Glade Valley Equine Dental Services, LLC

09/05/2026

“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth”

We’ve all heard I️t, but what does I️t mean? I️t was considered rude to check the mouth of a horse because I️t was the modern day equivalent of checking the price tag on a present. A horse’s mouth and teeth can tell you a lot about their age, habits, overall health, and therefore their value.

Age: by checking the length and shape of the teeth, the Galvayne’s groove, and the occlusal surface of the incisors, a trained eye can provide you with an accurate estimate of the horse’s age

Health: like all other mucus membranes, your horse’s gums should be pink. Pale or white gums can signify anemia, shock, or internal bleeding. Bright red gums can indicate endotoxemia, yellow is linked to liver issues, and blue can indicate lack of oxygen in the blood or lung issues. Gums that are generally pink but have a dark red line at the incisor teeth gum line can be a sign of toxemia, dehydration, circulatory abnormalities, or gingivitis. Chinese medicine correlates purple gums to pain. (Disclaimer: this is veterinarian territory, but I️t always helps to know what to look for)

Bad habits: Severely chipped or worn upper incisors indicate that the horse is likely a cribber or chewer. Cribbers may wear their teeth down enough to cause overbites or underbites, and may cause irreversible damage to barns and fences. I️t can also affect the horse’s neck muscles, TMJ, and is believed to make them more prone to colic.

Always look your horse in the mouth! Better yet, have a trained equine dental professional assist you, gift horse or not. Cribbers and horse’s young and old will all benefit from proper dental care and oral exams.

09/01/2026

From an 18 year old hand floater to a (16 years older, don’t make me say it 😆) Certified Dental Provider and dental school instructor (with way more than 4 nervous breakdowns) and adding a great additional dental provider to the team-SO many of you have been with me every single year along the way.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your continuous loyalty, referrals and friendship. I love watching your horses and families grow, sharing in your successes, and catching up ♥️

And while the photo mentions tripling prices, Glade Valley has only increased the price of dentals by $25 total over the years

08/28/2026

There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding equine dentistry, and unfortunately, a lot of fear-based information gets passed around about what equine dental providers do.

So, let’s talk about what we actually do and what we don’t.

For us, equine dentistry has never been about simply “floating teeth.” We take a whole-horse approach because the mouth does not function independently from the rest of the horse.

Before we ever make an adjustment, we look at the horse as a whole. We evaluate facial symmetry and muscling, gingival health, and ask about the horse’s complete health and dental history. We check for sensitivity around the TMJ and poll and take into consideration how the horse is eating, performing, maintaining weight and using its body.

Once we are in the mouth, we work with a bright light and full-mouth speculum so that we can actually see and evaluate what we are doing. We aren’t working blindly or simply running a tool over the teeth.

The goal is balance.

We balance the mouth so the teeth can receive appropriate, even pressure during mastication while maintaining the natural angles that the horse was designed to have. We are not trying to create a perfectly flat, perfectly smooth mouth.

Our precision equipment is approximately the same diameter as the individual tooth, allowing us to address teeth individually and remove only what is necessary. We use equipment and techniques designed to avoid thermal damage to the teeth and preserve as much healthy tooth structure as possible.

The chewing surface matters. Those ridges and contours have a purpose.

We maintain the integrity and longevity of the grinding surface and only reduce excessive transverse ridges when they are contributing to abnormal pressure, imbalance or premature wear. The goal is never to grind away healthy anatomy simply because it isn’t perfectly smooth

We also pay attention to how the horse is positioned while we work. We keep the head as close to its natural resting position as practical rather than unnecessarily elevating and hyperextending the poll

And dentistry doesn’t stop when the speculum comes off

The condition of the mouth can tell us a lot about how that horse needs to be managed. When appropriate, we make feeding recommendations based on chewing ability, tooth loss, wear and the overall condition of the mouth. We can also remove teeth when appropriate and within our scope of practice

So what DON’T we do?

We don’t flatten the teeth.

We don’t round off the teeth.

