Bernadene Certified Equine Dentist

Bernadene Certified Equine Dentist I'm a Certified Equine Dentist, I've been working with Horses all my life. Feel free to contact me f In humans "TMJ" problems can cause headaches.

Horses' teeth grow continuously until some time between the ages of 25 and 30. Grass, their natural food, contains silica which is an abrasive and which constantly wears down the horse's teeth. The fibers of heavier grasses require a bit of grinding on the part of the horse. Additionally the horse reaches down to bite off grass and then raises his head to chew which changes his jaw position constantly. A horse living on natural grass will be more likely to naturally polish off the surfaces of his molars into a level. Thus the horse's dental apparatus is pretty well adapted to his natural diet. These points can be quite razor-like, actually cutting deep into one's finger when rubbed across them while inspecting the mouth. These sharp points they often cut into the horse's cheeks when they chew and cause soreness where a bit or halter pushes the cheek against a sharp tooth. They can also cause slab fractures which are discussed later in this section. In some cases a horse may have to chew unnaturally in an attempt to grind up his food. This action can often result in increased uneven wear on the teeth and in some cases generate significant excess pressure on one or more tooth which can result in serious complications including causing teeth to literally be worked loose. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Your horse may be showing signs of burgeoning dental problems. Horses who become harder to keep for no apparent reason, who salivate excessively when eating, who eat slowly and with effort, who continuously drop bits of half chewed food and who show unusually coarse manure are prime candidates for a dental inspection. Other behavioral characteristics suggesting tooth problems may include unusual fussing with the bit, avoidance of bit contact, irritation when put into a dropped noseband, head tucking or head tossing, poor self carriage and not wanting to have his face and muzzle handled. PAIN AND BEHAVIOR
An uneven matching of the molars can put a strain on the temporal mandibular joint, which can be very painful. In horses it can cause them to go off feed or colic. Oftentimes mysterious colics which have no apparent cause can be traced back to dental problems. Hooks on the far back of the molars can prevent the horse's jaw from relaxing and moving forward when the rider asks him to round up, especially if he's wearing a tight dropped noseband and can't open his mouth to relieve the pressure. This situation can also be painful and result in the horse displaying unusual head movements or being unable to sustain a comfortable frame. Additionally, young horses will often experience discomfort when shedding their deciduous (baby) teeth. Lumps will often appear under the jawbones while the new teeth are trying to erupt and sometimes the horse can benefit from some human assistance in removing the old baby tooth "caps".

New outfit, feeling extra girly 💕✨Soft, pretty, and just a little bit obsessed 😍🌸Sometimes all you need is something cut...
10/04/2026

New outfit, feeling extra girly 💕✨
Soft, pretty, and just a little bit obsessed 😍🌸
Sometimes all you need is something cute to lift your whole mood 💁🏽‍♀️💖

10/04/2026

How to remove/extract a Wolftooth.

Bernadene Certified Equine Dentist
Bernadene Meintjes Robêrt
0824955753

“Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.”“Sud...
05/04/2026

“Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.”

“Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it.” “His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.”
“The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.” “Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.”

“He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

““For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not peris...
03/04/2026

““For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16

Did you know? 🐴An adult horse typically has between 36 and 44 teeth! The exact number depends on age, gender, and whethe...
25/03/2026

Did you know? 🐴

An adult horse typically has between 36 and 44 teeth! The exact number depends on age, gender, and whether they have canines or wolf teeth.

Regular dental checks are essential to keep those teeth healthy and your horse comfortable. 🦷✨

13/03/2026

What a crazy busy but blessed week ♡

🦷 Understanding Your Horse’s Dental Anatomy 🐴Did you know your horse has several different types of teeth — each with an...
08/03/2026

🦷 Understanding Your Horse’s Dental Anatomy 🐴

Did you know your horse has several different types of teeth — each with an important job?

🔹 Incisors – The front teeth used for cutting and grazing grass.
🔹 Premolars & Molars – The large cheek teeth at the back that grind and chew food properly.
🔹 Canines – Most commonly seen in geldings and stallions, located between the incisors and cheek teeth.
🔹 Wolf Teeth – Small teeth that sit just in front of the premolars. They can sometimes cause discomfort, especially in ridden horses.

Healthy teeth = better digestion, comfort, and performance.

