Teeth Floating - vet or dentist?

[js]

My previous equine dentist was a large animal veterinarian who specialized in equine dentistry. He was/is awesome and does a wonderful job and is in very high demand. When he sat up his work stand there were 7+ tools to handle each specific thing that might need to be addressed. Sadly we moved, so now I depend on the local equine vet here do the horses and it was pretty much just the bare basics, 1 tool to do the whole job which took only a couple of minutes. Additionally, new vet wouldn’t touch my 31 yr old’s mouth, old dentist would still make sure everything was as it should be and would do what was needed.

I’m not entirely sure of trusting someone off the street who apprenticed or went to some “dental” school and got a certificate and hung out a shingle calling themselves a dentist, especially when it comes to sedating etc. Not saying they can’t or wouldn’t necessarily do a better or worse job.

[Guilherme]

Ford or Chevy? Coke or Pepsi?

It depends. If a general vet is skilled then I don’t see any reason to be concerned. Our first long time time vet used sedation and did hand floating and was very good. Our current vet uses sedation and power tools and is very good. So far there’s not a dimes worth of difference between them.

G.

[prunebey]

Over the years I’ve used: a specialized dentist who worked with no sedation and no speculum whatsoever, a vet who floats by hand (using a dental wedge), and my regular vet who power floats (using a speculum). I prefer using my regular vet because I know and trust them and I’m able to get other work done when they come out to do teeth. Personally I feel that sedating makes the whole process safer and faster and I like a speculum because you can clearly see everything all the way to the back of the mouth. IMO If everyone at your barn uses the vet year after year with no issues I’d probably go that route first and then maybe look to make a change in the future if you’re not happy with the results/method.

[tabula_rashah]

I’ve used both but generally use a dentist. My horses don’t need sedation and are perfectly chill during the procedure. If they need wolf teeth out etc, I can sedate them for the dentist. I’m lucky to live in an area where there are a lot of very qualified dentists and I used two of them that my vet recommends

[mswillie]

I use a dentist. No sedation, with a speculum. Mix of hand and power tools. My horse is perfectly fine with the procedure and like the above poster, I live in an area with plenty of experienced, qualified dentists. Well it’s the same area.

[walktrot]

We have an outstanding dentist who went to horse dental school and is highly recommended by our vet. He is at Barn Day with the vet which saves quite a bit of money because the barn calls are prorated. I think this encourages people to have teeth done annually even if they have a different vet for shots. Both of them have a way with the horses and we space things out so the horse isn’t bombarded with activity.

He has an amazing relationship with the horses, and out of 15 so only 2 or 3 need a sedative for a basic float. He does a hand float including the speculum but uses power tools with sedation if needed. The last step of his approach routine is to lightly touch their forehead with the rasp before it goes in their mouth. I’m not sure exactly what it means to the horse, but it does seem to help.

Our vet, like many, will do teeth, but it is more expensive. He’d rather do chiro, which I have done annually also because I think it’s a good way to monitor him because he is in his 20s.

[vxf111]

@Jarpur

Ditto.

me too, and what she can do/see with sedation and the speculum is not even close to comparable to what even an excellent non-vet can do/see without

[SonnysMom]

One of my prior vets recommended one of the local equine horse dentists and that is who he used for his own horses. He did not like doing dentistry and felt he was did not have the training to do it well.
I prefer a good horse dentist for most basic floating. They do it all day everyday. I would want a vet to sedate for the horse dentist for major things like teeth removal.
I would only use a dentist that uses a speculum. I am not yet sold on power tools.

[Nestor]

@x-halt-salute

Be warned that a horse that decides to fight the speculum has enough biting force to break his own jaw.

I’d much rather give my horse a dose of sedation that maybe isn’t entirely necessary than risk having a split second of resistance turn into an emergency ride to the hospital and $$$ to have his jaw wired back together.

raises hand x-halt is referencing my poor horse…

@Texarkana

There is actually an American Veterinary Dental College, for veterinarians to become certified in dentistry. I’d personally like to see something like that become the accepted best practice. But demand is limited at the moment.

…whose jaw was broken by the only veterinary dentist listed on that database in my state (Connecticut - I’m not shy about naming names here). I’ve posted about the incident before, but short version is the vet was removing a lower molar, so had numbed my horse’s lower jaw, sedated him, and put the speculum in. In trying to remove the tooth, my horse was clearly not out of it enough as he was tossing his head, vet persisted, and my horse resisted enough to bite down and break his lower jaw in 3 places. The public story that gets passed around by that vet to avoid blame is that my horse fell down with the speculum in his mouth. Nice, huh? And this is not the first time this happened with this vet… UGH! I’m a bit pissed off about it still, as you can tell.

