Floating
and Balancing the Equine Mouth
by Larry Kimberlin, D.V.M.
In this article we are going to talk about what it means to have your
horse “floated and balanced”.
The term float and balance means different things to different people.
You will see these terms used in magazines in conjunction with the
term equilibration. You may see them used interchangeably when they
actually refer to different procedures. The true definition of the
words are not as important to me (and probably you also) as why it
needs to be done and what changes have occurred in my horses mouth
after it has been done.
The horse has teeth that are continually worn down and replaced by
eruption of tooth (crown) surface into the mouth. This process continues
throughout the horse’s life until there is no reserve crown
left.
The
anatomical difference in the width of the lower jaw in comparison
to the wider
upper jaw causes the teeth
to form sharp edges along the outer edge (called buccal) and the inside
edge (called lingual) of the lower teeth.
The
edges or “points” can become razor sharp over time and
lacerate the cheek and tongue as shown in this photo. Bacteria
and virus organisms will then infect this soft tissue and cause pain
and discomfort. This is similar to having a cold sore in your mouth
or when you bite your lip or cheek.
The term “floating” refers to the removal of these sharp
points by the use of hand floats or most often carbide or diamond
coated power instruments. The points are ground off and a gentle curve
or radius is applied to the edge of the teeth to prevent further trauma
and remove as little of the chewing or occlussal surface as possible,
as shown here.
The
term balancing or equilibration refers to reducing uneven length of
the teeth along the arcades. When the crown length of individual teeth
are too short or too long it causes undue pressure in the mouth when
food is chewed.
There
are many causes of uneven crown height – but one of the most
common is the "wave”. Waves are formed when two or more
teeth in an arcade are longer than the adjacent teeth. The photo at
the left shows a wave.
The
horse that has been floated and equilibrated will chew with less effort
and will be more comfortable when it takes in the hay and grain that
keep the engines running. All horses need to be examined yearly and
be floated and balanced to promote optimum health and performance.
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