Horses may suffer from many dental problems. The most common include:

• Sharp enamel points forming on cheek teeth, causing lacerations of cheeks and tongue.
• Retained caps (deciduous teeth that are not shed)
• Discomfort caused by bit contact with the wolf teeth
• Hooks forming on the upper and lower cheek teeth
• Long and/or sharp canine (bridle) teeth interfering with the insertion or removal of the bit
• Lost and/or broken teeth
• Abnormal or uneven bite planes
• Excessively worn teeth
• Abnormally long teeth
• Infected teeth and/or gums
• Misalignment/poor apposition (can be due to confenital defects or injury)
• Periodontal (gum) disease

Horses with dental problems may show obvious signs, such as pain or irritation, or they may show no noticeable signs at all. This is due to the face that some horses simply adapt to their discomfort. For this reason, periodic dental examinations are essential. Indicators of dental problems include:

• Loss of feed from mouth while eating, difficulty with chewing, or excessive salivation
• Loss of body condition
• Large or undigested feed particles (long stems or whole grain) in manure
• Head tilting or tossing, bit chewing, tongue lolling, fighting the bit, or resisting bridling
• Poor performance, such as lugging on the bridle, failing to turn or stop, even bucking
• Foul odor from mouth or nostrils, or traces of blood from the mouth
• Nasal discharge or swelling of the face, jaw, or mouth tissues

Oral exams should be an essential part of an annual physical examination by a veterinarian. Every dental exam provides the opportunity to perform routine preventative dental maintenance. The end result is a healthier, more comfortable horse.