We don’t make the entire chewing surface smooth. We don’t indiscriminately remove healthy tooth structure

We don’t use techniques that cause thermal damage. We don’t ignore the rest of the horse when deciding what adjustments should be made

We don’t work blindly and we absolutely do NOT replace veterinarians

Veterinarians and qualified equine dental providers have important roles in equine health care, and good horsemanship means recognizing when a case requires veterinary diagnosis or treatment and working together when necessary

Good equine dentistry should be conservative, precise and mindful

The goal isn’t to make every mouth look the same. The goal is to preserve healthy anatomy, improve function, address abnormalities and help that individual horse chew comfortably and efficiently for as many years as possible

Don’t let fear mongering scare you away from quality dentistry. Motorized equipment is NOT what it used to be and hand floats can absolutely cause damage in the wrong hands

08/27/2026

Why do old horses lose their teeth?

A lot of things come into play. One of the reasons is that there’s just not much root left holding them in once they’re in their 20s. Uneven pressure from dominant teeth and imbalances in the mouth will work teeth loose over time, allowing feed to get into the socket and compromise the integrity of the gum tissue. Unhealthy gum tissue and short roots lead to a lot of mobility, and teeth like these (from a 34 year old gelding!) will come right out without any elevating necessary

When horses start losing their teeth it’s time for some diet adjustments (soaked pelleted forage is a life saver!)

Get those old horses checked now before they start losing weight over the winter

08/21/2026

08/18/2026

September back to school special 🏫 🍎 ✏️

We know the summer financially drains us all 😵‍💫. But! The kids are going back to school, the vacations are over and your horses need done. NOW is the time to get them squared away before cold temps

For the month of September we are offering 50% off farm calls

Evening appointments are available so teachers, it’s not too late!

08/15/2026

Your young horse needs done, too!

People often say they don’t think their horse needs dental work yet because they’re young. Besides needing their wolf teeth extracted before you begin to put a bit in their mouth, young horses are prone to excessive transverse ridges (ETR) and sharp points.

Between the ages of 2 1/2 and 5, horses will lose 24 “baby” (deciduous) teeth and erupt 36-44. There’s a lot going on in there! If the deciduous teeth become retained, that’s another issue in itself.

Set them up for success. Proper dental (and hoof!) care from the start is essential for a lifetime of health and opportunity to reach their potential.

08/14/2026

Progress ⭐️

08/12/2026

Notice the inflamed tissue surrounding the canine in photo 3? Tartar buildup is the culprit!

Now that the calculus has been removed and the mouth has been given a good rinse, the tissue can begin to heal

08/10/2026

What to expect at your dental appointment 📅

Needs:
💦 Water to fill a stainless steel bucket

🚙 Easy access to the work space. Lugging all of the equipment any distance is HARD

🐴 Horses caught and ready. Cannot stress this one enough

💉Sedation and someone qualified to administer

🌞 A dry area- run ins, barns and stalls are fine. If we will be working outside in the hot months please book an early morning appointment. If there is no covered area to work in, let me know before the appt on rainy/snowy days

The process:

Exam- Each horse will be examined for lateral movement, any outward signs of concern, facial swelling, TMJ tenderness, etc.

The mouth will be rinsed

Owners are welcome and encouraged to take a look and feel the teeth (with the speculum on and a bright light of course)

Sedation should be administered if the horse is nervous, fractious or unable to stand still for a thorough and complete examination

The teeth will be corrected of malocclusions and balanced with top notch motorized equipment

I will check for lateral movement, occlusion, etc

A thorough digital dental chart is completed for each horse that will be emailed to the owner for their records. A receipt is included

The horse should have a safe place away from hills, mud and hay to rest while they wake up from sedation

Exams and equilibration are recommended every 6-12 months depending on age, diet, lifestyle and if anything needs to be addressed in stages. Any cases beyond my comfort level/legal ability will be referred to my trusted network of veterinarians

Payment is due at time of service. Cash, check, PayPal, Zelle and Venmo are welcome

Loyal clients will always have first priority!