If you’re unsure when last your horse had a dental check, it might be time to book one! 🐎✨

About lastweek ♡
04/03/2026

About lastweek ♡

04/03/2026

Sometimes, a float isn’t the solution. I know, I know- I wish I could wave my magic wand and make it all better too.

While there are minimal tweaks that could be made to make this guy a little more comfortable, the exam is what will make the biggest impact. Why? Because now the owner knows. The weight loss wasn’t caused by lack of feed or hay. The choke makes sense now. Their diet can be adjusted to a soupy mash and this old guy can thrive again

Mouths like this don’t happen overnight. It takes years of dental neglect to get to this point. Whichever tooth was the most prominent took the grunt of the pressure. When that one wore out, it was the next one then the next one. (The owner of this horse had just recently acquired it)

How can you prevent this? Thorough dental exams and FULL MOUTH EQUILIBRATION every year. “Knocking off sharp points” simply won’t do it

Why do horses get fractured teeth?🦷 1. Excessive Occlusal Forces (Normal Wear Gone Wrong)Uneven dental arcadesLarge wave...
02/03/2026

Why do horses get fractured teeth?

🦷 1. Excessive Occlusal Forces (Normal Wear Gone Wrong)
Uneven dental arcades
Large waves, steps, or hooks
Overgrown opposing teeth
Malocclusions
When pressure is uneven, certain parts of the tooth take excessive force during chewing. Over time, this creates micro-cracks that can eventually fracture.
🐴 2. Advanced Dental Caries (Infundibular or Peripheral)
Infundibular caries (especially in upper 06–09s)
Peripheral caries weakening the enamel and dentine
Caries hollow out and weaken the internal structure of the tooth, making it fragile and prone to collapse or slab fracture.
🦠 3. Endodontic Disease (Pulp Infection)
Chronic pulpitis
Apical infection
Tooth root abscess
When the pulp becomes infected, the tooth weakens from the inside. Structural integrity is lost, and fractures can follow.
⚡ 4. Trauma
Kicks from other horses
Striking solid objects (stable walls, feeders, trailers)
Falling
Bit trauma (less common for molars but possible)
Acute trauma can cause sudden fracture.
🌾 5. Chewing Hard Objects
Stones in feed
Very hard pellets
Acorns
Wood chewing / cribbing
Sudden extreme force on one cusp can cause a crown fracture.
🧬 6. Developmental Defects
Enamel hypoplasia
Incomplete cemental filling of infundibula
Abnormal tooth formation
These defects create weak points in the tooth from eruption.
⏳ 7. Age-Related Changes
Older horses have shorter reserve crowns
Secondary dentine production may be insufficient
Teeth become more brittle with age
Senior horses are more prone to fractures, especially sagittal slab fractures.
🪓 8. Iatrogenic Causes (Dental Procedure Related)
Over-aggressive floating
Excessive reduction of enamel
Power tool heat damage
Removing too much structural support
Improper dental work can predispose a tooth to fracture later.
🔄 9. Pre-existing Cracks (Idiopathic Slab Fractures)
Sometimes a tooth fractures without obvious cause. These are often:
Sagittal slab fractures (common in maxillary 09s)
Stress fractures from chronic cyclic loading
🧪 10. Periodontal Disease
Loss of periodontal support
Food packing
Chronic inflammation
When support structures weaken, abnormal movement increases fracture risk.
⚠️ Most Common Fracture Patterns
Sagittal slab fracture (upper 09 most common)
Infundibular collapse
Crown fracture with pulp exposure
Partial crown fracture
Complete clinical crown fracture
If you're seeing fractures regularly in practice, Bernadene, it’s often a combination of: ✔️ Uneven occlusion
✔️ Infundibular caries
✔️ Age-related weakening

27/02/2026

What a Blessed Week ♡

Thank you so much for your kind words and for trusting Bernadene Certified Equine Dentistry with your special herd. It’s...
26/02/2026

Thank you so much for your kind words and for trusting Bernadene Certified Equine Dentistry with your special herd. It’s always such a privilege to work with horses whose well-being is clearly a top priority.
You are absolutely right — they can’t tell us when something is uncomfortable, and by the time we see the signs, they’ve often been coping quietly for a while. That’s why proactive, routine dental care makes such a world of difference. A comfortable mouth means a happy horse — and a happy horse performs, eats, and feels better all round.
Thank you for being such dedicated, responsible horse owners. It truly shows in your horses. 💛
Until the next float… enjoy that hay in total comfort! 🥕🦷

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Middelburg

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0824955753

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