Background: There is a concern that performing routine dental floats could result in adverse pregnancy outcomes in mares. There is a paucity of data on the effect of dentistry during pregnancy in domestic species. In women, dental prophylaxis is considered safe during pregnancy. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine if routine dental floating was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in Thoroughbred broodmares. Study Design: Retrospective records analysis Methods: Clinical and farm records from 2013 to 2021 were utilized. Abortion, stillbirth and placentitis was modeled using SAS GLIMMIX procedure. Time of the dental procedure was categorized in two ways, occurring when the mares were 1) open or pregnant or 2) open, during the 1st trimester (0 – 114 days), the 2 nd trimester (115 – 228 days) or the 3 rd trimester (> 229 days) of pregnancy for separate models for each outcome. Significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Both logistic regression models examining abortion found age of mare at the time of float remained significant, while trimester of dental procedure, farm and year float was performed were not significant. Both logistic regression models examining stillbirth found the age of the mare at the time of float remained significant, with location being significant in the first model (open or pregnant) and a tendency (0.10 > P > 0.05) in the second model (open, 1 st, 2 nd, or 3 rd trimester). Other variables in the models were not significant. Farm remained significant in both logistic models of placentitis, while age of mare at the time of float, trimester of dental float and year float was performed were not significant. Main Limitations: Not a controlled study. Conclusions: Floating a mare’s teeth during each trimester of pregnancy is a safe procedure.
