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| Your Horse's Health Begins In Its Mouth |
| Proper comprehensive equine dentistry is one of the most important and often neglected aspects of health care in horses. Many health and performance problems are a direct result of improperly maintained teeth. The application of proper techniques to float teeth and balance your horse's mouth is critical to its performance, health and quality of life. Dr. Marx has a thorough knowledge of equine dental anatomy and he understands the biomechanics of how equine teeth work as they chew their food. Dr. Marx uses state-of-the-art dental techniques and instrumentation to safely provide the dental care your horse deserves! |
| Motorized instrumentation and conservative tooth reduction techniques are used to create the proper alignment of the incisors and molars. Removal of sharp enamel points, placement of bit seats and canine tooth reduction complete the balancing of the mouth. Other problems that may require attention are the removal of wolf teeth, loose or impacted teeth, and abscessed or diseased teeth. Dr. Marx also treats periodontal disease and gingivitis. |
| Bally, pictured with Carl Koop (CVT), had a decayed molar. Fortunately, his owners recognized the problem and called Dr. Marx, who recommended the tooth be extracted before Bally began to lose weight or develop any of the common signs of dental problems in horses (see below). Bally was brought into Elizabeth Animal Hospital where he could be worked on in controlled conditions. Bally was sedated and coaxed into the treatment chute where Carl placed his head on a support to help keep his head elevated. |
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| Once Bally was sedated, an IV was inserted into his neck to provide fluids to minimize the effects of shock during the surgery. His head was elevated and his mouth was propped open using a full mouth speculum, allowing Dr. Marx to make a final examination of his teeth under bright lights. This was essential to identify and properly address all dental issues. Carl's strong hands helped to steady Bally and keep his head firmly placed on the rest. Even when a horse is somewhere off in LaLa Land, like Bally, they can still move around when they shouldn't. |
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| The head rest was lowered again and Dr. Marx proceeded to extract the tooth—a difficult 3-hour operation because of the position of the molar and the length of the root. Carl steadied Bally's head during the extraction to ensure there was no head tossing as the tooth came loose. Bally was a little tender for a while, but the extraction meant he will have a much better quality of life than if it had been left in. |
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| This is a close-up view of Bally's mouth. The decayed tooth is clearly visible. The large molar directly to the right shows the sharp enamel points that grow throughout a horse's life. These need to be filed down, or floated, at regular intervals or they interfere with the horse's chewing. |
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| Benefits of Proper Dentistry |
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Improved Health and Comfort—maintain ideal weight and alleviate mouth pain. |
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Improved Performance—gain an advantage in competitive events. |
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Improved Feed Efficiency—reduce feed costs. |
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Reduction or Elimination of Annoying Habits—head tossing, resisting the bit and rearing. |
| How often should your horse's mouth be balanced? |
| Frequency of dental work varies from horse to horse. Young horses (ages birth to ten years) should be examined every six months due to the rapid eruption of the teeth and the shedding of caps. All young horses should be seen before training begins to ensure there are no wolf teeth, loose caps or other problems. |
| Dr. Scott Marx provides the very best in comprehensive equine dental care to optimize the health and performance of your horse. Dr. Marx and Carl, CVT provide their expert services through Elizabeth Animal Hospital on an appointment basis. |
