Bit Seats
Heather Landrey, DVM
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Often people ask, “What is a bit seat?” or “Did you put a bit seat in my horse’s mouth?”
Bit seat is an old term used to describe the rounding of the first cheek tooth on the upper and lower arcades, resulting in a small groove in the front of the teeth. Many people believe that the bit will actually rest in this area.
Truth be told, if the bit is resting in a bit seat, your horse’s bridle is not fit properly. The bit seat does serve a purpose, however. The corners of a horses mouth have quiet a bit of soft tissue. As the bit is moved in the mouth, the soft tissues are pulled back toward the teeth and may actually come into contact with the front of the first cheek teeth. If there are any rough surfaces in this area, the horse may experience pain and react negatively.
As part of the routine float, I always make sure to round those edges for soft tissue comfort. It is very important to pay close attention to the tooth while installing the bit seat as there is a pulp chamber-the blood and nerve supply of the tooth-just millimeters away from the surface.
While there are significant advantages to advanced dental procedures such as bit seats, extreme caution must be employed to protect the integrity of the tooth.