I have chosen to take the calculated risk of using an equine dentist (not a vet) who has taken literally HOURS over the last 3+ years to gain my horse’s trust so that his teeth can be floated at all. They have gotten to the point where my horse will stand, unrestrained and unsedated in his stall, for this dentist to hand float his teeth. The dentist will fully admit that he can’t do a perfect job this way, but as I won’t allow a speculum in this horse’s mouth ever again, I’m OK with that.

[MsM]

I am also in CT and have also avoided the “dental specialist vet”. I have used a very kind, patient dentist non-vet. He uses a speculum and is very careful to give frequent breaks and to gauge the horse’s reactions and adjust. He managed to do all the horses in the barn without sedation and without any drama - even the “difficult” ones.

[Princess_Sparkles]

Another vote for a vet that specializes in teeth. They can sedate and provide local anesthetic (legally; at least in my province, only a vet is permitted to do that). I have had some bad experiences with non-vet “dentists” and there are at least 3 excellent vets in my area who specialize in teeth so why would I risk someone who literally has no formal education, no degree, no oversight, and no insurance? It is actually not permitted for a dentist to practice without a vet present in my province so you would have to pay 2 professionals to be there which is not exactly budget friendly, either. I’ll take the fully trained, licenced and insured professional, thanks.

[joiedevie99]

I’ve used both a vet that does a lot of teeth (not the one mentioned, although I’m in CT), and a dentist who is well trained, but not a vet.

In both cases, I like heavy sedation and a speculum. I also prefer power tools in the hands of someone who doesn’t overuse them because the whole thing is over so fast. I’ve seen too many “up-to-date” horses with wicked hooks on the back molars to use someone who doesn’t sedate or doesn’t use a speculum.

[longlanefarm]

I went with my vet’s recommendation and that was a non-vet dentist. I am very confident in her and have been using her for the past three years. She’s a smart lady, explains things in detail, and seems to go the conservative route when possible. As others have said, she does this all day, everyday, and in my case was recommended by my vet. She uses sedation prescribed case by case by the vet, a speculum (how do they do it without?–gives many breaks), and does use power tools but has hand tools too. She lets me feel the sharp ridges and then the smooth surface before and after as well as showing me what she is seeing and doing. If your vet does all the above I would see no reason not to use him/her. I understand why people would be hesitant with an equine dentist but in my experience she’s been wonderful.

[x-halt-salute]

@Nestor

The public story that gets passed around by that vet to avoid blame is that my horse fell down with the speculum in his mouth. Nice, huh?

Really? What a sleazeball!

I’m pretty sure I know who you’re currently using, and that’s about as good as it gets with non-sedation dentistry. Thank god there is a good speculum-free option for you - your guy deserves a kind dentist after all he’s been through with his mouth.

The first barn dentist day I had after I left your region involved a vet who administered sedation after putting the speculum in, and didn’t wait for the horse to get woozy before firing up the power tools. I noped right on out of that!

I’ve come to believe that it is much more about the dentist’s individual skill and sensitivity to the horse, and meeting the needs of individual equine than about a single best protocol. I’d take @Nestor 's lay dentist over the aforementioned hasty vet dentist any day. I’m currently very happy with a different vet who uses sedation, a speculum, and power tools. The only really hard and fast rule I have about dentistry is that my horse better not be anywhere close to sober if you plan on using a speculum.

[Nestor]

@x-halt-salute

Really? What a sleazeball!

I’m pretty sure I know who you’re currently using, and that’s about as good as it gets with non-sedation dentistry. Thank god there is a good speculum-free option for you - your guy deserves a kind dentist after all he’s been through with his mouth.

The first barn dentist day I had after I left your region involved a vet who administered sedation after putting the speculum in, and didn’t wait for the horse to get woozy before firing up the power tools. I noped right on out of that!

I’ve come to believe that it is much more about the dentist’s individual skill and sensitivity to the horse, and meeting the needs of individual equine than about a single best protocol. I’d take @Nestor 's lay dentist over the aforementioned hasty vet dentist any day. I’m currently very happy with a different vet who uses sedation, a speculum, and power tools. The only really hard and fast rule I have about dentistry is that my horse better not be anywhere close to sober if you plan on using a speculum.

