Equine teeth are designed to wear against the tooth above or below as the horse chews, thus preventing excess growth. The upper jaw is wider than the lower jaw. In some cases, sharp edges can occur on the outside of the upper molars and the inside of the lower molars, as they are unopposed by an opposite grinding surface. These sharp edges can reduce the chewing efficiency of the teeth, interfere with jaw motion, and in extreme cases cut the tongue or cheek, making eating and riding painful.
Many horses require floating (or rasping) of teeth once every 12 months, although, this is dependent on the individual horse. The first four or five years of a horse’s life are when the most growth-related changes occur and frequent checkups may be needed to prevent problems from developing. As a horse ages, particularly from the late teens on, additional changes in incisor angle and other molar growth patterns often necessitate frequent care and once a horse is in its late 20s or early 30s, molar loss becomes a concern. Floating involves a veterinarian wearing down the surface of the teeth, usually to remove sharp points or to balance out the mouth.
Other specific conditions relating to wear
Horses may also experience an overbite/brachygnathism (parrot mouth), or an underbite/prognathism (sow mouth, monkey mouth). These may affect how the incisors wear. In severe cases, the horse’s ability to graze may be affected. Horses also sometimes suffer from equine malocclusion where there is a misalignment between their upper and lower jaws.
Other common problems include curvature of the incisors, abscessed, loose, infected, or cracked teeth, retained deciduous teeth, and plaque build-up. Wolf teeth may also cause problems, and are many times removed, as are retained caps.
Good dental care can not only eliminate these problems, but can help your horse lead a longer, healthier life.