Equine caries - anyone had dental fillings for their horse?

[Tiddlypom]

My EDT has worked wonders on T the wonky's teeth, which were in a terrible state when she arrived due to untreated overgrowth into a diastema from a missing molar.

He's been keeping an eye on some decay, and last visit recommended that I get a specialist vet dentist out to fill her 109 and 110 infundibular caries, which have advanced to grade 3. It's a vet only job, not for a non vet EDT.

She's booked in to be done here at home in late April, which is the earliest that I could get her seen.

My regular vet didn't think that it sounded very urgent, and said that equine dental fillings are quite new and that treatment was optional. But carrying on the theme on keeping wonky mare as comfortable as possible, I am getting her done.

Any experiences, please?

 

[planete]

Yes, my old gelding had two fillings a few years ago. It was a straightforward job in hospital and the fillings were still in place when he died two years later.

 

[ester]

Nikib has had some on her old boy and was pleased as I spoke to her about it re. Frank

 

[JackFrost]

It so happens I was at a talk on this very subject. Dental fillings are becoming mainstream and done well are very effective.
Basically it is following the same principles as for human teeth and using the same grade materials and equipment These days fillings are being used with success for teeth that in the past would have been extracted or just gone into advanced decay. Depending on the work being done, some are local anaesthetic procedures, sounds like yours is. Should go well for you both.

 

[NinjaPony]

Yes, mine had a wobbly canine and removed and fillings on his molar groves. It was very straightforward, insurance covered it for once and he healed up very quickly.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Thanks, all.

Hopefully it'll all go smoothly. He's going to rasp her teeth while he's here, too.

 

[Goldenstar]

It’s some time ago but my TB J had fillings some years ago it was more cutting edge them but worked very well .

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Yes..our oldie has had fillings and it was quick and easy..highly recommend.

 

[HorsesRule2009]

Fillings are becoming pretty standard in horses these days.
As if the cavities created by the caries aren't filled they significantly weaken the teeth and then just normal day to day chewing can fracture a tooth.
Basically the same principle as in humans.
Ours are generally taken into day clinic as depending on how many and how deep the caries are it's nice having the horse in stocks.

Most horses do exceptionally well with fillings

 

[Tiddlypom]

Thanks.

Vet dentist (who I've not met before, but who has been recommended to me) seems happy to come out to me to do the filling after checking that there was an accessible power supply, that the stable is big and well lit, and will be clean. Mare can get a bit seedy/borderline colicky after sedation, and while she's a good traveller I don't really like travelling her after she's been sedated unless I have to.

He's going to rasp her plus the other two while he's here.

I'm getting a filling done privately myself in a couple of weeks, not sure whether my bill or the horse's will be be the larger one .

 

[Goldenstar]

I guess the horses bill will be bigger and much more fuss will be made of the horse .

 

[Tiddlypom]

I guess the horses bill will be bigger and much more fuss will be made of the horse .

You were quite correct on both counts, GS .

It was quite a complicated and protracted process yesterday with various x rays, which took 2.5 hours during which she was under continuous sedation. It was done here at home. The decay was a little more advanced than the non vet EDT had thought.

Grade 3 infundibular caries of 109 and grade 3+ of 110 with atypical buccal fracture not involving pulp. Radiography was not suggestive of periapical infection so both 109/110 restored.

Fascinating to watch, though. I was dental nurse for the session.



The bottom pic shows the filling material being inserted after all the decayed matter had been carefully removed. There was a lot of referring to the camera image to check work.



She's come out of all very well, and was very bright and happy this morning.

Vet is coming back to do a routine float on her, he thought that she'd had quite long enough under sedation as it was. She is unfortunately also going to need her 402/403 incisors removed, but hers have shallow roots so it shouldn't be too tricky.

 

[TPO]

T'is the season for dental specialists apparently!

Glad it all went well on the day and hope it continues to go well at the next visit.