Research has shown that 60 percent of horses older than 15 years have abnormal abrasion of the molars and periodontitis is present. Due to the development of abnormal pressure on the molars and the loosening of the tissues round the tooth, the loss of the molars is even more accelerated.

In these horses, there is often a lot of plaque present around the canines, the corner incisor, and on the outside of the first upper molars. This can lead to the development of gingivitis around the tooth. Of course, the plaque can be removed, but it returns within a month in some horses.

Dental defects in the older horse often give rise to problems because the horse cannot take in enough food and cannot grind it finely enough. These horses also produce less saliva. Indeed, saliva flows during chewing. This process allows the food taken in to be digested and to descend into the intestinal tract. Frequently, long fibers of hay or whole grains of corn can be seen in the droppings. Due to insufficient grinding, the starch present in the grains of corn is not exposed to the digestive process by the body’s own enzymes in the stomach and the small intestines. A stream of too much undigested starch to the appendix and to the large intestine can lead to an imbalance of the micro-flora present. This can result in problems such as colic.

The dental care of older horses is no longer aimed at the restoration of a normal molar table but at allowing the most comfortable and most efficient intake of food.

Excerpted from the book Caring for the Horse’s Teeth and Mouth