Horse dental car - cavities?

[Ellie.and.Ted]

My horse has recently had an all-round medical exam and on either side of two of his back teeth have cavities which are currently trapping food. He's 18 and they aren't currently giving him any problems and isn't in any pain. The problem is, do I have them taken out now which could be quite traumatic for him as he has to be taken up to the vets and sedated to have them taken out etc. or do we manage in hopes that they do not get any worse. Has anyone else ever had this problem? And what did you do?

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

I trained mine to have a hose put in their mouths to flush out the food....I did start the training in the summer mind (a few years ago)..cos cold water running down your arms in winter isn’t much fun...Also used a sports capped plastic water bottle to swoosh water in the mouth...a friend uses a big metal syringe.

 

[ester]

no option to have them filled?
My dentist says removing them can require as much maintenance as the caries themselves do.

Professional opinion certainly seems to be divided on when/if to treat teeth in ageing equines.

 

[Ellie.and.Ted]

no option to have them filled?
My dentist says removing them can require as much maintenance as the caries themselves do.

Professional opinion certainly seems to be divided on when/if to treat teeth in ageing equines.

The cavities are too big to be filled I think so only option is removing them or seeing how it goes/ if they get any worse

 

[BronsonNutter]

I’m surprised they’re saying the cavities are too big to be filled - are the gaps within the tooth (caries) or between teeth (diastemas)?

Personally I would go for filling as a first line, and if that’s not possible have them extracted. If they’re really big cavities the risk of the tooth fracturing is quite high, and that would be painful (and is more of an issue to extract as in lots of little bits)