Teeth Floating - vet or dentist?

[J-Lu]

I’m in NC like Lord Helpus, but I happily have my veterinarian float my horse’s teeth. I’ve had manual floaters in the past (I’ve lived in lots of different states with different horses and different rules) but It seems as though electric floaters are SO much easier on the horse and the person’s arms. Yes to sedation for all of my horses. Geez, can you expect a horse to be comfortable with a speculum without it? That said, my current horse would absolutely NOT tolerate the procedure without sedation. Actually, none of them would have.

My vet is great and is knowledgeable about teeth. She shows me the points she’s looking at, has me feel them with my fingers before and after, explains what she sees, etc. She does this with everything because she knows I want to know/learn and am a Ph.D. physiologist. I think that if you have a good vet who extends his/her knowledge into the areas they take care of and are not afraid to refer you to another vet for things they aren’t that familiar with, and unless your horse has teeth issues, a good vet can do a good job on your horse. I combine it with fall or spring shots.

[LockeMeadows]

For the hand float vs power float, many Veterinarians and Equine Dental Techs are using Dearson units. They are quite safe, can run on high, and be pressed against human skin and not damage the skin. They are NOT your Grandpa’s old power floats! Most horses prefer these units over hand floats a) because the practitioner does not have to “grind” the teeth down by force and b) it goes much faster.

Veterinarians received very little education on equine dentistry while in school. We are lucky in our area. We have some fabulous Veterinarians that have gone on and received continuing education in dentistry and have a passion for equine teeth. That is not the case in many areas of the country. I personally view dentistry similar to hoof care. My first pick would be an Equine Veterinarian that specializes in Equine Podiatry. Realistically though, I’m going to use a farrier. Good farriers are worth their weight in gold; same with EqDTs.

Here are some tips on finding a good dental practitioner. First, inquire if they are Certified. The International Association of Equine Dentistry and the Equine Dental Providers of America both offer an extremely rigorous testing process. If you use a practitioner that is Certified through either Association, you can count on knowing the person providing care to your horse holds the knowledge and ability to perform appropriate care. Second, please insure they carry full Insurance and ask to see the proof of insurance. Most carry a copy in their vehicle if they have it. Third, is the practitioner legal to practice in your state? Many states, including Virginia, Texas, Oklahoma, etc, require anyone providing dental care to an equine to be registered through the State. Please ensure anyone who provides care to your horse is following all state requirements. Fourth, ask about Continuing Education. As with anything medical, there are new techniques being taught, research being performed, and standards of care being improved. Equine Dentistry is no different. Anyone that is practicing equine dentistry should be participating in continuing education. Some states actually mandate the minimum number of hours each year that a practicing EqDT must earn in order to continue to be certified. Lastly, don’t forget to ask for references. Please don’t just allow a practitioner to give you names of other horse owners. Ask for Veterinarians that are confident in the work the practitioner is performing. If you follows these steps, you should be able to find someone that meets or exceeds industry standard.
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[vxf111]

Reported, don’t click that link