Nixon Equine Dental & Periodontal Services
As a progressive veterinary practice Nixon Equine is committed to keeping abreast of the latest techniques as part of a continuing practitioner development (CPD) policy. Equine dentistry is evolving at a rapid rate and to aid us applying the new knowledge and techniques we have purchased an Equine Periodontal Unit from the US.
Equine periodontal developments
- This new equipment is the ultimate system for the treatment of equine periodontal disease. We also work with advanced equine dental technicians who use the new dental techniques under veterinary guidance. Simply rasping sharp edges and reducing hooks is no longer sufficient! Proper dental care is needed. One of the major causes of tooth loss in equines is advanced periodontal gum disease and infundibular necrosis.
Equine dental treatment
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Preventing premature tooth loss and decay is less expensive than the eventual cost and risk of oral extraction and ongoing expense of a specialised diet of an equine missing one or more cheek teeth. Help is at hand...
Our new Equine Periodontal Unit provides comprehensive protection and dental care for your horse, including cleaning out debris and filling cavities. Other benefits include:
- * Much improved performance
* Hygienic treatment stops toot decay
* Happier horse that utilises food better
* Maintains the horse’s teeth long-term.
- Pictured right: Jane Nixon with her own horse Diamond King II being treated with the Equine Periodontal System.
click here to read about nixon equine's dental evaluation & treatment service
- Dental evaluation and routine treatment
- Horse's teeth should be examined every 6 months by a veterinary surgeon experienced in the equine dental arcade or by a trained equine dental technician. Nixon Equine undertake routine rasping of normal, well-behaved horse's mouths and minor correctional changes of alignment: points or small hooks capable of rasping down, at client stables within a 30 mile radius of the Maids Moreton, Buckingham equine clinic, within Bucks, Beds, Oxon and Northants.
- Dental treatment at the equine clinic
- Horses needing major correction or realignment requiring intensive work essential to optimise performance or welfare, are admitted as equine out-patients to our purpose built equine clinic. Treatment is undertaken with the horse under sedation, in stocks on a non-slip rubber floor, using an open mouth speculum, a very bright light and a padded bar for support. Approximately 5% of all horses examined require more sophisticated dental treatment in our experience.
- Improvement in referred cases
- We often see cases where horses were pronounced normal by so-called "equine dentists" that in fact have hooks or unopposed molar teeth which dig into the opposite gum. Following treatment many cases show improved food conversion, weight gain and produce normal faeces where previously they had diarrhoea. Improved gut function also helps horses that may be excitable and stressed by competition. Striking results have been seen with head carriage, with clients reporting improved bit acceptance and a more forward going action within 6 weeks.
- Management following dental treatment
- After treatment allow pre-existing sores to heal. Use a loose-ring jointed snaffle and loose cavesson nose-band. Ask the horse to go forward from behind. Do not take a contact until the horse asks you. It may take 6 weeks for the jaw joint to settle after realignment, for back pain to ease and for the horse to regain confidence after its previously painful experience.
- Correction realignment and The Veterinary Surgeon's Act
- It is currently legal for a lay person to rasp a horse's teeth. However, it is illegal for a lay person to perform any other dental manipulation, such as extraction, or to administer sedative drugs. Many so-called "equine dentists" have no formal training. In addition, it is illegal for a person other than a qualified human dentist to use the term 'dentist'.
- There are many cases in which equine welfare has been severely compromised by the practises of so-called "equine dentists". In some cases the horse's life has been jeopardised. Nevertheless, it is recognised that there is a minority of people who have received good training in the United States and can perform competent jobs.
- It is currently illegal for any person, whether or not they have attended such a course, to perform any form of dental manipulation other than to rasp a horse's teeth with physical restraint of the horse, or with sedation provided by a veterinary surgeon if necessary. Any tooth root abnormality is detected by the use of X-Ray. Endoscopy is also used for the examination of interdental space problems and dental caries. This work can only be performed at our surgery under these conditions.
For further information on the structure of the horse's mouth and teeth please visit the Teeth page within our Information & Advice section.
24 hour equine veterinary emergency telephone: 01280 813258.
