Regular equine dental care is essential for horse welfare, as dental pain significantly affects eating, behaviour, and performance, yet remains inadequately addressed in many horses.
Equine dental problems are extremely common and significantly underdiagnosed, partly because horses rarely show obvious signs of mouth pain. Reluctance to accept the bit, weight loss, dropping food, and behavioural changes under saddle often have dental causes that go unrecognised. Regular veterinary or equine dental technician examinations allow early identification and treatment of issues before they cause chronic pain. Welfare standards for horses should specify the minimum frequency of dental examination and the qualifications required for practitioners performing dental procedures. Proper sedation is essential when using power dental tools to prevent both injury and the distress of being restrained without pain relief.