New dentistry, filing front incisors

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MissJessica

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Had routine dentistry visit today, expected normal procedure of filing/floating back teeth.

However dentist explained my horses front teeth incisors weren't level, obviously this hasn't happened in last 12 months as surely would be a long term growth. Horse has regular turnout 24/7 Summer, stabled at night in Winter with good grass in his paddock so I would hope they'd naturally wear.

The dentist explained if you're filing the back teeth it makes sense to file the front, so the whole has fits together allowing the horse to chew. This makes sense, I didn't go ahead as vetinary sedation is required to file front sensitive incisors therefore follow up appointment required.

I am wanting more information please, have you had this done? Is moden dentistry to way to go or should traditional ways be maintained? Advise please..

Thank you
 
Following with interest - my new dentist (moved area) recommended the same and again I've not done it as it seems to be very fashionable in the US but not so much over here. The logic makes sense - mine is an ex racer so fed hay all the time so the wear has not been correct at the front - you can see the angle is 'wrong' compared with my big horse who has perfect teeth (should follow the line of the bridle effectively) but seems very dramatic and if it goes wrong (little too much here or there) the poor horse would be f*&k*d
 
But the incisors at the front are for biting or tearing, not chewing, that is the function of the molars. I never heard of the incisors being filed, and as they don't continuously grow like the molars do I would worry about compromising the surface unnecessarily. Any EDTs on here?
 
This is broadly the explanation I was given - over long front teeth stop the back ones coming together properly

The over long teeth come together in the front hindering the molars or jaw teeth from coming together to achieve the desired good grind and decreasing the food value of food injested. This adds greatly to the chance of colic, because the horse is unable to close the mouth fully to chew, grind (masticate) their feed. When a horse gets corrective or routine floating by a compitent vet or equine dentist the incisors should be a routine part of the full mouth balance you are trying to obtain. If the molars are floated and attention is not given to the overlong incisors they will hit and thus creating a gap or space in the molars causing a bad grind, feed dropping, and increasing the chance of collic.
 
I had the opposite reaction to a slant on my horse's incisors OP. My EDT spotted it and said that he would prefer to leave the slant because evening it up would take a lot away at one side and could invite other problems (not sure what though). My girl does have quite a prominent slant going on though, so not sure he was meaning this because of the severity? I've never heard of filing incisors though.
 
I would be getting a second opinion first - if they are filed to a sensitive layer how do you think they will be after this?
 
JillA said:
But the incisors at the front are for biting or tearing, not chewing, that is the function of the molars. I never heard of the incisors being filed, and as they don't continuously grow like the molars do I would worry about compromising the surface unnecessarily. Any EDTs on here?
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Incisors grow just like all the other teeth.

I worry about modern horse dentistry. For me, needing to file down the front teeth would be a clear sign that the back teeth have had too much taken off.
 
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I don't like the sound of filing front teeth down. I'd want a second opinion from a vet specialising in dentistry before considering something like that.
Having elderly ponies at the moment who are hanging on to the last remnants of their teeth I've started being very wary of the amount filed off any horses's teeth beyond taking away the worst of the sharp overhangs.
 
seejay said:
Incisors grow just like all the other teeth.

I worry about modern horse dentistry. For me, needing to file down the front teeth would be a clear sign that the back teeth have had too much taken off.
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The only time I have seen the incisors requiring rasping was after too much was taken off the molars causing the horse to be unable to chew properly, it was done by a different dentist under veterinary supervision, the pony had ongoining problems for the rest of his life more than likely related to the work done initially, he certainly didnt live his full life span and was pts due to his teeth causing him pain.

I feel that some dentists do too much work, the teeth do not grow as such they just continue to be pushed out of the gums so if they are worn or rasped excessively they will be gone earlier than they should, I would also get a second opinion, it may be there is another reason for uneven wear which needs addressing rather than just treating the symptom.
 
JillA said:
Not to the same extent as molars, otherwise they would be routinely filed, to prevent developing hooks from uneven wear. They don't have opposite numbers to keep them evenly worn like molars do.
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The reason incisors don't develop hooks is because the side to side grinding action is different when the teeth are facing forwards instead of along the sides of the face. There are top and bottom incisors just like all the other teeth, I'm not sure what you mean about them not having opposite numbers to wear against?
 
As far as I'm aware incisor work is only carried out if needed where there is malocculsion in those teeth eg for a misaligned jaw, where there is uneven wear as often seen with crib biters, a missing opposing tooth etc. Incisor work needs to be carried out by a competent person, obviously a normal gag can't be used and care has to be taken that the molars remain in occulsion after any incisor work is carried out.

One of our horses broke his jaw in two places and despite the vet's best efforts with wiring etc it healed misaligned and he now has a huge gap between his incisors at one side, to the point his tongue lolls out all the time. There is unfortunately too big a gap to correct by incisor work as too a large amount would have to be taken off the teeth on the opposite side which would damage them and also mean the molars weren't in occulsion which is far more important. Obviously the teeth that don't meet also need regular attention too. Fortunately my son is a fully qualified EDT (BEVA) so he is on hand to check regularly and undertake any necessary work. The horse in question manages very well and has no problems eating and keeping condition on which was a worry initially.
 
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