Frequently Asked Questions

Dental Vet is based at 440 Nicholson Road, Forrestdale WA, just south of Perth. Our purpose-built equine dental clinic provides a calm, safe space for routine and advanced dental procedures. As fully qualified veterinarians, we can also provide our patients with a range of wellness services for your convenience.

The clinic is just off Armadale Road. It’s also worth noting that there are two driveways onto the property. The first driveway when heading south down Nicholson Road, which usually has a Dental Vet sign out the front, is the driveway to access the clinic. Look for the big grey gates and push the button to open them.

While we love welcoming clients to our state-of-the-art clinic, we also understand that sometimes on-farm consultations and treatments are preferred for your convenience.

Our fully equipped mobile service is available throughout Perth’s south-east corridor and nearby regions, including Perth, Armadale, Byford, Oakford, and Serpentine. However we can travel as far south as Harvey, east to Toodyay or north to Lower Chittering, typically anywhere around 100km of the Forrestdale clinic.

If you’re unsure whether we can visit your area, get in touch and we’ll be happy to confirm.

We’re Western Australia’s only dedicated equine dental veterinary clinic, offering both comprehensive routine and advanced equine dentistry. Our services include dental examinations, floating, extractions, fillings, root canal therapy, periodontal therapy, and oral X-rays.

As part of your appointment, we offer a variety of wellness services for your convenience. Our veterinarians can perform vaccinations, microchipping, faecal egg counts (FEC), drenching, blood tests for metabolic disease, radiographs and lameness work-ups.

We also pride ourselves on providing compassionate care and thorough examinations, so we provide sedation for our patients for their comfort and to allow us to properly diagnose and treat any dental pathology present.

All procedures are carried out by registered veterinarians Dr Kirsten Jackson and Dr Victoria Kö-Peternelj, veterinarians with postgraduate qualifications in equine dentistry. Each has extensive training and provides clinical and educational support for referring veterinarians.

As veterinary surgeons, they can administer sedation safely, diagnose complex dental issues, carry out patient wellness assessments and perform advanced medical or surgical treatments.

Our Veterinary Nurse Kelly Dunford and Veterinary Assistant Meg Burns support every procedure, ensuring each appointment runs smoothly and that your horse remains calm and comfortable throughout.

Dental Vet provides care for all equine species including horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. Our team is experienced in managing the unique dental needs of each, ensuring every patient, from the smallest miniature to the largest draft horse, receives safe, effective and compassionate treatment.

Dental problems can cause pain, weight loss and behavioural problems. Many horses hide discomfort until it becomes severe. Unfortunately by the time they present symptoms, the issue has usually escalated to severe infections and disease which can impact the lifespan of their smile and overall health. For ridden horses, placing a bit in a painful mouth can make them resist, act out, or even become dangerous. Studies show almost 60% of Western Australian horses have some form of peripheral caries, often linked to local diet and water pH 1. This highlights why regular, professional veterinary dental examinations are essential for horse health in our region.

Foals should have their incisors checked within the first few days of life for early signs of malocclusion, such as “parrot mouth”, “overjet” or “sow mouth”, “underbite”, and rechecked every few weeks. Always check with the foal’s nose facing down, as lifting the head can make the bite appear uneven.

If a malocclusion is detected early, interventions at around three months of age can help reduce its severity. By six months, these opportunities are lost, so early monitoring is essential.

Horses can have their first professional dental exam around six months of age, provided they’re well-handled. Yearlings are an ideal age to begin regular dental care. Dental issues, including severe ulcers and sharp enamel points, can occur in very young horses, so don’t assume foals are pathology-free.

After the first exam, most horses benefit from six-monthly check-ups until around six years old. After that they can gradually be stretched out to annual by the time they are ten years old, unless a specific condition requires more frequent visits. Get a personalised Lifetime Dental Care Plan for your horse by making an appointment.

Most horses benefit from a comprehensive dental examination once a year, but some need more frequent visits depending on their age, dental pathology, and workload.

Young horses (1-6 years) should be checked every six months. Their teeth are softer and change rapidly as they shed baby teeth and erupt permanent ones, making them more prone to sharp enamel points and discomfort.

Many senior horses also benefit from six-monthly exams, as they’re more susceptible to periodontal disease and tooth loss. Early detection allows for treatment before pain, infection, or fractures occur. These are issues we see frequently in older horses.

