A trip to the dentist isn’t what it used to be. Human dentists can now easily fix nearly any problem a patient might complain about, from cavities to broken teeth. Dental care for horses isn’t quite to this point, but in recent years advancements have been made in the field of equine restorative dentistry that are giving owners options when faced with some dental disorders.

At the American Association of Equine Practitioners Focus on Dentistry meeting, held Sept. 18-20 in Albuquerque, N.M., Stephen S. Galloway, DVM, FAVD, of Animal Care Hospital in Somerville, Tenn., discussed some new restorative dentistry options for horses. Restorative dentistry aims to treat, repair, and conserve teeth broken by trauma or decay.

"Throughout recorded equine dental history, exodontia (tooth extraction) has been the primary treatment option for diseased teeth," Galloway began. "However, the goal of dentistry is to preserve functional dentition in order to promote the general health, longevity, and productivity of the horse.

"Although equine veterinarians have practiced restorative dentistry for over 120 years, the introduction of less technique-sensitive dental materials over the last 20 years has stimulated renewed interest in direct placement restorations