We have a great deal of experience of equine dental problems and of removing diseased or malformed teeth. Malcolm Morley, one of the partners at Stable Close Equine Practice, has lectured widely on equine dentistry and has a special interest in advanced dental procedures. Amongst such procedures is extraction of molars and premolars, the large grinding teeth at the back of a horse's mouth.

Unfortunately it is sometimes necessary to remove a tooth because of dental disease such as an abscess or tooth fracture. However horses' teeth are not easy to extract because they are up to 10cm long and very well attached to their socket. Extraction can be accomplished by several different techniques. Oral extraction is performed by removing the tooth using forceps to first loosen it and the pull it from the socket. Dental repulsion is performed when the tooth is surgically removed by pushing the tooth out from its socket using a dental punch. The technique used depends on which tooth is affected, the age of the horse, the integrity of the tooth, and whether there is any secondary sinus infection.

Teeth are more difficult to remove from young horses because they are more brittle and larger. (see images below)

Stable Close Equine Practice has the facilities and experience to perform many dental extractions without the need for the horse to travel to a hospital. The extraction or repulsion is performed by desensitising an area of the horse's mouth with a nerve block and then attempting oral extraction first. If the tooth is not suitable for oral extraction (usually because it is too diseased) then it may be possible to repulse it without the need for a general anaesthetic. We use our mobile x-ray unit to take x-rays where necessary. Some cases do require general anaesthesia but many other cases can be performed using oral extraction or repulsion under sedation and a nerve block.

We carry out extractions for our clients and also for referred clients from other parts of southern England. If you are interested in having us extract a tooth from your horse but are not already one of our clients then please ask your vet to arrange a referral.

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Stable Close Equine Ltd is registered in England & Wales at Bridgets Farm, Martyr Worthy, Hampshire. SO21 1AR.
Ltd Co No. 04873450