ANIMAL CARE
Modern dental equipment The earliest records of equine dentistry date back almost 3000 years with Mongolian herders. Archaeologists have unearthed proof that these herdsmen understood certain aspects of dentistry and how it affected their horses. If we fast forward to modern times, within the last 100 years, the equipment that was used wasn’t much different than what the Mongols used. Stone, bone, and even rudimentary steel instruments would have been used around 1000 BC. Modern dentistry, until the last 15 years, was still using different types of picks as well as steel files and rasps. The last 3 decades has really seen some great advancements in the equipment that can be used in equine dentistry. As equipment has changed, so has the skill and understanding of this profession. Today’s dental equipment consists of highspeed power instruments, bright headlamps, and even visual aids that allow views deep inside the mouth. Instead of a hand rasp being pulled across an entire row of teeth, tooth material can be reduced with high-speed diamond-chip burrs or carbide cutting bits. Today we are VERY detail oriented. The equipment that is available today allows the practitioner to only reduce one portion of a tooth. The entire mouth is addressed, one tiny piece at a time, with precision and exactness. Some horse owners, and far too many practitioners, are more likely to believe that hand files are still the best option;
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY JUSTIN STARK
Justin working with his modern equipment on an equine patient.
Today’s dentistry uses terminology such as EQUILIBRATION (balance), LATERAL By Justin EXCURSION (side to side Stark movement of the jaw), and OCCLUSION (contact of opposing that they are safer. In reality, if teeth). We can measure the the practitioner doesn’t have horse’s ability to move his jaw the education required to use and have methods of increasing power instruments, maybe they his ability to grind his feed and are better off with the limited provide fluid lateral motion. We capabilities of a hand file. Hand better understand the range of files offer very little precimotion of the TMJ (jaw joint) sion, but they can still cause and how it affects the horse’s severe damage in the mouth if athletic performance. We study the practitioner isn’t properly how his ability to chew affects educated. Their main use is to his digestion. We understand only remove the sharp edges of different types of bits and how the teeth that cause ulcerations different riding disciplines are of the cheeks and tongue; they affected by oral health and are “floated” across the edges conformation. An experienced of the teeth. Before precision dental professional has insight power instruments, there was on dental problems associated limited understanding of how with different breeds, common the mouth truly affected the and uncommon oral problems, athletic performance of the methods for avoiding/reducing abnormalities, and how to horse.
Equine Dentistry
Justin Stark’s equipment set up at his home clinic in Brigham City.
The last 3 decades has really seen some great advancements in the equipment that can be used in equine dentistry. As equipment has changed, so has the skill and understanding of this profession. elongate the functional use of the mouth with age. A horse owner bears the responsibility of being educated about their horse. It is your job to provide that animal with the best life possible. If you cannot provide expert care on your own, you may need to use skilled and educated professionals to help you provide a
better life for your equine partners. Feel free to ask questions to your equine professionals. They should know their trade well enough to provide you with educational and sufficient answers. Above all, enjoy this life. Love those around you. Make sure your horses are happy and healthy! Western Wasatch - January 2021 23
