1. Equine Dentistry

Caldwell

t/f: even though horses’ teeth are highly evolved dental disease is common

true

what is the eruption rate of horse’s teeth per year

2-3mm/yr

what is the hardest tissue in the body

Enamel

what makes up the bulk of the tooth

dentin

dentin is produced by

odontoblasts

what part of the tooth is attached to alveolar bone via periodontal ligament

cementum

what is the most adaptable component of the tooth?

cementum

function of incisors

prehension of food

function of canine in horses

defensive or fighting teeth (mainly seen in males)

function of premolars and molars

collectively referred to as cheek teeth; grinding of feedstuffs; unlike ruminants, they must efficiently process in one pass; allows efficient endogenous and microbial digestion

typical sedation for equine oral examination

Detomidine (Diazepam too if they are resistant/flighty)

when would you use butorphanol for an equine oral examination

when doing an extraction or like procedure

what makes up of the extra oral equine exam?

1. basic physical exam

2. evaluate the head and facial structures for symmetry

3. percussion of sinuses

4. nasal passage patency

what makes up the intra oral equine examination

begin with incisors, check excursion, interdental spaces, canines, first premolars (05s), examine tongue & premaxilla, rinse the mouth, full mouth speculum

frequency of oral examination: Foal to yearling

at birth & every 6 months

frequency of oral examination: 1.5-4 years old

every 6 months

frequency of oral examination: 4-18 years old

annually unless otherwise indicated

frequency of oral examination: >18 years

might be beneficial to examine every 6-12months

malocclusions due to roughage consumption are generally more

lateral masticatory cycle/action

malocclusions due to grain/pelleted ration are generally more

vertical crushing stroke/action

traditionally termed “floating” is the process of smoothing the ridges on surfaces of the tooth. Which surface of the tooth do these ridges (enamel points) form on?

Buccal aspect of the maxillary arcades

Lingual aspect of the mandibular arcades

Indications for equine oral surgery

Exodontia, Endodontia, Orthodontia, Trauma, Neoplasia

what is exodontia?

removal of teeth

-wolf teeth is the most common

-removal of retained deciduous teeth “caps”

-severe periodontal disease

-EOTRH

-Dental fractures

-Apical infections

-Mal-aligned teeth

-Supernumerary teeth

what is EOTRH? what teeth does it typically affect? what are some etiologic theories?

equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis

-painful, progressive condition in middle-aged and geriatric horses.

-affects the incisor & canine teeth primarily

etiologic theories: biomechanical stress on ageing teeth, bacterial infections, immune-0mediated diseases, Iatrogenic dental treatments

EOTRH is characterized by

odontoclastic resorption of the tooth & surrounding alveolar bone; proliferation of cementum

What is the treatment of EOTRH?

surgical extraction

There is a much higher incidence of cheek teeth fractures in the _____ teeth

maxillary

what is commonly found in conjunction with sagittal fractures in the maxillary cheek teeth in horses?

apical infection w/ sinusitis

why are you more likely to see slab fractures in mandibular cheek teeth in horses?

because they lack infundibula

Apical cheek teeth infectious occur at a slightly higher incidence in _____ teeth in horses

maxillary

Apical maxillary cheek teeth infections have external swelling more common with _______ (tooth number) compared to _______ (tooth number)

06-08s

09-11s

Apical cheek teeth infections of the maxillary teeth: sinus involvement more common in ______ (tooth number)

09-11s

t/f: cases of apical maxillary cheek teeth infection with sinus involvement are more refractory to treatment

true

Apical mandibular cheek teeth infections are commonly associated with _____

time of eruption

when would you primarily use minimally invasive trans-buccal screw extraction?

when the crown of the tooth is broken away