Equine Dentistry

Introduction to Equine Dentistry

• Presented by Dr. Karen Copedge.
• Importance of dental health in overall animal health.

Objectives

• Understand the significance of equine dentistry.
• Learn eruption times for adult and young horses.
• Study the anatomy and growth of equine teeth.
• Age horses from 0 days to 5 years.
• Recognize the importance of dental care management.
• Identify common dental problems.

Importance of Routine Dental Care

• Modified diets and confinement lead to dental issues.
• Young horses may require higher performance, influencing dental health.
• Healthier horses tend to live longer.
• Importance of efficient feed utilization.

Factors Affecting Dental Care

• Age: Younger and older horses need more frequent dental exams (2-3 times per year).
• Lifestyle: Grain diets require more attention to dental health.
• Genetics: Some horses naturally have better dental health than others.
• Mechanical Changes: Trauma or disease can alter dental needs.

Routine Dental Care Benefits

• Improves dental and oral health.
• Helps recognize dental abnormalities early on.
• Ensures optimal nutrition and aids digestion.
• Prevents dental pain and enhances performance.

Equine Chewing & Anatomy

• Horses are adapted to grazing and gather feed using their lips.
• Chew in a circular motion with cheek teeth for grinding food.
• Anisognathia: Upper jaw is wider than lower jaw (maxilla 30% wider).

Clinical Signs of Dental Issues

• Dropping feed, difficulty chewing, weight loss.
• Excessive salivation, bad breath, resisting the bit, head tossing.
• Problems lead to colic, performance issues, and pain.

Types and Functions of Equine Teeth

• Incisors: Grasp and cut food, 12 total (6 top, 6 bottom).
• Canines: Used for fighting.
• Premolars and Molars: Grind food with wide, tough surfaces.
• Wolf Teeth: Vestigial premolars with no function; can interfere with the bit.

Eruption Timeline:

• Deciduous Teeth:
  • I1 (central incisor) at birth/first week.
  • I2 at 4-6 weeks.
  • I3 at 6-9 months.
  • PM1, PM2, PM3 at birth/first two weeks.
• Permanent Teeth:
  • I1 at 2.5 years.
  • I2 at 3.5 years.
  • I3 at 4.5 years.
  • Canines at 4-5 years.
  • Wolf teeth at 5-6 months.

Anatomy of the Teeth

• Hypsodont Teeth: Characterized by high crowns; continuous growth compensates for wear (2-3 mm/year).
• Four Layers of a Tooth:
  1. Enamel: Hardest tissue, protects during grinding.
  2. Dentin: Softer and wears faster than enamel.
  3. Cementum: Cushions enamel, anchors tooth.
  4. Pulp: Contains nerves and blood supply.

Aging the Horse

• Methods of Aging:
  • Based on disappearance of cups and surface features.
  • Young horses have an angle of 160-180 degrees between incisors; angles become more forward as the horse ages.
  • Tooth shape and presence of cups change as horses age, impacting their dental health.

Common Dental Problems

• Sharp enamel points, lacerations, and ulcers.
• Retained caps, hooks from malalignment, and long or sharp canines.
• Malocclusion conditions such as parrot mouth or monkey mouth.
• Signs include dropping feed, weight loss, dental discomfort, and infections.

Prevention & Regular Maintenance

• Essential practices: Routine dental care, oral examinations, and proper diet.
• Aim for ample roughage and regular dental floatation to maintain health.

Triadan Numbering System

• A standardized system to avoid confusion, using three digits per tooth.
• 1st digit represents the quadrant of the jaw in a clockwise direction.
  • 1 = right maxilla, 2 = left maxilla, 3 = left mandible, 4 = right mandible.

Conclusion

• Regular dental check-ups and care are crucial for horse health, performance, and longevity.
• Understanding dental anatomy and common issues helps in preventing and treating dental conditions effectively.