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Veteran
Posts: 120
| What are your thoughts on teeth floating by an equine dentist versus a vet? For a little back story...last spring I had my vet do a yearly check on my new horse and had him check his mouth...he said his teeth are fine and I can wait until February or so to get them floated. That summer I went to a Charmayne James clinic and had Randy Riedinger look at his teeth. They were all wavy and totally not balanced and he had some small sores in his mouth (I looked) so I had him worked on. It took probably an hour and a half maybe two hours until he was happy with them. I would love a vet that specializes in dentistry but we don't have one around here...on one hand I understand that dentists don't go through vet school, but on the other hand it is almost like I wouldn't want my primary doctor to work on my teeth. Of course if I were to use a dentist, they would be assisted by a vet to sedate:)
Edited by nicole.b 2016-03-22 11:43 PM
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
   
Location: OH. IO | Equine dentist only for us. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 429
Location: Oxford, Kansas | I use a dentist.. I have the same philosophy as you.. I don't want a doc working on my teeth. I want a specialist. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| I use an equine dentist. Most vets will try to convince you the horse doesnt need as much done to the teeth while dentists will tell you vets dont do enough. It can be a personal preference really. But I go with the one who actually studied how the teeth should be in order for the horse to operate properly. As far as the sedation, my dentist does it all himself. Im actually thinking he told me they learn that in dentist school but I cant remember. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| I use my vet, he is good. I went to a clinic and equine dentist said his teeth looked great. I have been using him for the past few years, no one has ever had sores or waves. He shows me each horses mouth. |
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Regular
Posts: 77
| I haven't had an actual vet work on my horses teeth but have loved the equine dentist I have found. She explains every little detail. :) |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | I've been much happier with an equine dentist. I want someone that specializes in teeth to be working on them. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I use an equine dentist if at all possible. In a pinch, I'll use my vet, only when my dentist can't get to me. The vet will get me by, but there's a huge difference in the feel of their mouths for me. |
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 Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | Equine dentist all the way. |
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  Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
Location: ND | As with anything it depends on the quality of the vet/dentist you are using. I have had equine dentists that I'm very happy with & others that have taken off so much tooth that my horses couldn't eat anything but soaked beet pulp & alfalfa pellets for over a week. I've had a vet so bad that he couldn't find a blind wolf tooth (even though there was a large irritated bump on the gum line where it was). Currently I am using my vet and very happy with him. |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| I much prefer a vet, but I am not afraid to ask around for a vet that is good with teeth. I went to a dentist once and it was a type of deal where we all booked this guy and met at someones house for the day and he did like 15 head or something. He sedated a horse just before mine and horse went completely down, not just sedated. All I heard was " Oops, little to much I guess". THey had to call a vet. I loaded up and have used my vet ever since but she was a track vet who has done LOTS OF TEETH. |
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Veteran
Posts: 196
Location: Pittsburg, Texas | Totally Equine Dentist!! Josh Harvey of Outlaw Equine in Decatur has a great Equine Dentist on Staff. |
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 Ms. Poutability
Posts: 2362
Location: In my own world | It doesn't matter to me if they are a vet or a dentist, only matters that they know what they are doing!! I had an equine dentist who went to classes every year and he jacked up my old mares teeth and pulled a tooth that didn't need to be pulled. I now travel 1.5 hrs one way to go to my vet(he used to be close to me and moved) who is excellent with teeth. He let me feel the waves and un even spots in my mares mouth. With young horses and old horses you have to have someone that knows what they are doing. he is the only one that will touch my horses teeth. I did have one other vet that did a good job, but he moved to CO |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | Titles are just titles. You find the person that does the job best. |
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Veteran
Posts: 120
| Thank you everyone! I have been asking around to find someone so hopefully I can find someone who is trusted and knows what they are doing! My horse was a totally different horse after his teeth were fixed, so teeth are pretty important to me now! lol |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | horsiace1025 - 2016-03-23 5:07 AM I use an equine dentist. Most vets will try to convince you the horse doesnt need as much done to the teeth while dentists will tell you vets dont do enough. It can be a personal preference really. But I go with the one who actually studied how the teeth should be in order for the horse to operate properly. As far as the sedation, my dentist does it all himself. Im actually thinking he told me they learn that in dentist school but I cant remember.
This is what I run into.
We had a dentist out at the barn and I opted out of using the guy because I don't really trust the judgement of the person that had him out. Anyways, my friend had her old mare done and she ended up choking later that week. The vet that came out said he had taken too much off and everything was uneven. Yikes!!! I think I'll use that vet this time around. I guess she really showed my friend what she was doing when she was out to fix up the job and I like that. |
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Member
Posts: 30
| I am for always using a vet. I want someone who went to vet school working on my horse. Who has studied the whole horse and who can sedate if necessary. Just because one vet was not good, does not mean that an equine dentist is better. Ask around for a vet that is recommended for good dentistry or who specializes in dentistry. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| My experience is some vets actually have went to dental school so they can feel proficient in floating teeth.
My vet always told me to ask if they have the specific tool to pull each tooth in the horses mouth. I have asked many and they all look at me funny. Each tooth has a specialized tool to pull the tooth, if the dentist doesn't know this, they are not getting close to my horse |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1165
Location: California | I use my vet. He's an equine only vet that I am vet happy with! After all my bad luck and all the money I've spent at other places that ended up wasted money, I'll pay more to have my vet do it. In Texas an equine dentist can not sedate an animal. I would rather have my horse sedated for everyones safety then to risk the horse having a fit. Many people do their horses without sedation and that's their choice. My vet also uses power tools which I was 100% against until he showed me why he uses them. There are simply send places you can not get to with hand tools that you can with power tools. Human dentists use power tools on people everyday, if the person knows what they are doing that's all that matters. |
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 Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | Vet. I have seen it go both ways with friends horses. It depends on the person doing the work. My vet shows me exactly what is wrong, I feel and see before and after and have never had any issues with her doing the work. She came very highly recommended in the area. |
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