Berwyn Equine Dentistry

02/09/2026

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There’s a lot going on in a young horse’s mouth.

Before the age of five, horses undergo significant dental changes as their deciduous (baby) teeth are shed and their permanent teeth erupt.

This period often coincides with introducing a bit and bridle and beginning ridden work, making regular dental examinations particularly important.

Some of the common dental findings we may see in young horses include:

🔹 Sharp enamel points: these can cause trauma to the cheeks and tongue and may become particularly relevant once a horse begins wearing a bridle and bit.

🔹 Wolf teeth: small vestigial teeth which usually erupt when horses are young. Their position and potential significance should be assessed individually, particularly before ridden work begins.

🔹 Retained deciduous teeth (caps): baby teeth that haven’t shed normally can contribute to food trapping, inflammation, displacement of the permanent teeth and periodontal problems. Careful assessment is important, as premature removal can also damage the developing permanent tooth.

Regular dental examinations throughout these rapidly changing years allow developing problems to be identified and appropriately managed early, helping to maintain a comfortable, healthy mouth as your young horse starts their career. 🐴🦷

To learn more how dentistry can affect a horses performance watch our YouTube video 🦷👉🏼 https://youtu.be/8V6r4gaw9lU?si=5LNJWLAJObCydO73

21/08/2026

Cap fragment extracted from the lovely Rolo this morning.

12/08/2026

Some good sized wolf teeth spotted today in a 3yo cob.

31/07/2026

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27/07/2026

An interesting find...

16/07/2026

Strawberry poopoo was a star for her first dental! Despite only being young she had some nasty ulceration due to sharp points in her tight mouth. These should now hopefully heal in the next few days, leaving her happy and comfortable

10/07/2026

Look at mine too!!!

08/07/2026

Nova was a very brave girl for her rasp and had a couple of caps extracted.

30/06/2026

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A diastema (singular) or diastemata (plural) refers to an abnormal space between teeth.

Normally, horses have six cheek teeth in each dental arcade, tightly positioned to function as a single grinding unit. However, if a gap exists between these teeth then food can become trapped.

A UK study indicated that 49.9% of horses of all ages are affected. The prevalence of diastemata increases in horses over the age of 15.

Diastemata are classified into two types:

Primary Diastemata

These are developmental in nature and can occur due to improper rostral-caudal angulation, dental buds that are too far apart, or teeth that are developmentally displaced or rotated.

Secondary Diastemata

These are acquired and may result from tooth displacement, pressure from occlusal overgrowths, drifting teeth following extraction, or the natural tapering of teeth with age, leading to senile diastemata.

There are two types of diastemata based on the gap’s shape:

Open Diastema: The gap is the same width from top to bottom.

Valve Diastema: The top of the gap is narrower than the bottom, which can cause food impaction.

As food accumulates, it can irritate the gums and create an environment where bacteria thrive, leading to inflammation, infection and periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is considered one of the most painful conditions affecting the equine mouth.

Some horses may show signs such as quidding, bad breath, difficulty eating or weight loss, while others can have significant disease with very few obvious symptoms.

Treatment and long-term management vary from horse to horse. The first step is often removing impacted food and carrying out good quality dentistry, including reducing any overgrowths that may be contributing to food trapping. Dietary adjustments may also help in some cases, particularly where certain feeds are more likely to become impacted within the gap.

More advanced cases may require veterinary involvement and further treatment.

Every diastema is different, which is why regular dental examinations and an individual management plan are so important.

Horses are remarkably good at adapting to dental problems, which is why regular dental examinations are so important.

To learn more about this condition watch our YouTube video 👉🏼 “Top 3 dental abnormalities” 🔗 https://youtu.be/DlXfJpbKF5g?si=DyXW_TYHc8U5QNKZ 🦷

29/06/2026

If you require an appointment for july or august please drop us a message asap so I can book childcare, otherwise we may not be able to make it to you before sept!