ZJ

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.