, then discuss further?

Vet dentist equipment for carrying out the job is usually all battery powered.
 
Fingers crossed but a vet I used for years as part of a bit practice I didn't realise is now running their own. Their receptionist was optimistic one of their team could treat him at home so I'm feeling hopeful.

Lovely when you own them so long but they definitely get more stressful in the later years!
 
lozzles said:
Fingers crossed but a vet I used for years as part of a bit practice I didn't realise is now running their own. Their receptionist was optimistic one of their team could treat him at home so I'm feeling hopeful.

Lovely when you own them so long but they definitely get more stressful in the later years!
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Big not bit!
 
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