Advanced Equine Dentistry in Sunshine Coast, Queensland | Sport & recreation

Advanced Equine Dentistry

Locality: Sunshine Coast, Queensland

Phone: +61 7 5432 8111

Address: 9 Kentucky Ct 4551 Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia

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24.01.2022 GREAT ARTICLE - CONFIRMS WHY THE MYLER BITS FROM USA ARE SO SUCCESSFUL.

22.01.2022 Facial Nerves and the importance of proper bridle fitting. This is something Manolo is quite fanatical about, always adjusting nosebands, flashes, browbands and... making sure the buckles do not push into delicate structures or the poll strap does not push against the horse's ears (and of course checking bit fit). A quick look at what cranial nerves DO reveal how important their well being is and why properly fitted tack is paramount. There are twelve pairs of cranial nerves. They have a role in: Balance Heart rate (sensory and motor control of viscera including heart, lungs, and bowel) Hearing Smell Vision Eye movement Neck muscles that move the head Sensation from the face Motor to the muscles for biting, chewing Facial expression Taste from the anterior 2/3rds of the tonque Taste from the posterior 1/3rd of the tonque Tearing (lacrimal gland) Salivation from the parotid gland as well as not from the parotid gland (different nerves) Sensation and some motor to the pharynx Swallowing (motor to the muscles of the soft palate, pharynx and larynx) Vocalization (motor to the muscles of the soft palate, pharynx and larynx) gastrointestinal peristalsis Tongue movement Our friend Diane Schell created this useful illustration showing the 12 pairs of cranial nerves and where they are in relationship to bridles potential pressure point. Thank you Diane. This fits nicely with our Monday article from Shea Stewart about the TMJ and Cranio Sacral work. Source: HorseAdvice.com and the Merck Veterinary Manual and this fantastic article from Tuft university: http://www.tufts.edu/vet/sports/neuro2.html PS: There is an important nerve Diane did not highlight in red. It comes out on the side of the lower jaw. If you look at the skulls we posted earlier this week, you can see it quite clearly on both side. It is a general sensory nerve for the skin of chin, and lower lip. Image Diane Schell 3/12/2013 - VETERINARIAN Massimo Da Re Follows up with More Insights on CRANIAL Nerves, the Brain and Limbic System The head of all vertebrates is one of the most important parts for the life of the individual: It is home to the brain that has the delicate task to process the information that comes from the body and from the outside world and return to the various parts of the body with essential indications for life. The brain encodes what the sense organs perceive and organize the existence of the individual. The brain also reads the feelings of the heart which is the true center of life. In the head are located vital organs: hearing, smell, sight, taste, touch. ( and breath) Think for a moment about your horse, observe how important its highly mobile ears, his large nostrils, his very expressive eyes are for its essence. Finally the mouth. The horse lives with his mouth: eats, vocalizes, works, relates to the outside world. It contains more than 4 billion nerve endings and is closely associated with a portion of the brain called Limbic System, responsible for the control of emotions and learning: think about this before acting with your hands on your horse's mouth. There are no horses "deaf" or "hard" in the mouth, pain receptors can not be deleted nor go out: horses fight oral pain in different forms: some rear, others pull on the reins, while others seem to be resigned and have a heavy mouth. Study well this beautiful and useful image and use the equipment on your horse with awareness and respect : avoid too tight nose-bands, make sure briddle and bit fit well. Be careful with the halter, especially if it is made in rope or fabric that are too thin: they can lead to excessive pressure on the nerves of the face; always remove the halter when the horse is free, in stall or outside in the field. Be gentle with your hands, both when you lead the horse and when you ride. The subject is vast and deserves full days of discussions! Thank you Massimo! and Tellington TTouch Cavalli Italia. manolomendezdressage.2013

21.01.2022 In my experience of treating horses there is a common pattern that muscle tension in the poll and neck are present in majority of horses that are fed with a hay... net. I put this video together to help explain simply how this can effect your horse. My advice tends to be to feed from the floor or a suitable container which encourages the horse to eat naturally when possible. Not only from a musculoskeletal point of view but holistically from digestion to behavioural instinct. See more

17.01.2022 For those people who still insist in tying their horses mouth shut!!! The Temperomandibular joint (TMJ) is The joint with the most proprioceptive nerves in the... horse’s entire body". When the horse’s lower jaw cannot move, it cannot, therefore, ‘transmit’ accurate positioning data to the horse’s body, which results in poor movement and performance. TMJ dysfunction reaction in horses are as follows: Balance may be impaired Ability to perform lateral movements will be impaired Range of motion of the cervical vertebrae will be impacted Contraction of the long hyoid muscles can put other muscles into spasm and tension The horse wants to ‘go behind the bit’ to relieve tension in the muscles between the hyoid and the scapula and/or the sternum It sets the stage for a hollow back It shortens the horse’s stride STILL Want ot tie the horses mouth shut?