In some cases such as advanced periodontal disease, we may recommend short-term rechecks (1-3 months) to stabilise the condition before returning to a longer maintenance schedule. Once a horse’s mouth is healthy and stable, annual dental visits are usually sufficient. Book your horse’s next dental visit.

The Dental Vet clinic is purpose-built for equine dentistry and fitted with advanced veterinary equipment, including oral endoscopy, with a large screen TV so owners can also see what is going on inside the mouth! We also have digital radiology (X-rays), an iM3 dental unit for restorations and endodontics, ultrasound, and more.

Our clinic also features stables and yards with post-and-rail mesh fencing and reticulated paddocks. You can learn more on our facilities page.

Yes! We have portable digital X-ray units available both at the clinic and for mobile visits, so we can perform imaging wherever your horse is treated. We can take dental radiographs as well as abdominal X-rays to check for sand. Dr Victoria Kö-Peternelj is also able to perform podiatry radiographs to assess your horse’s feet if there are any concerns. Learn more about the equipment on our facilities page.

Whenever possible, our priority is to save your horse’s teeth. Dental Vet is one of the few places in the world with the equipment, training and experience to be able to perform restorative and endodontic treatments that help preserve healthy tooth structure and prevent secondary issues such as overgrowth or shifting teeth.

Saving a tooth usually provides better long-term comfort, balance, and function than extraction. We live by the motto “every tooth matters.” While not every tooth can be saved, if it’s possible, we’ll certainly try!

We’re open four days a week,
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00am – 4:00pm

For out of hours dental emergencies, contact us on 0439 956 368

No referral needed. In fact, we love to see your horse before any issues arise. Preventative dental care keeps your horse’s mouth healthy, so don’t put off going to the dentist. We do also accept referrals from veterinarians for advanced procedures, and will happily work with your vet to keep care seamless.

You can contact us directly to arrange an appointment on our online booking form or by emailing us at reception@dentalvet.com.au. Alternatively you can call (08) 9397 1286. We also work closely with referring veterinarians, sharing records and updates so your horse receives continuous care.

Every Dental Vet appointment is designed to give your horse a thorough, comfortable, and evidence-based dental assessment. Our experienced veterinarians take the time to thoroughly examine your horse, supported by our nursing team to ensure each visit runs smoothly.

Your horse’s appointment includes:

• A physical examination, including listening to the abdomen for signs of sand.
• A seven-point external head assessment to check for changes linked to dental disease.
• A comprehensive oral examination using a speculum, lights, and endoscopy to assess all teeth and oral tissues.
• Treatment of periodontal disease, if necessary (additional fee may apply for extensive treatment).
• Floating and corrective work, including reduction of sharp points and overgrowths, plus a performance float for bitted horses.
• Discussion of findings, next steps, as well as a dental chart emailed to you with home-care recommendations, so you understand each step.
• Optional bit fit assessment if you have bitting concerns.

Yes, many equine insurance policies cover advanced veterinary dental treatment when performed by a registered vet. However, it’s always advisable to contact your pet insurer and check on your policy inclusions before the appointment.

Horses are prey animals and instinctively mask their pain and discomfort, which means dental disease often goes unnoticed until it’s advanced. The signs can be extremely subtle, even the colour of the dentin overlying a 2mm pulp on the surface of the tooth can indicate whether a tooth is healthy or abscessed. By the time symptoms are noticeable, the problem may already be severe and require more extensive (and costly) treatment.

That’s why regular professional dental checks are so important, even if your horse seems completely normal.

If your horse shows any of the signs below, please contact us for a diagnostic examination as soon as possible:

• Dropping feed or slow eating
• Bit resistance or head tossing
• Weight loss or difficulty maintaining condition
• Nasal discharge or foul breath
• Quidding (spitting out half-chewed hay)
• Chewing on one side only
• Dunking feed or rinsing mouth in water trough
• Facial swelling or sensitivity to touch

Our patients are given a light, controlled sedation for their dental procedure. This keeps them calm and comfortable and ensures we can do a thorough examination, diagnostics and treatment. During our detailed examinations we assess over 140 pulp cavities, as well as infundibula and all dental and soft tissue structures with precision, while protecting both horse and handler. Each horse is individually assessed before sedation, and reversing agents and emergency medications are always on hand.

