How an Appointment Works with RJW EQUINE
Every dental appointment follows a thorough, structured approach to ensure your horse receives careful and appropriate dental care. Each stage is designed to assess your horse’s overall health, identify any dental concerns and establish the most suitable treatment where required.
Recent History
Each appointment begins with a discussion about your horse’s recent history, general health and overall wellbeing.
We will discuss their current workload, any changes in their level of exercise or discipline, and any alterations in behaviour, both ridden and in the stable. This is also an opportunity to raise any concerns or observations you may have noticed.
Visual Examination
Before beginning any dental treatment, I carry out a visual assessment of your horse’s general health and condition to establish their suitability for examination and treatment.
This includes assessing their weight, body condition and general demeanour, while looking for any potential signs of discomfort, behavioural changes, pain or stress.
Physical Examination
Following the visual assessment, I carry out a physical examination to identify any external abnormalities that may indicate an underlying dental concern.
This includes checking for facial swellings, discharge from the eyes or nostrils, and other visible signs that may warrant further investigation.
I will also palpate the temporomandibular joints (TMJ), assessing for any signs of swelling, heat or sensitivity.
Examination of the Mouth
A dental gag (speculum) is carefully fitted over the headcollar and gently opened to allow a thorough examination of the mouth.
The mouth is rinsed using a dental flushing syringe to remove food debris, allowing clear visibility and a more detailed assessment.
I then carry out a comprehensive visual and physical examination of the teeth and surrounding oral structures, including the palate, gums, tongue, cheeks, bars of the mouth and lips.
Once the examination is complete, the gag is closed to allow the horse’s mouth to rest before treatment begins.
Depending on the findings, we can discuss any abnormalities identified and agree on an appropriate treatment plan.
Treatment
For most horses, routine dental treatment involves the careful reduction of sharp enamel points and the correction of abnormal dental surfaces, including hooks, ramps, waves and overgrowths.
Treatment is carried out using modern motorised dental equipment, allowing controlled and precise adjustments where necessary.
Throughout the process, treatment is carefully monitored through repeated visual and physical assessments. Following each stage of rasping, I use a bright head torch to inspect the teeth and manually assess the surfaces, repeating the process as required to achieve a smooth and balanced result.
Final Examination & Rebooking
Once treatment is complete, I carry out a final examination of the mouth to assess the finished result, check that sharp edges have been appropriately addressed and evaluate the horse’s lateral jaw movement.
Your horse’s dental records are then updated to document the treatment carried out, any abnormalities or changes identified, and any recommendations for future management.
We can then discuss my findings, answer any questions you may have and arrange an appropriate interval for your horse’s next dental examination.