Q:I read in another magazine that you can have braces put on a horse for an overbite. Naturally, in the article there was no contact information. How can I find out about this? I have a super nice filly that is show quality except for the overbite. If you could help me find out where to start looking for a qualified person to do it, I would really appreciate your help. If I can get this corrected on my filly, I will show her.      

Jennifer

A:Whether orthodontics or surgical intervention is necessary or recommended for an overbite is best determined by a veterinarian with special training and experience in equine dentistry. The basic goal in managing an overbite (parrot mouth) in young, growing horses is to prevent the upper jaw from outpacing the growth of the lower jaw. This is usually accomplished through a combination of approaches. First, and most important, any abnormalities of wear that have developed in the cheek teeth and incisors should be corrected and prevented from recurring. Depending on the severity of the case, this might be all that is necessary to allow the lower jaw to reach the same length as the upper jaw.

Other measures might include tension wires placed inside the mouth to inhibit further lengthening of the horse's upper jaw. There are also temporary and semi-permanent bite plates that can be applied to fit between the upper and lower incisors to prevent the upper jaw from entrapping the lower jaw. Maintenance of wires and bite plates in a horse's mouth requires meticulous attention to hygiene and the horse's need to eat and drink normally. There are also surgical options for truly severe parrot mouths that involve breaking certain bones and resetting them in a more normal position