16.01.2022 THE PRICE OF GOOD DENTISTRY. What does it take to become a qualified, educated, skilled, and well-equipped dental practitioner? The short answer is, it takes ...thousands of dollars and a lifetime of dedication, blood, sweat, and even a few tears. A good dental program can cost $15,000-$20,000 and will take a minimum of 18 months to complete. Most people will take 2 to 4 years to graduate the program in Idaho. After graduation of a qualified program, certification is then a goal that many students decide to undertake. This process can cost another $1000+ and requires a person to maintain continuing education as long as they wish to keep their certification. Instruments are a major cost. A well-equipped dental practitioner will likely spend anywhere from $5000 up to $20,000+ on instruments depending on how specialized he or she wishes to become in certain aspects of dentistry. Some practitioners are even using various forms of digital imaging. All of us drive vehicles for travel. We all do business from a cell phone. There are new and more specialized instruments being introduced every year that allows for more precision and better work. When it comes to the price of your horse dentist, I suppose you can choose from the cheapest guy in town, but I’d certainly verify that he won’t be costing you more money later. Ask him/her about their schooling, instruments, and continuing education. Did they graduate a qualified program? Did they become certified with one of the two major certifying organizations in the country? When/where was their last CE course? Do they use the latest instruments that allow for the best work? Do they use a bright light with a full-mouth speculum? All these things are very important when you are shopping for someone to work on your horse’s teeth. Dentistry today is not just floating teeth. The industry has learned much more about that process in recent decades. Whether your dental provider has a vet license or not, these things still apply!

16.01.2022 Here is an incisor reduction we performed today, before and after shots. You can see this horse has a very extended 202 incisor and also has a supernumerary (ex...tra) incisor which has become covered in plaque. We have reduced and scaled the teeth being very careful not to expose any pulp and he now has correct mandibular excursion. There should now be no more eating troubles for this boy See more

14.01.2022 ( ) #TeamGodolphin Learn about the yearling to horse process with our breaking in film First Steps #TeamGodolphin

