Equine dentistry Flashcards
What are the main consequences of dental disease in horses?
- Oral pain and discomfort
- Weight loss
- Predisposition to certain types of colic
- Secondary disease processes e.g. sinusitis
How many hours a day should a horse graze?
18
How are horses teeth characterised?
Hypsodont - long crowned
What is the permanent dentition of a horse?
I 3/3, C1/1 or 0/0, PM 3/3 or 4/4, M 3/3
= 36-44 teeth
Which tooth is 309?
The Left mandibular 1st molar
When describing horses deciduous teeth using the triadan numbering system what do you do?
Add 4 to the quadrant number - 5 = Horse’s upper right - 6 = Horse’s upper left - 7 = Horse’s lower left - 8 = Horse’s lower right Examples: - Right central upper incisor = 501 - Left lower 1st molar = 709
At what age do each of the deciduous incisors erupt?
- 01’s (Central) 1 week
- 02’s (Middle) 6 weeks
- 03’s (Corner) 6 -9 months
Rule of thumb: 6 days, 6 weeks, 6 months
At what age do each of the permanent incisors erupt?
Central = 2.5 years Middle = 3.5 years Corner = 4.5 years
At what age are each of the permanent incisors in wear?
6 months after eruption
Central = 3 years
Middle = 4 years
Corner = 5 years
Canine teeth in horses erupt (if they have them) at what age?
5 years olf
At what age do wolf teeth develop?
1 year old
mainly lost with the 06 cap at 2.5 years old
Which of the horses deciduous teeth are present at birth?
06, 07, 08 (premolars)
Which teeth don’t have any deciduous precursors?
- Canines
- Wolf teeth
- Molars
At what age do the permanent premolars and molars erupt?
06 = 2.5 07 = 3.5 08 = 4 09 = 1 10 = 2 11 = 3.5
Describe the age related changes in incisor anatomy
- until around 4yo only the infundibulum is visible on the labial aspect
- The secondary dentine (dental star) then becomes visible
- The infundibulum is no longer visible at 12yo
- The tooth becomes more circular shaped on the labial surface from 12-14 years
Describe the labial surface of maxillary vs mandibular cheek teeth
Maxillary CT: - 2x infundibulae - wide ‘square’ Mandibular CT: - No infundibulae - Narrow ‘rectangular’
What are pulp horns?
- Area of pigmented secondary dentine on the occlusal surface
- Approximately 5mm thick
- Protects the underlying pulp
- Every cheek tooth has at least 5 pulp horns
Describe the anatomy and structure of maxillary cheek teeth
- 2 Infundibulae (Enamel Cups)
- 3 Roots
- 06 + 07 → Maxillary bone
- 08 + 09 → Rostral maxillary sinus
- 10 + 11 → Caudal maxillary sinus
- Pulps run on either side of the infundibulum to the apex of the tooth
Describe the anatomy and structure of mandibular cheek teeth
- No infundibulae: more infolding of the peripheral enamel -> greater grinding surface
- 2 Roots
- Narrower bucco-lingually compared to maxillary CT
Where does the pulp run within the tooth?
Pulps run on either side of the infundibulum to the apex of the tooth
What is meant by a horse having Anisognathia?
Maxillary CT 20-25% further apart than Mandibular CT
Which drugs can be used to sedate a horse for a dental exam?
Alpha 2 agonist / butorphanol
What equipment is needed for an equine dental exam?
- Appropriate examination area
- +/- Sedation
- Dental equipment
- Gloves
- Recording sheets
- +/- head stand
What steps are taken in the initial dental exam of a horse?
- Thorough history
- Watch the horse eat
- Clinical examination: signs of underlying disease, external swellings/asymmetry, halitosis, discharge
What equipment is needed for the oral dental exam?
- Gag/Speculum
- Light source
- Dental mirror
- Dental Syringe
- Pulpar explorer
- Periodontal probe
- Diastema forceps
- Rasps
- +/- motorised tools
How should the incisors be examined? What is being looked for?
- Check for any abnormal masses/fractured teeth
- Check occlusion from the side and front
- Count the teeth
How should the canines and wolf teeth be examined? What is being looked for?
- Place speculum
- Flush mouth
- Check the canines (if present): Calculus formation (particularly lower canines), Fractured canines, Apical infection
- Wolf Teeth (PM1 / 05): palpate bars for: displaced, blindly erupted or mandibular Wolf Teeth
Where should be palpated when examining the cheek teeth?
- Occlusal surface of every tooth
- Edges of all teeth particularly: buccal aspect of Maxillary CT and lingual aspect of Mandibular CT
- Every inter-dental space
- Buccal mucosa
- Tongue adjacent to the teeth
- Take note of any abnormal smell
When looking in the mouth without the mirror, what can be seen?
- number of teeth
- overgrowths
- soft tissue trauma
- dental fractures
Where in the horses mouth should be probed?
- Every pulp horn
- Assess depth of diastemata
What can oral endoscopy be used for?
Better evaluation of occlusal surface, diastemata and periodontium
What should you do with any findings in the dental exam?
- Always document findings: keep a record for yourself and one for the owner
Discuss findings: - Does treatment need to be performed and who is best placed to do this?
- Is further diagnostic imaging required?
- Plan follow-up treatments
Describe a category 1 procedure
Those procedures which an individual can perform after recognised training without specific attainment of qualifications.
Give some examples of category 1 procedures
- Examination of teeth
- Removal of sharp enamel points using manual rasps only
- Removal of small dental overgrowths (maximum 4mm reductions) using manual rasps only
- Rostral profiling of the first cheek teeth (maximum 4mm reductions)
- Removal of loose deciduous caps
- Removal of supragingival calculus
Describe a category 2 procedure
Additional procedures suitable for delegation to an EDT who has trained and passed an examination approved by DEFRA
Give some examples of category 2 procedures
- Examination, evaluation and recording of dental abnormalities
- Removal of loose teeth / fragments with negligible periodontal attachments
- The removal of erupted, non-displaced wolf teeth in the upper or lower jaw under direct and continuous veterinary supervision
- Palliative rasping of fractured and adjacent teeth
- Motorised dental instruments to reduce overgrowths and sharp enamel points only
Describe a category 3 procedure
All other procedures (involving diagnosis or treatment of animals) and any new procedures, which arise as a result of scientific and technical development, would by default fall into category 3.
Category 3 procedures may only be performed by qualified veterinary surgeons
Name 2 examples of category 3 procedures
- Diastemata widening
- Unerupted wolf tooth removal
