Equine dental care is vital not only for chewing and digestion but also for maintaining overall body posture and long-term musculoskeletal health. As riding masters have emphasized for centuries, a relaxed jaw is key to achieving supple movement under saddle. Proper dental alignment ensures that the horse can move its temporomandibular Joint (TMJ), which in turn promotes balance, relaxation, and smooth performance during riding. Regular dental check-ups play a critical role in maintaining this balance, contributing to both the horse's health and its ability to move comfortably and efficiently.
What is Dental Balance in Horses?
Dental balance refers to the even wear and proper alignment of a horse’s teeth. As herbivores like horses, cows, and camels graze, their teeth undergo constant wear from ingesting rough materials such as silica in grasses and soil from plant roots. Herbivore teeth are designed to adapt to this constant grinding. Known as "hypsodont" teeth, they are long, sturdy, and extend deep into the jaw and sinus areas, erupting gradually over the animal’s life to replace the worn-down surfaces.
However, uneven wear can develop due to factors such as age, diet, genetics, or individual chewing habits, leading to sharp points, hooks, or other irregularities that cause discomfort around the TMJ specifically.
On average, a horse’s teeth erupt 2-3 mm per year, but during their prime adult years (ages 5-12), the rate can increase to 5-7 mm annually. This period is crucial for dental interventions, offering a unique opportunity to make rapid progress in correcting occlusion. Regular occlusal equilibration every 4-6 months during this time can help maintain healthy dental balance. In older horses, the eruption rate slows to just 1-2 mm per year, making it harder to correct any imbalances. Proper dental care during a horse’s youth helps ensure that teeth wear evenly, allowing for pain-free, efficient chewing and supporting overall posture and body alignment. However, without regular, skilled dental attention, misalignments can quickly arise, leading to significant health issues that extend beyond the mouth and impact the horse’s entire body.
How the Jaw Moves
The upper and lower molars are set at an angle to facilitate efficient grinding of forage. When a horse chews, its molars function like a mortar and pestle, and this angled alignment ensures that food is evenly ground as the jaw moves side to side. Without this natural angulation, the teeth would not come together properly, decreasing the efficiency of chewing.
Horses' chewing motion is primarily side to side, with the jaw moving in a figure-8 power stroke pattern to effectively grind tough plant material, such as grasses. This motion helps break down the fibers for easier digestion. When dental imbalances occur, such as sharp points or uneven wear, the teeth can lock or catch on each other, preventing the smooth side-to-side and forward-backward movements. This restriction can lead to pain, inefficient chewing, and difficulty digesting food.
Typical Imbalances Observed
Sharp edges along the cheek teeth restricting side to side motion in the figure-eight movement in the jaw.
Hook and wave formations limiting the forward and backward movements of the jaw.
Cheek teeth that have been excessively floated or not floated at the correct angle.
How Dental Imbalance Affects a Horse's Posture
Impact on the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ): A relaxed jaw is crucial for supple movement undersaddle. The TMJ connects the jaw to the skull and is crucial for jaw movement. Dental imbalances that restrict the jaw's range of motion can cause TMJ dysfunction, leading to constant pain and discomfort.
Dentistry and Proprioception: Due to its proximity to large facial nerves, if the TMJ is misaligned or dysfunctional due to dental imbalances or trauma, it can disrupt the sensory information sent to the brain. This disruption can affect the horse’s ability to sense its head and neck position accurately, impacting overall body awareness. This is especially true for horses who develop long points in the very back molars!
Altered Gait and Movement Patterns: Dental issues can lead to an uneven gait as the horse tries to compensate for mouth discomfort. Especially if there is increased mouth discomfort from a bit. Compensatory movements can disrupt natural gait, leading to uneven weight distribution and increased strain on joints and muscles, potentially causing lameness or chronic issues.
Behavioral Changes: Dental pain can lead to behaviors such as head tossing, difficulty accepting the bit, or reluctance to bend. These signs indicate that the horse is trying to avoid pain, making prompt dental care essential for improving behavior and comfort.
Facial nerves and relation to TMJ (star) Source:https://pressbooks.umn.edu/largeanimalanatomy/chapter/neck-head
Clues hiding in the body
Sharp Points: The horse's poll tilts slightly to one side, with a noticeable lack of lateral bend at the poll when under saddle to one or both sides. Large or asymmetric temporalis muscles ( muscles around the forelock) are often present.
Sore Poll: Despite regular bodywork, the horse remains sore at the poll and doesn't hold chiropractic adjustments for long. Horses will find ways to compensate for TMJ discomfort as they graze.
Hooks and Waves: These dental imbalances affect the horse’s ability to raise and lower its head, which compromises collection, impulsion from the hind end, and overall head carriage.
Power Float or Hand Float?
EIther. It's the practior's philosophy and training which are important. Damage can be done with a hand float too by those who are improperly trained.
Conclusion
Correcting waves, hooks, and ramps required a skilled veterinary dentist practitioner and goes beyond just regular “floating” (removing sharp points with a file). Every domestic horse deserves skilled dental equilibration to live their best life and Dr. Colleen thoroughly enjoys corrective dentistry. By prioritizing regular dental care and understanding the principles of neuromuscular dentistry, you can improve your horse’s comfort, alignment, and effectiveness. A holistic approach to equine management ensures that your horse remains balanced, comfortable, and capable of performing at its best.
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