Q:  If my horse only has a few teeth left does he still need regular dental exams?
A:  YES!!!  If your horse is missing any teeth then dental exams actually need to be MORE frequent.  This is because the tooth that is opposite the missing tooth will grow extra long because it is not being worn down anymore.  As the tooth length extends past the length of the other teeth it makes the horse's normal circular chewing motion impossible leading to pain poor nutrition and a "snowball effect" of other dental problems.  Some of these teeth get so long that they cut into the opposite gum and can even cause severe infections of the sinus cavity or mandible.  A general dental exam schedule for a horse missing any teeth is every 6-9 months.

Q:  How do dental care needs change as a horse ages?
A:  As horses age they are subject to more problems with their teeth.  The teeth erupt continuously during their lives but only for as long as the root can provide.  In most horses this can be up to 35 years or so but only when proper dental care has been provided throughout their lives.  Without proper care the teeth become vulnerable to excessive wear pockets between the teeth that collect feedstuffs and pain.  Loose and missing teeth are also common in older horses.
 
Q:  Can certain teeth be expected to fall out earlier than others under normal circumstances (if  there is such a thing?)
A:  The "oldest" tooth in the adult equine mouth is the first molar.  The molars are not preceded by "baby teeth" and the first molars erupt at 1 year of age.  Since they are the oldest teeth the first molars are the most susceptible to being worn down first.
 
Q:  Does a person have to be a veterinarian to be an equine dentist?
A:  The answer to this question varies from state to state.  In some states an equine dentist does not have to be a veterinarian or even have any formal training in dentistry to float teeth!  In other states the non-veterinarian dentist must be supervised by a veterinarian.  And in other states a person must be a veterinarian to perform any equine dentistry.  Differences also exist among states when it comes to qualifications necessary to extract teeth.  In all states however a veterinarian must administer or dispense any medications (like sedation) to a patient.  The bottom line... ask  questions to find out your dentist's qualifications and privileges to practice dentistry in your state.
 
Q:  How many teeth does a horse have?
A:  An adult horse has up to 44 teeth:

• 12 incisors- 6 upper and 6 lower
• 0 - 4 canines- male horses and some mares get canines 1 each on the left and right upper and lower arcades
• 0 - 4 wolf teeth (technically the first premolar)-  some horses get them some don't 1 each on the left and right upper and lower arcades upper wolf teeth are by far more common than lower wolf teeth
• 12 more premolars- 3 each on the left and right upper and lower arcades
• 12 molars- 3 each on the left and right upper and lower arcades

Q:  When do baby horses get their first teeth?
A:   The first 4 teeth (upper and lower central incisors) start erupting within the first 2 weeks.

Q:  Does teething hurt?  What can I do about it?
A:  Occasionally a horse may eat slowly or chew funny for a day or two but usually there is no apparent discomfort.
 
Q: What are "caps?"
A:  Caps are the baby teeth.  They are called caps because they do not have deep roots like the permanent teeth and when the permanent tooth pushes the cap off it looks like it was a "hat" sitting on top of the new tooth.