Yup, found that out a few weeks ago when the surgeon who did my guy’s surgery was at the farm for another horse, and his tech said, among other things, “oh yea, he’s the horse that fell, right?” :mad:

We’re still using the dentist you would’ve met (used?) when you were here. :winkgrin: My guy LOVES him, and he remembers vets who do “mean” things to him, so he clearly doesn’t mind having his teeth done anymore. The cookies and snuggles probably help.

I would have noped right out of that too!! Good point about the dentist’s skill and horsemanship. I’d happily recommend or use a vet who specializes in teeth if I come across a good one (for my future horse, of course).

Give your girl a cookie from me and her long-distance boyfriend!

[vxf111]

Nestor, I am so sorry. That’s awful.

That list is out of date, BTW. Dr. Foster in NJ has retired and I use the vet who took over his practice.

The vet I used always sedates my horses VERY WELL. They are not in a position to notice what’s going on, let alone fight. My horse with EOTRH has had numerous extractions and he was always very very well sedated and carefully monitored during the extractions.

[Simkie]

@Nestor

In trying to remove the tooth, my horse was clearly not out of it enough as he was tossing his head, vet persisted, and my horse resisted enough to bite down and break his lower jaw in 3 places. The public story that gets passed around by that vet to avoid blame is that my horse fell down with the speculum in his mouth. Nice, huh? And this is not the first time this happened with this vet… UGH! I’m a bit pissed off about it still, as you can tell.

Holy CRAP. Thank you for outing him. How totally appalling. Really glad to know who to avoid! Your poor horse (and poor you, too :() Happy to hear you have someone you both like now!

If you’re ever looking for a veterinary dentist, I used Michelle Singer out of Mid Hudson Vet in NY last time and was pleased with her work, and how she approached the horses. She travels to CT (at least some of CT, anyway.)

[x-halt-salute]

@Nestor

Yup, found that out a few weeks ago when the surgeon who did my guy’s surgery was at the farm for another horse, and his tech said, among other things, “oh yea, he’s the horse that fell, right?” :mad:

We’re still using the dentist you would’ve met (used?) when you were here. :winkgrin: My guy LOVES him, and he remembers vets who do “mean” things to him, so he clearly doesn’t mind having his teeth done anymore. The cookies and snuggles probably help.

I would have noped right out of that too!! Good point about the dentist’s skill and horsemanship. I’d happily recommend or use a vet who specializes in teeth if I come across a good one (for my future horse, of course).

Give your girl a cookie from me and her long-distance boyfriend!

I did use that dentist! I had an interesting chat with him about fitting the double and he helped me evaluate the bits I was trying at the time. He was patient with the horses and had a very pragmatic (not dogmatic) perspective on the kinds of dentistry considerations that have come up in this thread. Definitely checks my boxes for skill, thoughtfulness, and horse handling

I’m sorry someone at the farm needed to have the surgeon out, and that he has so clearly invented a face-saving lie to deflect blame for what happened. :no: I don’t think I could be in the same barn aisle as someone who did to my horse what he did to yours without committing a homicide! You’re a better woman than I am.

Give your boy a sugar cube from me and pass along my hellos to other barn buddies back there!

[Nestor]

@x-halt-salute

I did use that dentist! I had an interesting chat with him about fitting the double and he helped me evaluate the bits I was trying at the time. He was patient with the horses and had a very pragmatic (not dogmatic) perspective on the kinds of dentistry considerations that have come up in this thread. Definitely checks my boxes for skill, thoughtfulness, and horse handling

I’m sorry someone at the farm needed to have the surgeon out, and that he has so clearly invented a face-saving lie to deflect blame for what happened. :no: I don’t think I could be in the same barn aisle as someone who did to my horse what he did to yours without committing a homicide! You’re a better woman than I am.

Give your boy a sugar cube from me and pass along my hellos to other barn buddies back there!

To clarify, the surgeon that came out is also the local lameness expert, not the dentist/vet hack who broke my boy’s jaw. I wouldn’t be able to be in the same barn as him either at this point!

[x-halt-salute]

@Nestor

To clarify, the surgeon that came out is also the local lameness expert, not the dentist/vet hack who broke my boy’s jaw. I wouldn’t be able to be in the same barn as him either at this point!

Ah. I thought you meant dentist/oral surgeon. I was a little shocked that anyone at your barn would use him after what you went through… Hope everyone is well!