NTED - Performance Dentistry
Most horse owner's and trainers are still unaware of what performance dentistry really is, what is involved in this type of dentistry and what kind of performance and behavioral problems it will eliminate.
Performance dentistry is not a new concept but is very different from your basic, advanced and corrective dentistry so therefore, is in a catagory by itself.
Performance dentistry is performed on all horses that are used for recreational riding to any type of performance and is designed to provide the upmost comfort in the mouth for the horse. Performance dentistry addresses the buccal and lingual surfaces of the cheek teeth with special attention paid to the upper and lower premolars. The enamel ridges are smoothed and contoured to insure comfort and reduced risk of soft tissue lacerations to these areas. The canines are reduced and contoured to keep from lacerating the tongue and soft tissues and then finally bit seats are created.
The purpose of the bit seat is to prevent lacerations of the cheek tissue when the bit drags the pouchy flesh of the cheeks into the upper and lower first premolars. Bit seats offer alot of bar and tongue relief to a horse by allowing the bit to ride up off the tongue and bars in the seat that has been created. The type of contouring and style of bit seat that is created for the horse will depend on the type of bit being used and the type of performance the horse is being used for.
Horses that are suffering from oral pain will not perform to their fullest potential and lack of concentration is all it takes to loose in any discipline and or timed event. Also, bleeding from the mouth is all it takes to become disqualified by judges at any sanctioned show.