After setting up, your horse will be examined before we administer sedation. Once they're suitably relaxed, we perform an oral assessment with a 5 component oral exam and dental radiographs. Upper airway endoscopy is also available, if indicated. Whether we're about to perform a dental float or you've been referred for a surgery, we want to be sure we've looked carefully for any unidentified problems that could affect our patients. 

A treatment plan is made, once the assessment is complete. This may be as simple as confirming that there were no unexpected findings and we will proceed with the planned surgery or dental float, or we may have additional findings to discuss with you before proceeding. Then, with your permission, your horse's treatment is performed. 

Please have a stall available for your horse to rest in while the sedation wears off. They may have water but please remove all hay from the stall. It usually takes 1 to 3 hours for sedation to wear off completely. 

Horses may shiver while recovering from sedation. This is normal. Some horses will sweat from sedation and should be blanketed appropriately for the weather. 

After sedation, we recommend offering a mash as the first meal to help rehydrate and stimulate bowel movements.

If your horse has been floated or treated for periodontal disease, they may now go back to their normal routine!

If there was a dental extraction or other surgery, recommendations will vary depending on the case but usually we recommend...

1. Normal diet and turn-out.

2. 14 days off work.

3. 10 days of painkiller and antibiotic. 

4. A recheck with your primary care vet in 3 weeks.