equine dentistry (santonastaso)

Question 1

Which teeth in horses are bracydont?

Answer 1

canines & wolf teeth (1st premolar)

-04s and -05s

Brachydont = fully erupted prior to maturation

Question 2

Hypsodont

Answer 2

“high-crowned teeth”
- limited growth period, long eruption period

Question 3

Clinical crown vs reserve crown vs apical area

Answer 3

• clinical crown = length of crown above gumline
• reserve crown = portion of crown that is unerupted
• apical area = portion of reserve crown where roots develop

Question 4

Incisors
- numbers
- total in adults
- function
- aging

Answer 4

• 01-03
• 12 total in adults (6 maxillary, 6 mandibular)
• prehnsion of food (but horses mostly use their lips)
• wear-related features used for aging

Question 5

Canines
- numbers
- total in adults
- function
- aging

Answer 5

• -04s
• up t 4 in adult males (2 max, 2 mandib)
• absent-rudimentary in adult females
• function = fighting
• erupt b/w 4-6 years

Question 6

Wolf Teeth (premolars)
- numbers
- total in adults
- function
- aging

Answer 6

• -05 (1st premolar; no deciduous precursor)
• small & vestigial
• erupt @ 6-12 months

Question 7

Premolars (2nd-4th)
- numbers
- total in adults
- function
- aging

Answer 7

• 06s-08s
• maxillary teeth wider/squarer
• 12 total in adults
• function = grinding of feed material
• erupt at 2.5, 3 and 4 years of age

Question 8

Molars
- numbers
- total in adults
- function
- aging

Answer 8

• 09s-11s (1st-3rd molars - no deciduous precursor for -011s)
• 12 total in adults
• function = grinding of feed material
• erupt @ 1,2 and 3.5 years of age

Question 9

Anisognathism

Answer 9

Unequal jaw widths (R & L maxillary arcades are wider apart than mandibular) –> affects how these teeth wear down (top: angle out, cheeck-side sharp points; bottom: angle in, lingual sharp points)

Maxillary (L), Mandibular (R)

Question 10

ID the occlusal surface anatomy

Answer 10

Question 11

What seals the pulp cavity?

Answer 11

the secondary dentin (odontoblasts in pulp cavity are constantly making secondary dentin

Question 12

Commonly used sedatives for equine dental exam

Answer 12

• alpha-2 agonists (xylazine, detomidine)
• xyalzine for complete oral exam, detomidine for float

partial opioid agonist/antagonis: butorphanol – can cause head bobs/twitch; can make it difficult to perfrom oral exam

Question 13

What is a dental float?

Answer 13

an annual maintenance and correction of minor abnormalities procedure
- makes a level chewing/smooth grinding surface with tools like hand floats, power floats
- NEVER performed on the occlusal surface!!

power floats are used more commonly

Question 14

Clinical signs of dental disease

Answer 14

• Quidding (dropping feed, even before it’s partially chewed
• Poor performance (head tossing, rearing, fighting/chewing the bit)
• External bony swellings
• Nasal d/c (sinusitits caused by tooth root abscess of maxillary -08, -09, -10)
• Ptyalism, draining fistulas

Question 15

ID the abnormalities

Answer 15

Sharp Points

Question 16

ID the abnormality

Answer 16

Hook

Question 17

Wave Mouth

Answer 17

teeth do not erupt at same times, so they wear down at different rates

will especially see in older horses

Question 18

Supranumary teeth

Answer 18

“Extra teeth”

Question 19

ID the abnormality and potential sequela

Answer 19

Abnormal diastema
- feed can pack in here and cause infection, or can migrate even deeper & cause 2º sinusitis in the caudal maxillary teeth

Question 20

Potential sequla of fractured/missing teeth

Answer 20

• Chronic sinusitis (missing tooth can be replaced by a gap that communicates directly with sinus)
• Steps (most common – w/out regular dental care, tooth directly above/below the gap will continue to grow and cause issues)

Step