The use of power equipment in the field of equine dentistry has been a great aid to equine practitioners. One advantage is that it lets the practitioner complete major dental corrections before sedation wears off. However, could these power tools be harming horses' teeth? According to a recent study done by Gordon Baker, BVSc, PhD, MRCVS, Dipl. ACVS, of the University of Illinois' College of Veterinary Medicine, in some instances power tools could damage the teeth. In his presentation, "The Use of Power Equipment in Equine Dentistry" at the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention, Baker discussed the advantages, potential disadvantages, and guidelines for the efficient use of power equipment in equine dentistry.

The use of power equipment reduces the risk of tooth fracture, there is less labor involved for the veterinarian, procedures can be done more quickly, there are superior end results, and the practitioner has a reduced workload, according to Baker.

In human dentistry and in animal models, it has been shown that crown reduction with power equipment generates heat in the tooth. An increase in pulp temperature of 5.5°C causes irreversible damage in 15% of the human teeth tested. Another study showed that an increase in pulp temperature of 16.3°C resulted in pulp necrosis (death) in 100% of the teeth that were examined. Damage from thermal pulp injury might not be seen for one year, said Baker. It has been determined that an increase of 5°C is the highest safe increase before damage occurs. Since all hypsodont teeth (long teeth that wear away throughout the animal's life) need living pulp, this could be a problem for the horse.

Thirty equine teeth were divided into three groups for the in vitro study. Group one underwent a one-minute reduction using a disc burr power floating system. Group two underwent a two-minute reduction. The experiment was then repeated with both groups undergoing reduction for the same amount of time with water irrigation during the procedure. The water temperature was 20.3°C and was delivered at 20 ml/minute. Two thermocouples were placed 15 mm (proximal) from the biting surface of the tooth and 25 mm (distal) from the biting surface of the tooth at the level of the pulp chamber from the biting surface of the teeth to measure heat changes in the teeth