Berwyn Equine Dentistry

31/07/2026

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27/07/2026

An interesting find...

16/07/2026

Strawberry poopoo was a star for her first dental! Despite only being young she had some nasty ulceration due to sharp points in her tight mouth. These should now hopefully heal in the next few days, leaving her happy and comfortable

10/07/2026

Look at mine too!!!

08/07/2026

Nova was a very brave girl for her rasp and had a couple of caps extracted.

30/06/2026

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A diastema (singular) or diastemata (plural) refers to an abnormal space between teeth.

Normally, horses have six cheek teeth in each dental arcade, tightly positioned to function as a single grinding unit. However, if a gap exists between these teeth then food can become trapped.

A UK study indicated that 49.9% of horses of all ages are affected. The prevalence of diastemata increases in horses over the age of 15.

Diastemata are classified into two types:

Primary Diastemata

These are developmental in nature and can occur due to improper rostral-caudal angulation, dental buds that are too far apart, or teeth that are developmentally displaced or rotated.

Secondary Diastemata

These are acquired and may result from tooth displacement, pressure from occlusal overgrowths, drifting teeth following extraction, or the natural tapering of teeth with age, leading to senile diastemata.

There are two types of diastemata based on the gap’s shape:

Open Diastema: The gap is the same width from top to bottom.

Valve Diastema: The top of the gap is narrower than the bottom, which can cause food impaction.

As food accumulates, it can irritate the gums and create an environment where bacteria thrive, leading to inflammation, infection and periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is considered one of the most painful conditions affecting the equine mouth.

Some horses may show signs such as quidding, bad breath, difficulty eating or weight loss, while others can have significant disease with very few obvious symptoms.

Treatment and long-term management vary from horse to horse. The first step is often removing impacted food and carrying out good quality dentistry, including reducing any overgrowths that may be contributing to food trapping. Dietary adjustments may also help in some cases, particularly where certain feeds are more likely to become impacted within the gap.

More advanced cases may require veterinary involvement and further treatment.

Every diastema is different, which is why regular dental examinations and an individual management plan are so important.

Horses are remarkably good at adapting to dental problems, which is why regular dental examinations are so important.

To learn more about this condition watch our YouTube video 👉🏼 “Top 3 dental abnormalities” 🔗 https://youtu.be/DlXfJpbKF5g?si=DyXW_TYHc8U5QNKZ 🦷

29/06/2026

If you require an appointment for july or august please drop us a message asap so I can book childcare, otherwise we may not be able to make it to you before sept!

21/06/2026

Henry looking excited for his dental on friday

17/06/2026

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07/06/2026

Busy but enjoyable weekend attending the BAEDTcongress and agm