Lecture 30 4/8/25 Flashcards by Danika Boltz

What are the characteristics of equine incisors?

-upper and lower incisors
-central/01, intermediate/02, and corner/03 teeth

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What are the characteristics of equine canine teeth?

-upper and lower
-04 tooth
-males more likely to have them than females

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What are the characteristics of the first equine premolar?

-05 tooth
-aka wolf tooth
-more common in upper arcade than lower
-not always present

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Which cheek teeth do equines have?

-premolars 2 through 4 (06 through 08)
-molars 1 through 3 (09 through 11)

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What is the significance of the equine cheek teeth?

the cheek teeth of the upper arcade are in close association with the sinuses; dental dz can lead to sinusitis

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Which teeth in the equine have deciduous and permanent versions?

-incisors
-premolars 2 through 4

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When do the deciduous incisors erupt in the equine?

-incisor 1: 6 days
-incisor 2: 6 weeks
-incisor 3: 6 months

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When do the permanent incisors erupt in the equine?

-incisor 1: 2.5 years
-incisor 2: 3.5 years
-incisor 3: 4.5 years

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When do the deciduous and permanent premolars erupt in the equine?

-deciduous: by 1 month
-permanent: between 2 and 4 years

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Which teeth only have permanent versions in the equine?

-canines
-PM 1
-molars

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When do the permanent only teeth erupt in the equine?

-canines: 4 to 5 years
-PM 1: 5 to 6 months
-molars: 9 months to 4 years

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What are eruption bumps?

bumps on the lower jaw from the tooth roots that are firm and non-painful

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What is the dental formula for male and female horses?

male: 2x [i3/3 c1/1 p3or4/3 m3/3] = 40-42 teeth
female: 2x [i3/3 c0/0 p3or4/3 m3/3] = 36-40 teeth

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What are the characteristics of hypsodont teeth?

-include incisors and molar cheek teeth
-long anatomical crowns
-erupt 2 to 3 mm/year

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What are the characteristics of brachydont teeth?

-include canines and PM1
-simple root; do not continuously erupt

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What are the characteristics of the anisonathic jaw in the equine?

-maxillar is wider than mandible by ~ 30%
-allows for a circular/elliptical chewing motion with primarily side-to-side movement rather than rostral-to-caudal movement

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What are the characteristics of the occlusal wear pattern in horses?

-leads to “points” on the teeth
-affected by diet
-concentrate/pellets leads to limited range of motion and decreased saliva production
-limited range of motion leads to less wear on molars and potential problems with enamel points

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What is the normal angle of the occlusal surface?

10 to 15 degrees

What is a shear mouth?

when the occlusal surface of the teeth is greater than 10 to 15 degrees

What are the components of the equine tooth?

-infundibulum
-enamel
-dentin
-cementum
-pulp cavity

What are the components of an equine oral exam?

-lateral excursion test
-visual exam and palpation
-systematic approach with adequate dental records

What should be palpated on an external exam of the jaw?

-buccal ridges
-mandible and maxilla
-TMJ/poll
-temporalis/masseter muscle

What is the lateral excursion test?

sliding of the incisors back and forth; should move 1.5 teeth widths

What should be noted regarding the incisors during an exam?

-length
-retained deciduous teeth
-malocclusion/trauma

What should be noted regarding the canines during an exam?

-calculus accumulation -excessive length -tissue trauma

What ancillary tests can be used to identify tooth/jaw problems in the equine?

-endoscopy -radiographs -CT -MRI -scintigraphy

What are the instruments require for routine dental care in the equine?

-power or hand floats -dental speculum -head lamp

What are the indications for equine dentistry?

-proper nutrition -dental disease -performance -comfort

What determines the frequency of equine dental care and examination?

-use of the horse -diet -age -individual variation -generally should do a biannual to annual exam

What are the clinical signs of dental disorders?

-weight loss -quidding -taking longer to eat -foul breath -drooling -dysphagia -asymmetry -performance problems

What is floating/odontoplasty?

term for routine dental care in the equine field

What are some of the abnormalities that can be removed with floating?

-points -excessive transverse ridges -frontal hooks -caudal hooks -incisor hooks

What are the characteristics of caudal hooks?

-often on the lower x11s -can be ramps/more gradual -most common neglected pathology

What are the characteristics of incisor hooks?

-come and go as shape of mouth changes -typically around 7 to 9 years and again around 11 to mid-teen years -can be excessive

What are some of the common dental procedures done in horses?

-wolf teeth removal -bit seat application -canine reduction

What are the abnormal wear patterns that can occur in horses?

-wave mouth -step mouth -shear mouth -missing teeth with opposing very long teeth

What are the characteristics of diastema?

-space between two teeth -can be normal or abnormal -can be open or closed -feed packing can lead to periodontitis

What is the most common malocclusion involving the incisors?

parrot mouth

What are the special considerations for geriatric horses?

-teeth may be loose -may have minimal remaining tooth -may need to soften feed -can have atrophy of masseter muscle -can have very large waves/ramps/steps; should not be completely corrected

What are the characteristics of equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH)?

-generally in older horses -involves resorption of teeth; typically incisors, possibly canines or cheek teeth -may develop hypercementosis in response; causes enlargement around roots -often painful

What is the current treatment for EOTRH?

-extraction of involved teeth -soaked feed to making eating easier following extraction

What are possible iatrogenic complications involving the teeth?

-iatrogenic malocclusion -thermal damage/exposure of sensitive structures -soft tissue trauma

What are the characteristics of equine oral tumors?

-rare -odontogenic tumors can arise from dental epithelium -80% of equine osteosarcomas involve the head -can get secondary SCC, LSA, and melanoma of the mouth