In the past several years, veterinarians have gained a greater understanding of how the horse’s mouth functions and how dental problems develop.   Just removing the sharp points of a horse’s tooth is no longer considered adequate dental care.   Advanced equine dentistry now includes a comprehensive oral examination, identification and correction of malocclusions (imbalances), and accurate dental record keeping to document changes and improvements.

In the wild, horses eat and chew approximately 16 hours per day. This full time foraging of high fiber food encourages even dental wear.  Domestic horses, on average, eat about 6 hours per day.  This drastically reduces the wear on their teeth, necessitating human intervention via dentistry.

A horse’s upper teeth (molars and premolars) are set wider apart than the lower teeth.  When there is little overlap of the chewing surfaces, sharp points develop on the outside of the upper teeth and the inside of the lower teeth.  These points can be very sharp and can cause lacerations and sores on the cheek and tongue.    A horse with mouth pain may show behavioral changes and cannot perform or function at his / her peak.

Is sedation really necessary?

YES.  Safe effective sedation relaxes the horse, allowing a thorough oral examination.    Sedation also reduces the stress a horse might otherwise feel during a procedure involving his/her mouth.

Does Dr. Singer use a PowerFloat?

YES.  This specially designed veterinary equipment allows your horse to have a safe, effective dental experience.  Dr. Singer can work on one tooth at a time, and tailor the treatment to your horse’s needs.

Is dentistry with power tools safe?

YES.  Improperly grounded electrical devices used by lay (non-veterinary) dentists can be dangerous.  The PowerFloat that Dr. Singer uses is available only to licensed veterinarians.  This equipment is coupled with a ground fault interrupter (GFI) which eliminates any chance of electrical shock.   Dr. Singer’s technique allows her to minimize any temperature changes in a tooth, and thereby avoid any thermal (heat) damage that an untrained operator might cause.

Call us today to make an appointment for your horse

While practicing in Connecticut, Dr. Michelle Singer developed a strong interest in dentistry as a specialty.  She has treated hundreds of dental cases.   

Dr. Singer has had advanced training in dentistry, and is working toward becoming a board certified equine dentist.  Currently there is only one board certified equine dentist in the country.