Equine dentistry has come a long way since the days of simply “rasping off a few sharp points.” The most serious and painful conditions, such as periodontal disease, endodontic infections (dead, infected teeth), dental decay and fractures, can only be diagnosed through a detailed oral examination.

Without treatment, these issues can progress to sinus or bone infections, fractured teeth, or fistulae (holes between the mouth and sinus). Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent years of pain and costly surgery, but only if the disease is found in time.

We sedate because a thorough, accurate, and safe examination simply isn’t possible otherwise. Each horse has over 140 pulp cavities and 24 infundibula that must be inspected for decay, fractures and infection. Attempting this on an unsedated horse is like trying to cut a toddler’s hair while they shake their head, it’s unsafe and unlikely to end well!

Our veterinarians are highly trained in sedation and medication safety. Every horse is assessed before treatment, and we carry reversing agents and emergency medications in the rare event of an adverse reaction. If sedation isn’t deemed to be safe based on our physical examination findings, we’ll discuss further diagnostics and reschedule for when your horse’s health allows.

Sedation keeps the experience calm and safe. Horses relax and we can focus on providing thorough care without missing anything hidden, ensuring they receive gold-standard care.

While equine dentistry is what we’re best known for, and what we do best, our veterinarians also offer a range of wellness services. These include vaccinations, sheath cleaning, microchipping, faecal egg counts, nasolacrimal duct flushes, radiographs (such as abdominal X-rays for sand) and blood tests for conditions like Cushing’s disease and equine metabolic syndrome.

Most of these can be completed during your horse’s dental appointment, simply let us know at the time of booking or arrival.

Yes, you’re welcome to stay with your horse throughout the appointment, or leave and come back. We love showing clients what is going on in their horse’s mouths but also understand if you need to head off. All our dentals are booked with extended appointment times (typically over an hour for a standard dental appointment) so we can thoroughly examine your horse’s mouth and perform any necessary treatment on the day.

This approach allows us to identify and address small issues early, before they develop into painful or complex problems. A veterinary nurse or assistant is always present to record findings, assist with procedures, or even make you a cup of tea if you’d like.

Please bring:

• Any previous dental, veterinary, vaccination, or worming records, including charts or notes you’ve received.
• Your bridle, if you’d like us to assess your horse’s bit fit.
• (Optional) A faecal sample (a few faecal balls in a ziplock bag labelled with the horse’s name and worming history) if you’d like us to perform a faecal egg count.

Please arrive 10-15 minutes early so your horse can settle and graze. Our nurses will greet you on arrival, and there’s ample parking and float turnaround space at the clinic.

There is plenty of space to both park and turn the float around at the clinic. Feel free to drive on the grass if needed (just avoid the boggy spot at the back), especially if it’s busy. Please be mindful of other clients as we do get quite busy at times and if your float is being unhitched and left for the day, we ask that you park it at the back or side of the car park.

Each appointment is tailored to your horse’s individual needs, so pricing can vary. Send us an email to discuss your horse’s situation and we’ll provide an estimate based on the examination and any required treatment.

Please arrive 10-15 minutes early (especially if you’re the first appointment of the day). Once parked, check in with reception. This will also give your horse time to settle and graze in one of our paddocks, helping reduce stress for everyone. We’ll come and get you when we’re ready to start.

Between appointments, our nurses clean and disinfect all equipment, so we appreciate your patience while we prepare for your horse’s turn.

You can make a big difference to your horse’s oral health between dental visits with a few simple habits.

• Hose ‘flossing’: Flushing your horse’s mouth with the hose after riding or feeding helps clear out feed and debris. It’s the closest thing to “brushing their teeth.”
  Remove the nozzle so it’s just the hose pipe, place it gently in the mouth and let your horse chew on the flow for a minute or so. You may need to trim the chewed end of the hose occasionally, but the benefits to oral hygiene are well worth it!
• Diet matters: Diet has a huge impact on dental health. Avoid sweet feeds and cereal hays (like oaten or wheaten hay) whenever possible.
  Research shows that horses fed oaten hay are almost three times more likely to develop peripheral caries (tooth decay) than those not on oaten hay. So making small dietary changes can have a big effect on long-term oral health.

Most appointments take around one to one-and-a-half hours, depending on what’s required. A standard dental includes a full examination, charting, and treatment such as floating and corrective work performed on the day.

