Dental disease causes significant welfare problems in horses and ponies that are frequently missed due to the stoic nature of equines.
Horses are stoic animals that continue eating despite significant dental pain, adapting their chewing pattern to avoid discomfort. Owners may not recognise dental problems until horses become difficult to bridle or drop large amounts of food. Chronic dental pain reduces quality of life significantly and may persist for months or years before detection. Regular dental examination prevents most serious problems through early intervention. Regulation of equine dental practice ensures that examinations are performed competently without causing the iatrogenic damage that can result from unqualified power-tool use.