Equine Dentist specializing in Whole Mouth Mechanics and Balance. Helping our clients to have Healthy, Happy and Comfortable horses.
Comfort Equine Dentistry addresses balance in the equine's dentition, thus allowing fluid biomechanics, efficient digestion and visceral motility, as well as correct neuro-input and response. This includes balance of occlusional contact of the teeth in a manner that is anatomically correct to the individual horse. This restores function and mobility to the TMJ and provides stability that allows for neutral positioning of the stomatognathic position. This is accomplished by removing the minimal amount of pathology required to provide maximum results.
Restoring neutral biomechanics and natural motion of the jaw from side to side and forward/backward allows freedom of movement of the mandible (jaw). This is important for mastication (chewing) and digestion. The movement of the jaw is directly connected to the movement of the whole horse. For further explanation, ASK me.
To function properly, the horse's teeth are supposed to wear at the same rate in which they erupt. Unfortunately, most domestic horse feed is not abrasive enough to properly maintain the incisors. In addition, horses that are fed hay, which is pre-cut, do not reap the wearing benefits of naturally cropping grasses. The results of our domestic feeding practices are incisors that are too long and incorrectly angled. The most correct length and angle of a horse's incisors can be seen in a five-year old horse whose caps have all been shed.
When the incisors get too long and the angle too steep, it changes the position of the jaw where it attaches to the skull. This attachment is called the TMJ or temporo-mandibular joint. This change in position affects the movement of the jaw, resulting in dental pathology such as uneven wear, rims, points, hooks, as well as stomatognathic dysfunction.
Proprioception
The TMJ has a large concentration of proprioceptors, which are sensory receptors. Proprioceptors are also found in other joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons and the hooves. The function of proprioceptors is to detect the movement or position of the body or limb.
When there is imbalance in the musculoskeletal system and/or lack of motion, the propriocetors act as sensors, sending this information to the brain. When the body detects these imbalances, it responds by forcing other parts of the body to compensate. When other systems are forced to compensate, they become over taxed and may also begin to fail.
In the equine mouth, proprioceptors are affected by dental pathology- whether it is naturally occurring or human created. The response to the imbalance is muscular, skeletal, and/or neurologic. Motion of the jaw is affected as well as balance of the TMJ.
Why Balance of the TMJ is so Important
Balance of the TMJ is a crucial component in the physiological balance of the whole horse. Balance and comfort of the TMJ is my focus. Abnormal pressure and rotation of the TMJ causes oral biomechanical function to be lost. This lack of proper motion in the jaw then creates an improper biomechanical posturing throughout the body. When a horse's mouth is out of balance, the body will follow suit. In turn, problems in the body can cause TMJ imbalance and dental pathology.
*Wave Correction
*Hook & Ramp Removal
*Canine Tooth Reduction
*Incisor Reduction & Realingment
*Whole Mouth Rebalancing
*Bit Seats
*Horse Cribbing
*Cavity
*Extractions wolf teeth.
Correccion de las olas,
Remocion de ganchos y rampas, reduccion y redondeado de caninos, realiniamiento y balance de incisivos,
Completo balance y equilibrado de arcadas molares,
Realizacion de asientos del freno,
Extracciones dientes de lobo.
Good Dental care is vital to your horse's overall well being. Give me a call today to schedule a preliminary consult.
