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STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH
Horse Dentistry Articles.
Dr. Moore has a lifelong passion for equine dentistry and has made it a mission to share musings, insights, experiences and cases through this blog. Whether you are a dental veterinarian, veterinary technician, or a simply own a horse, you will be exposed to original insight into what happens inside a horse’s mouth.
How Do Horse Get Cracked Teeth? Understanding Infundibular Disease
When a horse fractures a tooth, one of the first questions people often ask is, "What caused it?" Trauma is an obvious possibility. Horses can certainly fracture teeth through an injury, but trauma isn't the only, and may not be the most common, reason that a tooth fractures. Another explanation is much more closely related to the unique anatomy of the horse's teeth: infundibular disease. Understanding this condition is important because, when identified before a tooth fractu
How to take Dental X-Rays on a Horse
Dental radiographs can be intimidating. For many veterinarians, equine dental radiography is one of those areas where the equipment, positioning, angles, and number of possible views can make a straightforward diagnostic question feel much more complicated than it needs to be. But getting useful dental radiographs doesn't have to be difficult. In many cases, a simple, consistent technique can produce a diagnostic image of the cheek teeth and provide valuable information to su
Why Equine Dentistry Is Different: Understanding the Horse's Hypsodont Teeth
One of the biggest misconceptions in equine dentistry is that a horse's teeth simply "keep growing." They don't. Horse teeth are designed very differently from human teeth, and understanding that difference is essential to understanding why equine dentistry requires a different approach. Horses have hypsodont teeth Horses have what is known as hypsodont dentition. The easiest way to picture this is to think of a mechanical pencil. A horse has a large amount of dental tissue a
Treating Severe Equine Sinus Infection Without Surgery
When we think about treating severe sinus disease in a horse, it’s easy to picture a surgical approach through the skull. But sometimes, there is another way in. This miniature horse had significant sinusitis caused by an infected tooth. When we entered the sinus through the nasal passage with an endoscope, the extent of the infection became immediately apparent. The sinus was filled with thick, inspissated pus. It was so dense that it almost looked like cottage cheese or lay
Every Tooth Tells a Story: Random Equine Dental Pathology Part 2
If you've read Every Tooth Tells a Story: Random Equine Dental Pathology Part 1, you already know the premise: an extracted tooth is more than something that came out of a horse's mouth. It is evidence. Once the tooth is in your hand, you can often work backward. The roots, pulp, fracture lines, areas of resorption, periodontal changes, and abnormal development can all provide clues about what happened while that tooth was still inside the horse. In Part 1, we looked at sever
Every Tooth Tells A Story: Random Equine Dental Pathology Part 1
One of the most interesting things about equine dentistry is that every tooth has a story behind it. Sometimes that story starts with subtle clinical signs; a little nasal discharge, resistance to the bit, quidding, swelling, or unexplained weight loss. Other times, the pathology has been silently progressing for years before anyone realizes there is a problem. Once a tooth is extracted and placed on the table, you can often work backward and reconstruct exactly what was happ
Why is equipment not the most important investment in equine dentistry?
Veterinarians entering or advancing in equine dentistry often ask the same question: What equipment should I buy? It’s a fair question, but it’s not the right place to start. Knowledge First, Equipment Second The most important investment you can make isn’t in instruments, it’s in education and technique. Without a strong understanding of: Dental anatomy Pathology Extraction mechanics Occlusal principles Surgical decision-making …the most advanced equipment in the world won’t
A Story of Hope: 2 Year Old Horse with Three Infected Teeth
One of the most common (and most dangerous) assumptions in equine health is simple: If a horse is eating well, everything must be okay. This case tells a very different story. The Case That Changed the Conversation A young horse was brought in for evaluation of swelling. On the surface, it looked like a routine dental abscess, something we see and treat regularly. But once we performed a full oral examination, it became clear this was anything but routine. Inside the mouth, t
Severe Tooth Infection Causes Massive Jaw Infection in Young Horse
A two-year-old horse recently arrived after a 15–17 hour haul from Alabama. The presenting complaint was something we see often: swelling along the jaw and a draining tract. While the case had already undergone some level of workup, the underlying issue had not yet been definitively diagnosed. In equine dentistry, these cases are often more straightforward than they appear. Provided the fundamentals are applied correctly. There is a tendency in veterinary medicine, especial
Treating Chronic Equine Sinusitis Without Surgery: The Power of Transnasal Sinoscopy
Chronic sinusitis is a common and often stubborn problem in horses. Despite repeated courses of antibiotics, sinus flushes, tooth extraction, or even sinus flap surgery, resolution can be slow or incomplete.
So why do so many cases fail to improve? The answer often lies in what we can’t adequately see or access using conventional methods.
Why a Systematic Dental Exam Changes Everything.
A balanced mouth cannot be achieved without understanding the horse as a whole: its history, comfort, patterns of wear, and the subtle clues that point to functional or pathological change. When exams become rushed or incomplete, dentistry becomes symptom management rather than long term-care. It's about being International.
Below is a practical framework that builds directly on the principles of occlusal equilibration and diagnostic dentistry.
Why Occlusal Equilibration Is the Foundation of Equine Dentistry.
In equine dentistry, every procedure, from routine maintenance to advanced interventions, is only as good as the occlusal foundation beneath it. Yet, many dental professionals are taught what to float, without fully understanding why certain teeth wear the way they do, or how small imbalances can lead to major long-term consequences. That's where Occlusal Equilibration becomes not just a technique, but a philosophy.
Huge Dental Infection in Young Rescue Horse - Diagnosis & Extraction
Facial swelling in young horses is always a red flag. While trauma is sometimes the cause, dental disease must be carefully ruled out, especially when swelling develops rapidly and is localized to the maxilla.
Advanced Equine Dentistry: Complex Extraction Explained
In equine dentistry, not all cases are created equal. Some are straightforward to diagnose but technically difficult to treat, while...
Avoid the dentist that does this to your horse's teeth.
When we talk about “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” it’s easy to think of the classic Clint Eastwood film. But in the world of equine...
Veterinary Mental Health in Equine Dentistry.
In recent years, the mental health crisis within the veterinary profession has gained more public attention—and rightly so. This...
Equine Vet Clinic Design: How to Provide a Safe & Effective Work Environment for Horses
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of visiting countless veterinary clinics—across the United States and around the world. One...
Using State of the Art Techniques to Extract Trapped Teeth in a Horse.
Today, we’re sharing a challenging but rewarding equine dental case involving a young horse referred for the extraction of two severely...
Managing the Horse's Mouth Post Extraction
When it comes to equine dentistry, extracting a broken or diseased tooth often feels like solving a major problem. And in many ways, it...
Welcome to Our First-Ever Equine Dental Blog!
Welcome to our first-ever equine dental blog. Equine dentistry is not simply what we do. It’s not a job. It’s who we are.
Ready to elevate your equine dentistry skills?
If you are a veterinarian and want to learn advanced equine dentistry, Moore Equine offers a unique approach rooted in years of integrated clinical and teaching experience worldwide. By collaborating with some of the most progressive and open-minded veterinarians and technicians, we've gathered valuable insights from leading practitioners in the field. Our clinically-based modules are designed to equip veterinarians with state-of-the-art knowledge and skills. We prioritize hands-on learning by working on live horses in small groups, as we believe this is one of the most effective ways for clinicians to refine their techniques. Our internationally renowned instructors bring extensive experience from high-volume practices, ensuring that we not only explain concepts but also demonstrate everything we teach directly on live clinical cases.
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