Equine Mouth and teeth

Equine Mouth

12 incisors • 4 Canine teeth • Males • 4 Wolf teeth • 12 pre-molar • 12 molars

Bars

Space bewtween incisors and premolars

Deciduous

Baby teeth or milk teeth

Which teeth are present at birth or shortly after?

Central incisors and molars.

When do middle incisors appear?

4-6 weeks

hen do corner incisors appear?

6-9 Months

Permanent teeth

Longer Darker, do not have well defined neck joining root and gum

At what age do deciduous teeth shed?

Between 2–5 years of age.

When are teeth typically shed?

In the fall

By what age will a horse have a complete set of permanent teeth?

5 years old

By what age are central incisors fully erupted?

age 3

When are middle incisors visible?

age 3 1/2

By what age are middle incisors fully erupted?

Age 4

When do canine teeth appear?

age 4

When are corner incisors visible?

age 4 1/2

By what age are corner incisors fully erupted?

age 5

What are wolf teeth?

An extra set of premolars.

What do wolf teeth look like?

Small with short roots.

At what age do wolf teeth typically appear?

age 2

How early can wolf teeth appear?

as early as 6 months

Do all horses have wolf teeth?

No. Some have all 4, while others have none.

Why are wolf teeth removed?

Because they can interfere with the bit.

How reliable is estimating a horse’s age using teeth before age 5?

Relatively reliable.

How is a horse’s age estimated after age 5?

By examining tooth wear, shape, and angle.

What part of the incisors is examined for wear?

The cups of the incisors.

What changes in the incisors help estimate age?

Their shape and angle.

Which incisors are checked for a groove?

The corner incisors.

What are cups?

Pits in the center of the teeth.

What happens to cups as a horse ages?

They gradually disappear.

By what year do the cups disappear from the bottom central incisors?

6th year

By what year do the cups disappear from the bottom middle incisors?

8th year

By what year do the cups disappear from the bottom corner incisors?

9th year

By what year do the cups disappear from the upper central incisors?

The slide cuts off here, so the age isn't provided.

What is used to estimate the age of senior horses?

The shape and angle of the incisors.

What shape do incisors begin as?

oval

Around what age do incisors begin to round?

age 12

Which incisors begin rounding first?

Central incisors.

By what age are all incisors round?

Age 17

By what age are all incisors triangular?

Age 23

What is Galvayne’s Groove?

A line on the upper corner incisors used to estimate a horse’s age.

Around what age does Galvayne’s Groove develop?

age 10

Where does Galvayne’s Groove first appear?

At the gum line of the upper corner incisors.

What happens to Galvayne’s Groove as a horse ages?

It extends downward and becomes darker.

By what age does the groove extend the length of the tooth?

age 20

What happens to Galvayne’s Groove after age 20?

begins disapears

By what age is Galvayne’s Groove completely gone?

age 30

What are signs that a horse needs an oral examination?

Weight loss, pain eating or drinking, and changes in chewing.

What change in feces may indicate dental problems?

Increased whole grain in the feces.

. What may happen to food when a horse has dental problems?

Partially chewed food may drop from the mouth.

How might a horse eat if it has oral pain?

With its head tilted.

What sign may appear in foals with oral problems?

Milk running from the nostrils.

What condition involving the roof of the mouth may require examination

Cleft palate

How does the mandible compare to the maxilla in width?

The mandible (lower jaw) is narrower than the maxilla (upper jaw).

Why are the outer edges of the upper jaw and inner edges of the lower jaw not aligned?

The upper jaw is wider than the lower jaw.

What do the misaligned teeth edges produce?

Long, sharp edges.

Do a horse’s teeth continue growing throughout life?

Yes, according to the slide.

What is floating?

Rasping down the sharp edges of the molars.

What foreign issue should be checked during a mouth examination? —

Foreign objects.

What type of tongue injury should be checked for?

Tongue lacerations (cuts or tears).

What membrane problems should be checked for?

Hemorrhages (bleeding) and ulcerations (sores).

What are caudal hooks?

Overgrowth of the number 11 molars.

Where are the number 11 molars located?

they are the last large teeth at the back of the mouth.

Which molars are more likely to develop large hooks?

The lower 311 and 411 molars.

What do caudal hooks cause?

Very sharp points on the teeth.

How do caudal hooks affect chewing?

They make chewing difficult.

How severe can caudal hooks become?

A horse may not even be able to close its mouth.

What is the leading cause of tooth loss in horses?

Periodontal disease.

What is a primary cause of periodontal disease in horses?

Food debris trapped between the cheek teeth, especially in older horses.

How does bacteria cause periodontal disease?

Bacteria enter the periodontal pocket and can lead to periodontal disease.

What percentage of horses of all ages experience some level of periodontal disease?

up to 34%

What percentage of horses age 13 and older suffer from severe periodontal disease?

up to 60%