Horse Teeth: Complete Guide To Anatomy, Care, And Common Issues

Regular exams ensure smooth grazing and lasting comfort for your equine partner.

By Srija Burman

Created on Aug 29, 2025

Regular exams ensure smooth grazing and lasting comfort for your equine partner.

Understanding Horse Teeth: Anatomy, Function, and Care

The teeth of a horse play a pivotal role in health, nutrition, comfort, and overall well-being. Regular dental exams and awareness of common dental challenges are essential for every horse owner. This guide explores equine dental anatomy, the stages of dental development, prevalent issues, care strategies, and frequently asked questions, defining how proper dental management supports optimal horse health.

Dental Anatomy of Horses

Equine teeth are complex structures designed for efficient grazing and food processing. Understanding their anatomy is crucial to recognizing dental health needs and problems.

Layers of an Equine Tooth

Pulp: The innermost layer, containing nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics, and odontoblasts. It is vital for nourishing the tooth and forming dentin.
Key function: Maintaining vitality and growth.
Dentin: A protective, living tissue surrounding the pulp, enabling restoration and resilience after wear.
Key function: Protects pulp and provides bulk.
Enamel: The hardest tissue of the tooth, forming ridges on the chewing surface, integral to grinding food.
Key function: Withstands wear but cannot regenerate when damaged.
Cementum: The outer layer, connects the tooth to the periodontal ligament, playing a supporting role during chewing.
Key function: Anchors tooth, similar to bone.

Periodontium and Tooth Support

Holds tooth in the alveolus (socket)
Includes the gum (gingiva), periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, and cementum
Junctional epithelium creates a tight seal around the tooth
Periodontal ligament attaches tooth to the socket, allowing flexibility and preventing breakage

Layer	Main Role	Unique Features
Pulp	Vitality, growth	Nerves and blood supply present
Dentin	Protection	Can regenerate
Enamel	Chewing surface	Hardest, non-regenerative
Cementum	Attachment	Connects to ligament, similar to bone

The Types of Horse Teeth and Their Functions

Horses possess several types of teeth, each fulfilling specific purposes related to grasping, cutting, and grinding forage.

Incisors

6 upper and 6 lower incisors
Designed for grasping and cutting forage before chewing
First set in foals emerges around 6 days, with new sets appearing at 6 weeks and 6 months
Permanent adult incisors erupt at roughly 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5 years of age

Canines

Prominent in male horses, rare in females
Typically erupt between 4 and 5.5 years of age
Located between incisors and first premolars
Sometimes confused with wolf teeth

Wolf Teeth

Small, vestigial teeth in front of first upper premolars
Erupt at 6–18 months; may occur in upper or rarely lower jaw
No current function, but may cause discomfort with the bit during riding
Early removal is often recommended to avoid complications

Cheek Teeth (Premolars and Molars)

Grind forage for digestion
12 premolars and 12 molars: three premolars and three molars per side, both jaws
Deciduous premolars (caps) in foals, replaced by permanent teeth by age three
Cheek teeth have folded enamel ridges for efficient grinding and slow wear
Provide a rough occlusal surface for processing tough plant matter

Dental Development Stages in Horses

From birth to adulthood, horses undergo distinct stages of dental development, each requiring special attention.

Foal to Young Horse

Deciduous (milk) teeth erupt in predictable patterns
Three sets of incisors erupt within first six months
Premolars present as ‘caps,’ which shed over time
Cheek teeth erupt as molars and premolars develop

Permanent Teeth

Adult teeth replace milk teeth, finishing by about 5 years old
New teeth erupt behind the caps, which fall out naturally
Mature horses have up to 40 teeth, depending on sex and individual development

How Horse Teeth Function During Feeding

Equine teeth are adapted to grazing and chewing tough, fibrous grasses, supporting their digestive system and energy needs.

Incisors cut and grasp grass
Canines are seldom used in females but may help separate forage in males
Cheek teeth grind food with complex enamel ridges, crucial for breaking down cellulose
Slow, side-to-side jaw motion optimizes grinding

Common Dental Problems in Horses

Ineffective or abnormal dental wear often leads to discomfort, poor digestion, and behavioral changes. Awareness and routine examination help identify and address issues promptly.

