Q: What happens to baby teeth when the horse loses them?  (What happens if he swallows them?)
A:  Sometimes the horse will leave them in the feed bucket but they probably swallow them frequently.  The teeth will not hurt the digestive system as they pass through.
 
Q:  At what age does a horse acquire all his permanent teeth?
A:  All of the permanent teeth are in by 5 years of age.

Q:  How often should a horse have a dental exam?
A:  Young (<5 years) and older (> 20 years) should have exams every six months because they are more prone to have problems.  An average adult horse with no dental abnormalities should have annual exams.

Q:  What are "wolf teeth?"  Are they the same as "canine teeth?"  Why are they removed in some horses but not others?
A:   Wolf teeth and canine teeth are different.  The canine teeth are the teeth that are just behind the incisors.  They correspond to human canines- the most pointy of our teeth.  If your horse had a bit in his mouth the canine teeth (if present) would be in front of the bit.  They are relatively large teeth with large roots. Male horses and some mares get canine teeth.  The length of the canine teeth can be reduced by filing or cutting but they are only removed if they are broken or diseased.

Wolf teeth are actually the first premolar of each arcade.  In humans this would be the tooth behind the pointycanine tooth.  They are often small teeth with small roots in the horse.  When a bit is in the horse's mouth it would rest on the upper wolf teeth (if present).  Since the teeth and the roots are small the bit may cause pain in this area as is rocks back and forth on the wolf tooth so they are usually removed.

Q:  After what age does it become difficult to "age" a horse by looking at his teeth?
A:  Aging can be done with a higher degree of accuracy until the horse is about 15 years old.  Keep in mind that differences in breed  feed types and vices (such as cribbing) can make individuals look older or younger than they actually are.
 
Q:  How often do horses get cavities?
A:  Since the horses' teeth erupt and wear down continually during their lives cavities are not a common problem.  Problems that are more common in horses include broken teeth and infected tooth roots.
 
Q: What is the difference between "hooks" and "points?"
A:  When vets and equine dentists talk about "points" they are generally talking about the sharp edges on the outer surfaces of the upper cheek teeth and on the inner edges of the lower cheek teeth.  When they talk about "hooks" they are referring to the chewing surface of a tooth (the first or last upper or lower cheek tooth) that starts out flat then becomes very long at a steep angle.  The first upper cheek tooth is commonly possesses a hook and it often resembles the shape of a bird's beak.
 
Q:  What is a "ramp?"
A:  A "ramp" is what is formed when a tooth (or adjacent teeth) gradually get longer.  Ramps like hooks often occur on the first or last cheek teeth.  In profile these teeth are actually the shape of a ramp.
 
Q:  What does the dentist mean when he says a horse "smiles?"
A:  A "smile" refers to a pattern that occurs on the incisors.  The horse has 6 upper and 6 lower incisors.  When viewed from the front the upper and lower incisors should touch and form a straight line between them.  When the upper central incisors and lower outer incisors become long a "smile" forms instead of that straight line.  The reverse is also true- if the outside upper incisors and the central lower incisors become long then the line between them becomes a "frown".  A third common incisor pattern is a "slant" which is when the line formed between the upper and lower incisors is diagonal instead of horizontal.

Q:  What is meant by the term "Performance Dentistry?"
A:  Used literally the term "Performance Dentistry" is applied to dental procedures that are specific to the comfort of performance horses.  This is important because performance horses work with a bit (or sometimes 2 bits!) in their mouth.  The teeth affected by the bits can be shaped to minimize discomfort while the bit is in.  Careful examination of the oral cavity can also tell if the fit of the bridle or bit is incorrect.

Veterinarians and equine dentists also use the term "Performance Dentistry" to imply that the dental procedures they provide are in general of a higher level of expertise than "just a float".  Equine dentistry has come a long way in the past 10 years or so and many veterinarians have had specialized training in dental procedures.  If  your horse has special needs be sure that you have the correct professional to address them correctly.
 
Q:  Can a tooth grow longer than normal?
A:  Yes it can and that can cause severe problems for the horse.  The horse's teeth erupt through the gums continually throughout their lives.  The length and the alignment of the teeth are kept "normal" by chewing and routine floating.  If for example a horse is missing a tooth or has poor alignment of the teeth then chewing may not wear down the other teeth normally.  Those teeth can become overgrown to the point where they even dig into the opposing gum.  This can even cause infections of the bones and sinuses of the horse.  With routine dental exams and treatment proper alignment of the teeth can be maintained and the consequences of missing teeth or poor confirmation can be avoided.