wear and tear. Endodontic procedures such as tooth extractions and root canals are also performed. The horse will be sedated or given analgesics for dental cleaning. Dental prophylaxis is often called “floating,” and handheld rasps or power instruments are used to grind, balance, and realign the occlusal surfaces of the incisors and cheek teeth. Motorized dental instruments should be used carefully to avoid thermal and pressure trauma to the teeth. This means using low-speed grinders without leaving them in one spot for long periods of time, using light pressure, and using water irrigation to rinse and prevent overheating caused by the friction of the instruments. Dental instruments Dental instruments are tools used to provide dental treatment. They include tools to examine, manipulate, treat, restore, and remove teeth and surrounding oral structures. Hand instruments Curette – used for removing calculus above and below the gumline. It is also used for root planing. It has a U-shaped cross-section and the tip is rounded with up to two sharp edges. The two most commonly used types are the Gracey curette and the Universal curette. Sickle scaler – used for removing calculus above the gumline, as well as removing calculus from pits, fissures, developmental grooves, and areas between each tooth. The blade can be straight or curved with a sharp tip and two cutting edges on either side. Explorer – used to examine the surface of the tooth to detect any abnormalities, such as resorptive lesions, caries, or fractured teeth. It is also used to assess tooth mobility. The most common type is the Shepherd's hook. Periodontal probe – used to measure gingival recession, which ascertains the stage of any periodontal disease. It has a blunted tip that is marked in 1 mm increments. The probe is inserted into the gingival sulcus to measure its depth. Normal sulcus depth in the dog is < 3 mm and < 1 mm in cats. Elevator – used to stretch, cut, and tear the periodontal ligament in order to displace the tooth root from the socket. The tip has a rounded scoop appearance with a sharp edge, which may or may not be serrated. Luxator – used to cut the periodontal ligament around the tooth; it is not used for leverage. It is similar to a dental elevator in design but has a thinner tip to allow easier access to the periodontal ligament. Extraction forceps – used