Equine Dental Services
Comprehensive care for your horse's dental health — from routine maintenance to complex procedures.
Comprehensive care for your horse's dental health — from routine maintenance to complex procedures.
A horse's teeth never stop growing. Without regular dental care, uneven wear creates sharp points and hooks that cause pain, affect eating, and create bitting problems. Annual dental checks are the single most impactful preventative health measure for most horses.
The foundation of equine dental care. Cameron performs a thorough oral examination using a full-mouth speculum and appropriate lighting to assess every tooth surface, the soft tissues of the mouth, and the overall dental balance of your horse.
Floating (filing) removes sharp enamel points, hooks, and ramps that form on the edges of the cheek teeth as a result of the natural chewing motion. Left untreated, these cause cheek and tongue ulcers, quidding (dropping partially chewed food), and significant discomfort.
Wolf teeth are small, vestigial premolars that sit just in front of the first cheek teeth. They're present in around 70% of horses, more commonly in males. While not always problematic, wolf teeth positioned in or near the bit area can cause significant pain and bitting issues.
Cameron performs wolf tooth extractions with a careful, low-stress technique. Appropriate sedation (via your vet) is used where necessary, and the site is checked at a follow-up appointment.
The incisor teeth (the front teeth) play a vital role in determining the angle at which the cheek teeth meet. When incisors are out of balance — whether through a slanted smile, excessive length, or malocclusion — it directly impacts the grinding efficiency of the cheek teeth and can cause chronic discomfort.
Cameron assesses incisor alignment as part of every examination and can perform corrections where warranted. This is a specialised procedure that requires careful assessment; overcorrection can be as harmful as the original problem.
A bit seat is a specific modification to the first cheek teeth (the 06s) that creates a comfortable resting place for the bit. By rounding the front edges of these teeth, the bit sits away from sensitive gum tissue, reducing pinching and pressure that can cause head tossing, bit evasion, and resistance.
Bit seats are particularly beneficial for performance horses in contact-heavy disciplines — dressage, showjumping, polo — but can benefit any horse that spends time under saddle with a bit.
Most horses benefit from an annual dental examination. Young horses (under 5) and older horses (over 15) may need more frequent checks — every six months — as their teeth are changing more rapidly. Performance horses in heavy work are also often seen more frequently.
Watch for: dropping feed (quidding), weight loss despite a good diet, large undigested grain or hay in droppings, head tossing or resistance to the bit, one-sided chewing, foul smell from the mouth, or facial swelling. Many horses show no obvious signs at all — which is why regular checks matter.
Cameron uses gentle, low-stress techniques and most horses tolerate dental procedures well without sedation. Some procedures — particularly wolf tooth extractions or work on very sharp or painful teeth — may require sedation for the horse's comfort and safety. Cameron works alongside your vet to coordinate sedation when needed.
A routine dental check and float typically takes 45–60 minutes. More complex procedures or multiple horses will take longer. Cameron will give you an estimate when booking.
Give your horse the benefit of expert, gentle dental care. Serving Berry and surrounds.
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