Tooth removal

[chunky monkey]

Just thinking, it was recommended Chunky has to have his front tooth removed as the vet thinks it might be causing some pain. I know the insurance doesnt pay out for the annual teeth checks but would i be covered by insurance for the tooth being removed.

Are there any downsides to having the front tooth removed. ie would he intake less grass therefore cause issues with not eating enough. His back teeth are all good for his age so im told.

 

[Doodle92]

On mine they state he has to have his teeth done at least once per year. If that happens then yes they would cover dental issues rather than annual checks. However that was stated as when he was vetted he needed his teeth done.

I would imagine the only possible issue would be the other teeth then growing irregularly in to the space left, but that would easily he sorted at routine teeth time.

 

[Trewsers]

I'd be interested to read the replies to this - about the front tooth. I had the vet check Chloe last week and she's too old to have one of hers removed. It would have meant sending her to the vet school off the island. She's 31 and would be heartbroken as she's never been anywhere. So we are monitoring it and if it comes looser then so be it. But I think it all depends on how easy they are to remove. The vet said they can still shatter and cause problems. If it's causing Chunky pain then that's different. Vet told me Chloe wasn't in pain with this, it would be more of an annoyance. It isn't her front though, it's one on her lower jaw.

 

[Trewsers]

@chunky monkey is it really wobbly? And has he been quidding or anything?

 

[Mary Poppins]

In my experience the insurance will pay for the tooth to be removed as long as your horse has had regular dental checks (at least every 12 months) and you will need to provide proof of this. The insurance will then exclude all dental issues after 12 months, so it makes sense for the dentist to have a good look round and do anything else that needs to be done in this time. Ben had 2 root canal fillings at a specialist dental clinic and the insurance paid straight out for it.

 

[chunky monkey]

I was about to say why cant chloes tooth be done at home till i read on.

I havent been aware of him quidding he was last year but seems ok at present. I guess removing it may cause him to drop stuff out.

She could wobble it yes. Its not mega loose but there is a bit of bruising on the gum above.
The indication is he will need sedating and a bit of local, but she thought it should come out easily. But once its gone i guess theres going to be a gap for a while for stuff to get trapped in but then how much pressure will it put on the rest not having it, and with less teeth i worry that he will be grabbing grass and chucking loads out. Theres going to be quite a gap.

 

[Trewsers]

I was about to say why cant chloes tooth be done at home till i read on.

I havent been aware of him quidding he was last year but seems ok at present. I guess removing it may cause him to drop stuff out.

She could wobble it yes. Its not mega loose but there is a bit of bruising on the gum above.
The indication is he will need sedating and a bit of local, but she thought it should come out easily. But once its gone i guess theres going to be a gap for a while for stuff to get trapped in but then how much pressure will it put on the rest not having it, and with less teeth i worry that he will be grabbing grass and chucking loads out. Theres going to be quite a gap.

So could Chunky have it removed at home and not need to go off anywhere? That's good if that's the case - well, not good but you know what I mean, less stressful. I think they are wary of giving Chloe any sedation at all. She's old and the vet doesn't sedate her for teeth work - Chloe is really good and doesn't get stressed. But vet did mention that she wasn't going to give her any, just work on them slowly and a little at a time rather than sedation so that must not be good for her heart or something.
If there's a big gum gap then when it's healed they might use the filler they use on Storm - to give it a rest and stop it getting sore. Storm managed to keep her latest filler in for a record two months! Sometimes that comes out the next day but this must have sat well. It just eases the gums and gives them time to rest from all the food that gets stuck in there. Wish I could teach her to be flossed lol

 

[Jessey]

Never had a front tooth removed, but insurance should cover it as long as routine checks have been done. Re not being able to graze properly, when Niko had his front teeth knocked out earlier this year he didn’t even seem to notice and was very able to scoff his face still

 

[Doodle92]

Robin has a gap between 2 front teeth. Initially grass got stuck in there but once it widened to a couple of mm (which took maybe 6 months) that stopped. The vet is not entirely sure why it is doing it. The other side started also. It’s the top teeth, the outside ones then the next. We did worry for a bit as to what to do if stuff got stuck there but it is not an issue. So I would guess the whole tooth being gone wouldn’t get stuff stuck in it.

As sultan aged and by the time he died at 38 his top teeth were worn smooth down to stumps barely above the gum. He managed grass fine but had changed his action pulling his head up to rip grass rather than down.