Dental disease is extremely common in horses and causes significant pain and welfare problems. Regular equine dentistry is one of the most important preventive welfare interventions for horse owners.
Dental pain is one of the most common and underrecognised welfare problems in domestic horses. Horses in pain from sharp teeth, periodontal disease or tooth root infections may show performance problems that are incorrectly attributed to training or tack issues. Many horses tolerate significant dental pain stoically, showing only subtle signs like mild head tilting, sensitivity to the bit or slightly reduced appetite. Regular annual dental examinations allow early detection and treatment of developing problems before they cause significant pain. Sedation for dental procedures is strongly recommended for welfare: it allows thorough examination and treatment and reduces horse anxiety and movement that risks injury to the horse or operator.