The horse moves the mandible to the side, closes the mouth, the molars touch and grind food and as the mandible returns to the resting position when the incisors touch and the molars separate. An oral examination will assess the occlusion of both the incisors and molars. Molars are checked to determine if occlusion is uniform end to end and there is no interference from bumps, ramped up or tall teeth or hook formation on either end of the arcades. The temporary incisors are all erupted into position by 9 months of age. Foals are checked at or close to birth to determine if any congenital abnormalities exist.
Deciduous teeth are soft and can develop sharp edges quickly.
From age 2 to 4 months to about 18 months, these teeth should be checked every 4 to 6 months and floated if needed. Floating can be done without a speculum, requiring only three to four strokes of a float per molar arcade to correct. Permanent premolars begin and are in wear from age two years and six months to age four years. An eruption timetable is included with these notes. The first molar erupts at one year of age.