08/02/2026
Once per week at minimum I hear the statement “I’m looking for a dentist who floats the old school way”. Today’s techniques are built on better education, improved diagnostics, and a deeper understanding of equine oral health, allowing us to provide safer, more thorough, and more effective care for our horses. Being on the right side of the future means embracing knowledge as it grows and giving our horses the benefit of the best care we have today, not simply doing things because “that’s how they’ve always been done.”
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better” -Maya Angelou
Equine dentistry has been practiced in various forms for thousands of years, with records showing dental care for horses in 600BC China. Early equine dentistry was used as a method of fraud when traders and owners learned they could alter the teeth to resemble the shape of those belonging to a much younger horse. In the late 1800s when horses were being ridden more for pleasure, the “scrubbing of the sides of the cheek teeth” with a Farrier’s rasp became what we know today as a “float”. I️t was soon discovered that his was only a partial fix for the many problems horses develop that affect riding and eating.
In recent years, equine dentistry has made the transition from the “float” to “full mouth equilibration” thanks to the demand for improvement and proficiency from horsemen and women around the world.
In 1906, a book titled “Animal Dentistry and Diseases of the Teeth” stated “the principle objective of dentistry is to promote the general health of the horse by improving mastication and relieving pain.” Although tools, trends, and techniques have evolved, our goal is still the same. As more information becomes available in regards to ways we as providers can enhance oral health and comfort, owners should demand that their horses are receiving the best possible care from a practitioner who is up to date with current industry standards, methods, and recommendations.
Is your horse receiving dental care that is a thing of the past?
