Let's start at the beginning, with the term float which is a
Greek word. Masons float cement; it means to level. That's the general idea behind most dental procedures.
Why do horses need their teeth floated? They have twenty four cheekteeth also known as molars
and premolars that are always erupting . The upper teeth in the molar section overhang the
lower teeth. As the horse chews the parts that meet wear away, but those that don't lengthen . These areas
that are lengthening often come to a point or a hook. These hooks eventually begin to cut the cheek or tongue.
These hooks should be filed off and blended back into the tooth . Another frequently seen problem is when one
or more molars overgrow; perhaps it's because there is not an opposing tooth. Sometimes the opposing tooth is
weaker due to some flaw. Whatever the reason an overgrowing tooth is a problem. The tooth must be filed back to
where it belongs or it will cause trouble. Teeth are prematurely lost and the mechanics of the mouth are impaired
if these problems aren't addressed. Addressing these problems through floating should be 99% of a lay dentists
business.
Wolf Teeth are vestigal molars that no
longer are used for chewing food. They almost always develop in the upper bar immediatley ahead of the 2nd premolar
(1st cheektooth). They should be removed before young horses are broke to ride or drive. They will never cause a problem
during eating because they are not involved in chewing. If they fail to break through the gum, they are called blind
wolf teeth. Blind wolf teeth should be removed if there are training issues.
Canine Teeth are usually found in stallions
and geldings , mares sometimes get very small immature canines. In the wild they are a fighting tooth; however,for the
domesticated horses of today, they are a nuisance . Though it's nice to give them a blunter shape, they pose
little risk of injuring your horse . The greater risk is to the rider when tacking up .
Incisors are in the front of the mouth . They
are used for cutting grasses when grazing . Until recently they received little attention from lay dentists. Lately,
a theory is gaining some adherents that suggests the filing of incisors will relieve pain in temporomandibular joint
or TMJ. Though this must be possible in some cases, overall I remain skeptical.
Top Ten Reasons To Have Your Horse's Teeth Checked
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#8 Stiffness in one direction.
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#7 Unwillingness to turn.
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#6 Head tipping during eating
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#5 Odd sounds during eating ( clicks, thunks, ect.)
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#4 Sensitivity to face being touched.
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#3 Inability to maintain weight.
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#2 Foul odor from mouth or nostril.
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And the #1 reason to have your horse's teeth checked: It's been a year since the last floating
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Training
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