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Discussion on Power Point Presentation on Equine Dentristry
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 4, 2008 - 7:16 pm:
I ran across this link and thought I'd share it. I don't have much knowledge about teeth so I don't know if this a good presentation or not. I do like the fact that the author says power tools are not needed, and the part about checking the teeth when the head is down
https://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/hhdressage-111730-common-sense-equine-d entistry-horse-health-care-jerrypublished-education-ppt-powerpoint/
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New Member:
littleon
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 4, 2008 - 11:02 pm:
Thank you for posting this I think he is very good and makes a lot of sense, I wish he lived close to our ranch. his advice about the caution needed with electric tools is bang on. His comments about keeping the head lower when working are also correct in my opinion I hope some one that knows more will comment about this.
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Member:
kpaint
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 - 10:09 pm:
Thanks for the post Angie. I found it very helpful. All three of my horses had their teeth floated today, and I was better informed!
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Member:
frances
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2009 - 7:12 am:
Very interesting Angie - thanks. I hadn't heard that the head should be kept low during floating either; actually the more I find out, the more I find to worry about  .
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2009 - 9:09 am:
Hello All,
I too think this is overall a good presentation with its de-emphasis on "power dentistry". But disagree with several key points.
I do think he makes to big a deal of very small changes in the mouth. It is clear the equine mouth is a robust forage processing machine that operates in a wide range of configurations. Currently it is not clear that regular floating of the equine mouth, that does not have "significant" pathology, benefits chewing. I do personally believe such attention however can prevent significant pathology from developing.
Jerry states that the rasp should be kept level with the table surface of the tooth and just removing points avoided. However if you have a healthy mouth this process will result in loss of healthy well conformed table tooth surface. What advantage this gives is not clear to me and I can see significant possible downsides, like premature rupture and early lost of teeth. It is the same theory he gives for not doing bit seats. For decades I have found smoothing the cingulae as shown in our article on equine dentistry a satisfactory way of preventing problems that develop from these points and do not see how this changes the occlusive angle of the molars as he states. I think you can see this clearly in the article that has an image of this process.
I would also note that I do not have trouble correctly floating horses with the head elevated. Then again I am not advocating the regular floating of the table surfaces like Jerry does.
DrO
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2009 - 10:32 am:
I don't know any more about equine dentistry now than I did when I first posted the link and watched the presentation.
I do feel though, that it's very POSSIBLE that tiny changes in a horses mouth could cause problems just as tiny changes/imbalances in hoofs cause problems...for SOME horses. (I am going to stay with being passionate about hoofs, not get into teeth! )
Page 29 of the presentation states in part: "Realigning teeth from a high position is a misleading view of how the teeth should meet in a functional position for the horse. With the head up the jaw naturally slides back..."
Try this: Sit with your jaw very relaxed, head hanging forward. Now without attempting to control your jaw/teeth, bring your head up and tilt it back.
Don't know about everyone else, but I found my lower jaw wants to move back very slightly.
I always thougth the teeth should be checked with the head lowered. Floating was o.k. to do with the head wherever the horse wanted it for comfort. Problem is, most vets/dentists sedate and use power tools, so they don't take the head off the stand to check teeth again as the floating progresses.
I get annoyed with the vet who wants to put the bit seats on for "better performance when being rode." Unless I feel sharp edges, or can see something obvious myself, I am in favor of leaving teeth alone.
DrO,
Just a side tracked question here that popped into my mind:
Any proof that feeding whole kernal corn keeps teeth healthy? Or is that just an old wife's tale?
We have it around now for deer bait, and I like to snitch some for the horses. Definately the hardest food they ever get!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 - 8:47 am:
Hello Angie,
The problem is this front to back motion he is concerned about represents the occlusal balancing I write about in my first post. Horses teeth quit growing while they are young. However they erupt thorough out their life by being pushed out slowly. Once the roots get to the gum line the tooth is gone. The questionable removal of this nonreplacable surface needs to be avoided at all costs and research is having problems finding health benefits from floating.
And as to down vs up head position I would note that horses eat with their heads up as well as down.
I am sure this fellow is a fine dentist and like the idea he is moving folks away from power dentistry but he remains more aggressive than in my opinion is indicated by what we know at this time.
DrO
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Member:
imogen
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Posted on Friday, Oct 30, 2009 - 5:22 am:
The reason I was given why my old mare's teeth needed floating was that her teeth were very irregular thus causing cheek ulcers through sharp points, and food getting caught between teeth and rotting.
Is this the kind of pathology that does justify power floating or are we talking dentist income here...?
Thanks
Imogen
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Oct 30, 2009 - 6:33 am:
Hello Imogen,
Removing the points (sharp cingulae) does not require power tools. A good hand float will take these off very quickly but a carefully used power tool could be used. I feel like I have much more control with a hand blade.
Correcting diastemata (areas of food trapping between teeth) can be a very involved procedure and is not done with a hand or power float. You can read more about this procedure in the article on Dentistry.
DrO
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