The Truth about Power Floating in Equine Dentistry - It all depends ….
Equine Dental “floating” or in nerdy vet terms, “Odontoplasty”, refers to a procedure that dates back 100s of years. Borrowed from the Masonry trade, the term means “to level or make even”. The evolution of horse management, along with drastic changes in their diet, have undoubtedly shaped the dentistry services we now consider an essential part of equine health and welfare. A natural, but uneven, wear pattern occurs across the dental arcades in a horse’s mouth. This is due to the conformation of their jaw and the alignment of their upper and lower teeth in occlusion. The upper ( maxillary) jaw sits wider than the lower (mandibular) jaw, contributing to their specific chewing pattern, the well-known “figure eight” motion noticed most prominently when eating long stem fiber (grass and hay). Enamel points form as a result of this uneven wear on the outer margin of the upper teeth and the inner margin of the lower dental arcades. If the enamel points become too large and sharp, they can prevent normal chewing and/or cut into the cheek tissue or the tongue. In some circumstances, sharp points, particularly at the back of the mouth, can irritate horses asked to accept a bit during riding.
It seems the reasoning behind why a horse’s teeth should be floated is now widely accepted within the majority of the modern equine community. However, the subject of how this service is accomplished; manually filing the teeth versus the use of power tools to reduce excessive enamel points, is a much more divided topic of opinion.
Throughout my career, I have floated horses with both hand floats as well as with different types of power tools. I now exclusively use a battery-powered, diamond burr rotary disc float system. The observed benefits that drive my preference are:
• A faster and more efficient experience, allowing for less time with the horse’s mouth open, less stress, and less TMJ pressure
• The power float allows greater precision while floating, decreasing the chances of mucosal injury within the mouth
• Less force generated on the teeth as they are floated increases a horse’s comfort during the procedure; for horses (especially seniors) with teeth that may be starting to loosen or become associated with periodontal disease, floating can become more painful when pulling forces from manual floating techniques are applied
Regardless of the benefits stated above, the biggest concern I often address with horse owners regarding power floating is safety. Rightfully so!! It is fair to say that ANY float method can be damaging to a horse’s mouth if applied without care. Appropriate education regarding the tools being used and the anatomy of equine teeth is essential for a safe, effective dental float procedure. The most important considerations are the amount of tooth being taken away and the amount of heat that is generated on the teeth during the procedure.
Several studies have been conducted to investigate which dental tools contribute most to excessive heat within the pulp (live portion) of the teeth. Work by JM O’Leary et al, published in Equine Vet Journal 2013, compared the effects of different motorized float systems on pulp (within the tooth) heat generation. The study also evaluated the protective effects of water cooling as well as the thickness of secondary dentin on their ability to offer protection against increasing temperatures of the teeth. Conclusions drawn here confirm the need to keep the floating time to under 30 seconds per tooth no matter what float system is used to avoid heat damage. It was suggested that motorized floats that operate at higher speeds are the safest to use as they would accomplish the job in the least amount of time. As horses age, the thickness of secondary dentin increases, which also contributes to a protective benefit.
When performing a dental float, I prefer to use water cooling in the mouth before, after, and sometimes even mid-float to help control the temperature. Paying attention to the time spent on each tooth as I float around the mouth is also an important part of the process to keep the dental arcades well within the safe zone.
Using my dental mirror, I can monitor the color of the secondary dentin on each tooth, an accurate indicator for what is and is not a safe amount of tooth to remove as I float.
Which type of float is preferred, manual or power, remains subject to the opinion of the practitioner. However, knowledge and care make all the difference when choosing what is best for our Equine patients!
