Horse dentists

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Kelly1982

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Just posted something on another forum and the replies have got me thinking!!

If your horse needs an annual check up do you call a proper dentist or do you use the vet??

I have always used the vet BUT since selling my last horse it turned out that he needed quite a bit of treatment to his teeth which the vet never picked up on.

So this time round i decided to go with a dentist but have been told not to bother cause they will just create work that isn't really necessay just to make a quick buck.

Obvioulsy i want my horses teeth in good condition and if that costs then so be it but i dont want to pay out for something thats purley cosmetic either. So which way would you go??
 
My dentist won't charge if he doesn't carry out any work on a horse, so I have their teeth checked every 6 months.
So far Meg has needed work each time, but Chloe only needs doing yearly, if that.
I've never used a vet to check their teeth.
 
I always have dentist - I know my dentist very well and I also had vet out to sedate the horse - the vet watched the whole process fascinated as they were using a new machine on my horse which she had never seen and she was intrigued by my horses teeth as they were bad. I know she could never have sorted his problem out. He would have been to Langford to get done and I do not have insurance for that. The dentists I use are travelling all over the world they are seeing teeth all day long and dealing with different problems. They are BEVA qualified and specialists they are not just EDTs trained in USA for 1 month.

I am a horse physio sceptic but I researched for ages and ummed about it before getting one out - she was great put my mind at ease told me my horse was in great shape and just dealt with what I knew was a problem in his neck (caused by his teeth!) I think its just get word of mouth recommendations.
 
I have used the vet before but he didnt solve the problem my horse was having. I then decided to try the dentist. He worked wonders and i would never use the vet again. IMO i dont believe the vets could possibly learn everything needed to identify the majority of problems in horses teeth. The dentists are specially trained in all kinds of teeth care, they do it everyday and see all kinds of ailments. They are the specialists. Im not saying ALL dentists are better. I believe you have to find a good dentist that you trust. If you do find a good dentist i dont believe they would just create work for a quick buck i have never come across anyone who has had this problem. Like i said im not denying they arent out there!! You will know a good dentist by the fact you have to book them months in advance. If they are able to come out the day after they arent any good!!!
 
Dentist every time! I have mine done every 9 months. I think vets make a horse comfortable whereas an EDT balances a horses mouth properly.

A firend of mine came in with me on his last visit and was horrified at the state of her horses mouth which had previously been done by a well regarded vet. His top jaw was offset and he had this long tooth coming down nearly going into his bottom gum and the oppisite at the back. I think they are called hooks and ramps (but I may be wrong). The vet had never said anything about it and the horse could eat perfectly well and was working at Elementary/ Medium Dressage. However since this has been corrected she has noticed a marked improvement in his way of going and his scores have improved. So EDT every time!
 
Denstist! I had the vet do Archie's teeth once and he was rubbish and left my horse with problems. My dentist is brilliant and I woulndt have anyone else.
Ive also heard that the vet is no wheres near as qualified to do teeth as the dentist.
 
BEVA approved dentist every time - never had a vet touch teeth - seen alot of probs with horses who have only seen vet - that's not to say all vets are a problem

My lad was seen yesterday
 
Dentist
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(with the relevant training / qualifications of course)

Our vet - very well respected and equine specialist - specifically recommends that we use an equine dentist because the amount of training they actually get in regards to teeth (as a vet) is apparently very minimal. My trainer's sister is also a vet, albeit not a horse specialist, and she says exactly the same...

Our dentist doesnt charge if nothing needs doing. The vet works alongside him should sedation be required and *touches wood* he's always been fantastic
 
dentist. they do it all day every day. where a vet doesn't. it just works out more expensive if you need sedation
 
Qualified equine dentist for sure, ask around and get one with a good rep.
They know far, far more about teeth than your average vet!
 
Well, you know the story with Trike obviously. Our equine vet who is very well respected in the industry basically said that as vets they get a couple of days training on teeth and would never go further back than the front teeth. He would recommend a good EDT everytime...and in fact was there to do the sedation for Trike at the time
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Yes, it was a bit more expensive, but hopefully once the work is done it won't need re-doing. I was a bit sceptical tbh....but have to say Trike does seem a bit softer in his mouth now a few months down the line. Whether that is a result of the EDT or just his improving generally is anybody's guess though
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If it's any help, i will be getting him back to do Bo this year as he had a quick look and identified a couple of areas that needed work. No hard sell either, just asked if Bo displayed certain characteristics when riding him on a certain rein...and was spot on in everything he thought would be happenning
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You can have both in one person as there's a new vet at Bell who is also a qualified EDT and specialises just in teeth. This means if you need sedation you don't need a seperate person to come out and therefore works out cheaper. He's called Rob Pascoe.

Don't think you use them any more though do you?
 
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