Sharp Enamel Points

Cheek teeth can form sharp edges due to uneven wear
May cause pain, ulcers, and difficulty in eating or accepting the bit

Malocclusions

Includes overbites (‘parrot mouth’), underbites, and irregular tooth alignment
Results in difficulty in cutting/grinding food, and uneven wear

Retained Deciduous Teeth (‘Caps’)

Occur when milk premolars do not shed properly
Cause discomfort, especially in young horses
May require manual removal by a veterinarian

Wolf Teeth Complications

Large, displaced, or mandibular wolf teeth may interfere with the bit
Removal is usually performed before training with a bit to prevent sensitivity

Other Issues

Tooth fractures, abscesses, and infections
Periodontal disease, affecting gums and underlying bone
Luxation (displacement) or ankylosis (fusion) of teeth in severe cases

Signs of Dental Trouble in Horses

Recognizing symptoms of dental problems allows for early intervention and prevention of more serious health concerns.

Dropping food or ‘quidding’ (leaving partially chewed mounds of feed)
Excessive salivation
Difficulty eating or weight loss
Head tossing, resistance to the bit
Facial swelling, foul breath

The Importance of Routine Dental Care

Proactive dental care is crucial to sustaining health and comfort. Recommendations may vary with age, breed, and specific risk factors.

Annual dental exams are generally recommended
Floating (filing or rasping sharp enamel points) is a common procedure to maintain even wear
Regular care helps identify problems before they cause major health or performance issues
Early intervention and treatment limit the need for complex procedures
Some horses may require more frequent checks, particularly those with a history of dental issues

Dental Procedures: What to Expect

Professional dental treatment is straightforward but essential for overall horse welfare.

Dentists or veterinarians use speculums to assess all tooth surfaces
Local anesthesia may be used for extractions or correction of severe malocclusions
Wolf teeth and retained caps are typically removed at a young age if problematic
Filing (floating) smooths sharp points and restores normal chewing action

Special Considerations for Different Age Groups

Foals and Young Horses: Monitor teething bumps and caps; ensure teeth develop and erupt properly
Adult Horses: Regular floating, monitor for emerging dental abnormalities
Senior Horses: Frequent exams, as teeth may become loose, worn, or lost, affecting nutrition

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How often should my horse have its teeth checked?

A: Most horses benefit from annual dental exams, but some may require more frequent evaluations, especially young or senior horses, or those with dental concerns.

Q: What are wolf teeth, and should they be removed?

A: Wolf teeth are small, vestigial teeth in front of the first upper premolars. Removal is recommended if they interfere with the bit or cause discomfort.

Q: What is ‘floating’ and why is it important?

A: Floating means filing sharp enamel points on cheek teeth to prevent pain, ulcers, and uneven chewing. It helps maintain lasting comfort and proper digestion.

Q: What signs indicate dental issues in horses?

A: Quidding, dropping food, excessive salivation, resistance to the bit, weight loss, and foul breath are common signs of dental problems.

Q: Can dental issues affect a horse’s behavior or performance?

A: Yes, dental pain or discomfort can lead to behavioral changes, inability to accept the bit, reluctance to eat, and reduced activity or willingness to work.

Summary Table: Horse Teeth by Type and Function

Tooth Type	Location	Main Function	Age of Eruption
Incisors	Front, upper and lower jaw	Grasping, cutting forage	6 days – 4.5 years
Canines	Gap between incisors and premolars	Minor, often vestigial	4 – 5.5 years (usually males)
Wolf Teeth	In front of first premolars	None, may cause discomfort	6 – 18 months
Premolars	Cheek (behind canines)	Grinding, chewing	Up to 3 years
Molars	Cheek (behind premolars)	Grinding, chewing	Up to adulthood

Equine Dental Health: Fast Facts

Horses can develop up to 40 teeth, including vestigial wolf teeth and permanent canines
Dental wear and alignment must be regularly monitored to avoid discomfort
Routine ‘floating’ supports lasting dental health and improves feeding efficiency
Wolf teeth are often removed to prevent bit interference
Senior horses require special attention due to tooth loss, wear, or age-related disease

Horse Teeth: Complete Guide To Anatomy, Care, And Common Issues

Understanding Horse Teeth: Anatomy, Function, and Care