Dental problems can affect any horse, regardless of age. Signs to watch for include head tossing, bit chewing, tongue lolling, drooling, dropping feed, unfinished meals, foul mouth odor, weight loss, and refusal to accept bit pressure. Whenever these signs occur, your horse s mouth should be examined. Sometimes, as permanent teeth erupt, the deciduous teeth remain in place. If this occurs with the incisors, they can be removed during a dental examination.
Retained premolars become caps on the biting surface of the permanent premolars.
They usually can be felt when you palpate the teeth. Removal can be done by prying off the caps with appropriate instruments. Retained teeth are something your veterinarian can address and correct during a routine dental exam. Once they are past the age of retained deciduous teeth, the next area to address with adult horses is the formation of enamel points. Sharp edges or points develop on the outer surface of the upper teeth and the inner surface of the lower teeth due to the normal conformation and wear of the horse s mouth.