Right in the horse’s mouth
Power tools and a medieval-looking device to prevent the patient from biting the dentist are just part of the process of equine dentistry.
Equine dentist and vet Amy Ardern’s ‘surgery’ was a sawdust floored pen, with patients towering over her during a clinic for horses held at Ha¯wera yesterday.
Horses’ teeth grow throughout their lives – hence the old saying about getting ‘long in the tooth’ – so regular dental checks and remedial work is necessary, using tools such as a powered drill with a grinding attachment. She even has a little mirror with a long handle, like a human dentist, to examine the teeth down the back.
Each horse patient is sedated so it doesn’t worry about the speculum strapped around its jaws to hold their mouths open.
Such a device is essential for Ardern so she can safely put her hands in the horse’s mouths to feel and work on their teeth.
‘‘With the crushing force of those jaws in quite a small space, it doesn’t take much before they’ll crack your finger open,’’ Ardern said.
The speculum fits around the horse’s face and is gently racheted apart. It’s not painful at all.
Amy’s first patient, a big bay gelding called Gumboots, is less than impressed at having its mouth held open, but a sedative helps it relax and she’s able to grind down any sharp edges on its teeth and clean out some impacted food from the front teeth.
Another client, a young appaloosa called Penny, is having its first dental visit.
Penny’s teeth are pretty good and the little work needed is quickly done.
Owner Nikki Weatherhead is close by to reassure the nervous mare, who relaxes once the sedative begins to work and Ardern gets to work with the power grinder, then finishes off with hand tools.
The dentistry day was organised by the Taranaki Vet Centre for clients who own horses.