If your horse needs any advanced procedures, please allow more time than this.

We build extra time between appointments and have safe stables to let horses recover quietly after sedation. Once your horse is fully alert and steady, our staff will let you know they’re ready to head home.

While we don’t mind you doing it outside once we finish, please avoid performing any procedures while our vets are working on your horse.

Even simple tasks can create sudden movement or distraction. This can interrupt treatment or create safety risks for your horse, the handler, and our team.

Allowing us to focus on the procedure helps ensure your horse receives the safest care.

If you’d like a sheath clean done on the day, we’re happy to perform it once the dental work is complete. Please just let us know at your appointment.

We love dogs. However, we ask you to avoid bringing them to the clinic. Horses, even when sedated, can react quite violently to unexpected sights and sounds. Some horses and owners can be quite scared of dogs, and even friendly dogs can add stress during busy appointments. A dog-free clinic helps us deliver calm, focused care for every horse.

Absolutely! At Dental Vet we are passionate about dentistry. Our years of experience and international training allow us to help you provide your clients and patients with gold-standard care.

We welcome referrals for dental consultations, diagnosis and treatment of advanced equine dental cases, including endodontics, restorations, pulp capping, infundibular caries treatment, extractions, and periodontal disease. All you need to do is complete a referral form.

We are also always happy to review and interpret follow-up radiographs free of charge, and for larger practices, we can arrange a complimentary continuing-education (CE) evening on equine dentistry.

After every referral, we provide detailed reports and images to support seamless continuity of care for your patients.

To help us collect all the necessary case information accurately, we prefer referrals be submitted via our online referral form. However, we’re also happy to accept referrals by email or phone if needed.

We can perform procedures at your clinic (for suitable cases) or at our Forrestdale facility.

We’re here to support you every step of the way. At Dental Vet, we believe in building collaborative relationships with our referring veterinarians to ensure seamless, gold-standard care for every patient.

We provide detailed reports, images, and diagnostic and post-treatment notes to keep you fully informed throughout each case. We also share research and up-to-date practical resources to help you deliver the best possible care to your patients.

We offer continuing education and hands-on dental courses for veterinarians. These are designed to build confidence, refine skills, and support ongoing professional development.

In addition, we offer a range of dental tools for purchase to help veterinarians manage dental cases more effectively in their own practices.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (08) 9397 1286

Of course! As veterinarians ourselves, we know how important it is to stay informed about your patient’s treatment and progress. That’s why we provide a report, dental images, and post-treatment notes after every appointment.

Yes, we’re always happy to discuss cases with referring veterinarians to determine the best treatment options for your patients.

We understand that if you have not worked with us before, you may have questions about what’s possible and how we can support you and your client. We’re here to guide you through the process so that you can feel comfortable referring your patient to us.

When referring a case to Dental Vet, please include as much detail as possible so our team can plan informed, safe and efficient care for your patient.

Where possible please provide the following:

• A brief summary of the reason for referral and any expectations you or the client may have for treatment.
• Up-to-date medical and dental history, including clinical notes.
• Images or diagnostic results, if available (intraoral photos or endoscopy images are particularly helpful, as are any dental radiographs).
• A list of any medications, health issues, or comorbidities.

We’ll review all of this information and confirm suitability for standing sedation, then contact both you and the owner to finalise scheduling. Referring vets will receive a full report and imagery to support ongoing care.

Where possible we will accommodate urgent referrals. Please call us as soon as possible so that we can help.

Partnering with Dental Vet allows you to:

• Offer gold-standard restorative and endodontic options rather than extractions.
• Retain client trust and continuity. We will work with you on a collaborative relationship as needed.
• Access to advanced dental equipment and expertise without the need for additional investment.
• Encourage clients to preserve teeth rather than extract, helping to elevate the overall standard of care within your clinic.

Yes, our Resources Library includes downloadable information sheets created by our veterinary team.

These cover topics such as common dental conditions, prevention strategies, and treatment explanations. They’re designed to help horse owners and vets across Western Australia make informed, evidence-based decisions.

Yes! If you would like to discuss a case or learn more about a specific area of equine dentistry, get in touch! We can arrange a complimentary continuing-education (CE) evening for your practice or provide case-specific consultations on request. We also run multi-day equine dentistry training courses for veterinarians. Contact us to find out more.