14.01.2022 Must read for horse owners

11.01.2022 DENTAL GAGS: EFFICIENCY, SAFETY, AND YOUR HORSE’S COMFORT. This is an opinion piece based on my own education and experience and that of my educator’s. Obviousl...y many people hold their own beliefs regarding this issue and to which they are more than welcome. This is purely my own opinion and what I believe is the best for horse wellbeing. The equipment that is used during a dental examination can make a very large difference to the wellbeing of your horse and the quality of treatment your dentist can provide. To begin, however, I would like to highlight exactly how far back your horse’s molars are in their mouth. The last of the check teeth (referred to as the 11’s in the Triadan system of notation) sit almost in line with the horse’s eye socket (picture 3). They are seated so far back in the mouth that often it is quite difficult for a dentist to properly examine these teeth even with a full gag and knowledgeable feel. This is why proper equipment is essential if your dentist is going to do a comprehensive job. So what are the benefits and disadvantages of the different dental techniques? 1. THE NO GAG APPROACH. Unqualified and uneducated dentists and owners often tout using no gag as ‘the more natural, kinder dental examination technique.’ This is the equivalent of your farrier using a damp cloth to trim your horse’s hooves. It may be less intrusive, but to that extent, is completely useless. Without using a gag, a dentist must do one of two things to examine the mouth: either pull the tongue to the side of the mouth, which stops the horse closing its mouth; or place their own hand in the mouth. By pulling the tongue to the side, irreparable damage can be done to the Hyoid Apparatus. The Hyoid Apparatus is a complex cluster of small, very fragile bones that hold the tongue in the head. Once damaged, a horse’s tongue will hang loosely outside of the mouth. Never pull a horse’s tongue further than his lips to avoid damaging this apparatus. As previously mentioned, the horse’s most recessed cheekteeth are the 11’s. Not only are they a long way back, but they are also in the tightest part of the horse’s mouth. The oral arcade naturally narrows as it reaches the throat. The 11’s can grow long and sharp and therefore must be able to be examined and treated properly. Having no gag greatly inhibits the examination and treatment of these rear cheekteeth. The small amount of examination permitted without using a gag also makes it very difficult, if not impossible, to determine to what degree malocclusions exist in the mouth. Malocclusions such as wavemouths, step mouths, ramps and hooks (or extensions) etc. are abnormalities of the mouth that cause irregular wear on the horse’s teeth. These conditions are common and easily maintained by a competent dentist, but if they are ignored or missed they can result in a number of problems including periodontal disease, feed packing, pain, and tooth loss. Without a proper examination of all aspects of the horse’s oral arcade (teeth, gums, tongue, palate, lips and salivary ducts), getting the dentist out once a year would be just as useful as trimming your horses feet with a damp cloth. 2. THE SIDE GAG. The side gag is a contraption that slides inside the horse’s cheek and places a spring or wedge between the teeth to stop the horse from closing their mouth properly (picture 2). Amongst other things, this gag has been known to cause sagittal fractures of the horse’s cheek teeth as they bite down on the spring. Once again this device does not allow for a proper examination as the dentist has very little room to feel and examine. Being able to dictate how wide the horse opens their mouth is essential to being able to properly examine and then properly treat a horse’s teeth, whereas this technique only allows a very small opening and very little control over the examination. 3. THE FULL GAG. Every qualified and educated dentist and every specifically educated equine dental vet will use a full gag (picture 1). The full gag is a hefty piece of equipment, specifically designed to provide comfort as well as give the dentist good access to the mouth. It goes on much like a bridle, with a head piece, and nose and chin strap. However, instead of sitting in the interdental space between the incisors and molars, it cups the incisors and allows the dentist to open the horse’s mouth. When closed, a gag shouldn’t bother a horse, and it has the ability to be opened to different widths. A qualified dentist will be very aware of the comfort level of your horse during their examination and will close the gag whenever possible to give your horse a moment to chew, swallow, and reset. Wearing a gag will not be your horse’s favourite activity. But like all uncomfortable necessities, such as worming, injections, the girth and the bit, it is something with which your horse will easily cope. A good, qualified dentist will be efficient. They will take their time adjusting the gag and allowing the horse to become accustomed to it whilst also expertly diagnosing your horse’s mouth and deciding on treatment. A usual dental gag will have up to 5 width settings. A good dentist will rarely go past the 3rd setting, staying well within your horse’s comfort zone. This is the only technique by which you can be sure your dentist has effectively examined and treated your horse. It may look medieval, but it allows your dentist to inspect the entire oral cavity. If you’re curious, I always suggest you ask to have a before and after feel of your horse’s mouth and ask for explanations. Your dentist should be more than happy to point out the particular sharpness or abnormality they will treat. I love when clients take an interest in what I do for their horse, as it fascinates me and I love to talk about it. It also ensures that owners are engaged with their horse’s oral health, which benefits all parties.

11.01.2022 I've finally put in place over the last few months a feeding station as per the recommendation from the renowned Sharon May-Davis. In earlier learning sessions... with Sharon, she has suggested high hay at wither height to promote good posture whilst eating, giving the horses body a break from their usual habit of one leg forward one leg back to graze. This unfortunate habit of horses leads to high heel- low heel syndrome, where the horses front feet become mismatched. The ridden horse will develop body problems over time. Sharon suggests the horse eats hay at wither height, and even higher on occasion (not all the time). Her experiments with this then led to her trying feeding on a float ramp. This, however, needs the float to be hitched for safety each day for feeding, which can become tedious and lead to non-compliance. A further improvement involves the use of a platform, so that the horse has his front hooves higher than his back hooves. An even further improvement is encouraging a stretch through the back and withers by placing the food lower and forward. I will go into why shortly, but you can perhaps modify your stable by putting a platform on one side of the horse safe solid half door and feed on the other. Failing that, a sturdy horse safe gate can be used as the partition. It may take a bit of lateral thinking, but any of these scenarios will aid your ridden horse, and here's why: We ride the horse by placing our weight just behind the withers. This location is not so strong, though supported by ribs there is surprisingly little muscle mass under the saddle. Any help the horse gets will aid his comfort here. A properly fitting saddle, preparation for riding via good lunging, in-hand, pole work without a rider, free jumping, handwalking, liberty work, or similar. Kissing spine is a painful condition where the spinous processes under the saddle area come in contact with each other. This may cause fits of bucking, suddenly shooting forward, napping or rearing. As a therapist I think every effort should be made to help prevent kissing spine. So what can we do? Building the cybernetic, or postural muscles of the spine, ie the smaller muscles like the multifidi, is an excellent idea. They stabilise the spine and give it strength, and when strong allow the long muscles of the back to strengthen and supple as well. When weak they tire quickly and cannot hold the spine up, so the horse hollows and braces the back. We can use this simple feeding regime daily to strengthen these muscles in tandem with the horses exercise program. The horse stretches and opens the spine up. This is the key - opening the spinous processes, stretching the spine under the saddle area to relieve crowding which may result when the horse travels in a hollow frame - the horse simply can't hold its back up any more. Why not use the daily feeding time to help with this? Every little bit helps. I've had people say oh but I strengthen the back in the ridden work, which is wonderful, but what if you don't know how? Or what if your horse is untrained or ridden in poor posture prior? Or what if he's just being backed or coming into work after a rest? I started Pablo on just one pallet height. He has now graduated to two pallet height, which is adequate. The pallet is covered with plywood and rubber, with added bracing underneath. The trough is angled so that he has to reach down and out. The hay net is above the trough and is very effective in itself to strengthen his back. Pieces drop out which are then collected in his feed bowl in the trough. He can rest at any time, which he did in the beginning, but he now can eat his whole meal like this. Allow your horse to get off the platform if he needs to at any time for a rest, then ask him to get up again. Pablo's back is slightly too long. He has had much rehab over the years but always manages to injure himself or become sore. He is coming back into work and I have to say this is the most comfortable in his body that he has ever felt since incorporating this feeding system along with his usual carefully monitored gradual increase in work. It's a simple thing to do which may help your horses overall comfort. Jodie Halton Equine Massage ~Release the Potential~

