Filling teeth

LittleP

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Looking for feedback on filling teeth.

Horse is 18, I found a lump behind her jaw and asked vet to come out. Only a small lump but she had been coughing over winter then had an episode of choke so wanted her checked in case something going on.
Vet said lump nothing to worry about, but did check her teeth and found 2 with decay, one on each side, top back. Teeth x-rayed and checked with camera. No infection found.
Vet wants her to go in and have them filled, specialist coming to do the procedure, will be sedated but can come home same day. EDT saw her yesterday and said not to bother. Insurance will pay so cost not an issue. Not showing any sign of discomfort, eating etc as normal.
Has anyone any knowledge of this and can give an opinion. Thanks in advance, grateful for any helpful comments.
 
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planete

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My 20 year old horse went to Liphook to have several fillings two years ago. Chris Pearce did them and we have had no problems with the results since. I questioned the need for fillings as we never used to do theses things years ago. My vet explained that with cavities in the teeth there was a real danger the teeth would eventually crumble leaving the horse in pain and resulting in a much bigger problem to sort out in the end.
 

hopscotch bandit

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I had my vet look at my horses teeth a couple of weeks ago for a routine float as it was 14 months since last done. He said she had two areas of dental caries and to stop feeding mints and liquorice which I use for stretches instead of carrots and for reward after riding, turning out, etc. Slightly annoyed with myself that I let her get to this stage but he said she should be okay and nothing was required to be done. She's been eating fine since, although he did suggest he may have made her temporary sensitive. He said to also 'floss' her front teeth as there were areas where food was getting stuck between the teeth - have no idea how I should do this btw!

So now she is on herbal treats, we can get a big tub for around £6 by us. Another vet from the same practice came last April to float her teeth and said there were no areas of decay whatsoever and her teeth were good considering her age. I was conscious that she probably gets through more than her fair share of strong mints which is why I asked the question! So the decay must have happened over the last 14 months.

It just so happened that the last two years the vets were visiting my horse, hence why I used them, but prior to this I'd always used a really good EDT who had never raised an issue with decay.
 

ester

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If the insurance will pay I'd just get them done if the horse is otherwise healthy.

It does seem to be something that divides opinion some are very pro and some are not, I think because it's often possible the horse will die of something else before the horse expresses a real problem.

HB, we have 'flossed' between F's front teeth for years, it has improved as the gap has got wider otherwise he just ended up with a big bolus of food under his top lip. I use a very small screwdriver to hook it out (super quick) mum used to use a toothbrush but I think she uses the screwdriver too now. Obviously only to be used on something you can trust!
 

hopscotch bandit

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HB, we have 'flossed' between F's front teeth for years, it has improved as the gap has got wider otherwise he just ended up with a big bolus of food under his top lip. I use a very small screwdriver to hook it out (super quick) mum used to use a toothbrush but I think she uses the screwdriver too now. Obviously only to be used on something you can trust!
Oh blimey. I didn't want to look stupid by asking the vet but I wasn't really sure what I was meant to use. To be honest I wasn't even sure if he was winding me up! I know someone on the yard whose horse has got diastemas (not sure if that's the right spelling) and she gives her warm water and syringes her mouth out with something that looks like one of those grouting syringes! My horse would see me coming and think it was wormer :D

Thanks for the advice Ester. Sorry to hijack post OP x
 

ester

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Yeah his gets so jammed up firing water at it from a syringe does diddly squat! He doesn't like having it done but is the sort to tolerate. He started with just a gap at the top which is why it used to get so stuck, now the gap goes all the way down, another 5 years it might not be a problem anymore :D
 

planete

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I forgot to mention that my vet took into account at which rate the caries were getting bigger between his six monthly visits. If they had not been getting quite a bit larger between visits he would not have recommended filling them.
 

Kenris

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Thank you for replies. She's having it done next week.
Hi can I ask how successful this was? My 15 year old Welsh C has problems with diastema and vet has also recommended that he needs two fillings. Would like to hear for someone who has actually had it done and a rough cost if you don't mind as his insurance will not cover it.
 

Goldenstar

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I had one done just before Christmas.
He went in for the day atm it’s a temporary filling he will put in the permanent filling shortly .
I have not had the bill yet .
 

hihosilver

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LittleP

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Hi
Went into the vets in the morning, sedated for the procedure and then allowed home when sedation wore off. My OH stayed with her and was allowed to watch, took about 20 minutes. She has been absolutely fine since. Cost was about £800 which included xrays at home to assess the condition of her teeth. Procedure wasn't done by our vet, they got another vet who specialises in dentistry to come out.
 
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