Supporting Natures Balance and Stability in the Horses Mouth for Full Functionality and TMJ Comfort

 Natural Balance Dentistry is not about over floating the horse’s teeth or pulling teeth unnecessarily, it is simply re-balancing the mouth to fit the individual horse. 
  Working in this way we are following the framework the horse was born with. Supporting a balanced mouth that fits the individual. Allowing full side to side motion, as well as forward and back movement of the jaw. Shearing and mastication of feed with proper rotation for complete digestion is natures primary function of the teeth. 
  Maintaining natures balance of the mouth gives stability and comfort for the Temporal-Mandibular-Joint, (TMJ) and the proprioceptors located there. 
   Allowing the molars, incisors and TMJ to receive equal pressure at rest, which is crucial for performance work. The horse's ability to judge where they are in time and space is not hindered unnecessarily by dental procedures.

          Basic concepts are;

• Checking for asymmetry in the horse before dental work to see if that is causing pathology in the teeth.
• If the bone structure of the head is not symmetrical, only correct what will work for the horse. What will work for him may not be symmetrical, but it will match his structure

• Working in harmony with the horse, mentally and physically.

      

           This looks like a willing individual.

• Check body condition and vital signs of the horse.

• Determine age of the horse to determine eruption rate of the teeth.
• Also a factor is the length of time the restriction has been present. 
• Together this will influence the amount of corrections that might be made and determine over what length of time it could take. The teeth erupt slower the older the horse gets. The longer the restriction is present, it may take more than a day for a horse to fully re time his bite. Muscle memory may need to be overcome. Supporting theropies may help with after care, such as; cranio sacral, acupressure or body work.

• The horse has a wearing surface on the teeth before dental work. They should have an increase in the usable surface area when you leave, without restriction of movement.

• Dental work is done to correct alignment and balance of the incisors and molar arcades. To maximize surface to surface contact of the teeth restoring anterior/posterior movement and lateral motion to the jaw. In doing so restores what is natural rotation, guidance and function to the TMJ.

• The horse only has one JAW, not upper and lower. The upper is the maxilla and the premaxilla which is the skull and has no moving parts, but contains the upper molar arcades and upper incisors. The jaw of the horse contains the lower molar arcades and lower incisors.

• Over length, and a greater surface angle of the incisors limits proper rotation of the jaw creating the pathology on the molars. 

• To align and balance the incisors first is the key to maintaining appropriate wear with eruption, before balancing the molars.

• Check the movement of the jaw before and after balancing the mouth.

• ABSERVE, REMEMBER and COMPARE,"Tom Dorance".

• Always discuss after care for the horse, suggest some exercises the owner might do with the horse to help him find the amount of movement it now has.