09.01.2022 Need to appreciate your equine dentists knowledge - Pete Cranfield

08.01.2022 Food for thought! The structures around the equine jaw are interesting us at the moment and the hyoid apparatus in particular (see images). It consists of seve...ral hyoid bones that articulate together and suspend from the base of the skull by ligaments off the temporal bone. This structure has many roles to play and is an attachment (either directly or indirectly) for the base of the tongue, ventral neck muscles and has close association with the trachea. We frequently identify areas of dysfunction in this area which may have arisen because of tension in the neck muscles, a forelimb lameness, discomfort in the mouth, poorly fitting tack or may even be tracked as far back as the hind limbs. Release and treatment of the structures surrounding the hyoid can increase stride length, improve softness in the mouth, head carriage, reduce evasive behaviour and headshaking and may even ease breathing. This is a highly sensitive and complex area which can have a profound effect on the horse and his way of going. Simple management strategies can reduce the risk of discomfort: *Ensuring adequate fit of tack; the bit, noseband and areas around the poll. Even the addition of a fly veil under the bridle can cause an increase in pressure and over time result in pain. *Ensure teeth are checked regularly by an equine dentist or vet. *During work ensure frequent breaks from the more collected movements and avoid extreme flexion or the horse moving behind the vertical. images http://biosphera.org/international

07.01.2022 This photo, taken during necropsy, shows the mouth of a horse who was euthanized for aggressive behavior. Next time your horse says "NO", remember that he might be trying to tell you he is in pain.

03.01.2022 The underdogs of equine dentistry. There are a few extremely important and effective aspects of equine dentistry that are nearly universally under recognized, u...nder appreciated, poorly understood, and rarely provided. Let's talk about 3 big ones. 1- precise occlusal equilibration based on individual anatomical parameters. Every single person that floats teeth is convinced they provide this type of service. However, very few truly do. Correcting abnormalities of wear and achieving a more uniform wear pattern is extremely challenging and requires a lot of time and effort to learn. 2- infundibular restorations. Infundibular disease is common, and filling the cavities of moderately to severely affected teeth is extremely effective and offers a great prognosis in preventing fractures. It does take a significant investment in time and instrumentation to learn how to do this, but the benefits are untold. 3- minimally invasive segmentation of diseased teeth. This can be complete sectioning, or partial relief cuts to remove diseased teeth. Another extremely effective and non invasive technique that GREATLY reduces need for more invasive approaches such as lateral alveolectomy. Also requires a big investment in training and instrumentation. Virtually all horses will benefit from at least one of these techniques. There are isolated pockets of practitioners around the world that have done so much work on these topics over the last 2 decades. It's high time the veterinary organizations open their minds, identify the trends, and bring the people with experience and expertise together so that all practices can be given the opportunity to learn and discover these wonderful procedures. Right now, the circle of education is much too tight, and a massive disservice to veterinary practices and horses has resulted. So much is outdated, unnecessary, and entirely too invasive. Things need to change. If you are a vet, speak to your associations about these techniques and try to raise awareness of the current state of the art.