Horse Dental Health

Horses have between 36 & 42 teeth consisting of 12 incisors. All 12 incisors erupt as deciduous (caps) incisors and are later replaced by permanent (adult) incisors. There are 24 molars. The 1st, 2nd & 3rd molars erupt as deciduous (caps) molars and the 4th, 5th & 6th molars erupt as permanent (adult) molars. There are four canine (bridle) teeth located between the incisors and the molars. The canine teeth erupt in male horses but are usually absent or very small in female horses. Wolf teeth may or may not be present in the horse’s mouth and can be located in front of the 1st upper and/or lower molar.

 

DECIDUOUS (CAPS) TEETH WHEN DO THEY APPEAR

Central Incisors. Birth or first week

Lateral incisors. 4 to 6 weeks

Corner Incisors. 6 to 9 months

1st, 2nd, 3rd pre molars Birth or first 2 weeks for all pre molars

PERNAMENT (ADULT) TEETH

Central Incisors. 2 1/2 years

Lateral Incisors. 3 1/2 years

Corner incisors. 4 1/2 years

Canine (Bridle) teeth. 4 to 5 years

Wolf teeth Birth or 5 to 6 months

1st molar. 2 1/2 years

2nd molar. 3 years

3rd molar. 3 1/2 years

4th molar. 9 to 12 months

5th molar. 2 years

6th molar. 3 1/2 years

*This is a guide