Veterinary dental nursing procedures HORSE DENTISTRY

Horse dentistry 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Dental formula Deciduous 2 ( I 3/3, P 3/3 ) = 24 Permanent 2 ( I 3/3, C 1/1 P 3-4/3 M 3/3) = 40 - 42                                                                                 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Teeth change throughout life Crown erupts slowly Hypsodont Neither open rooted (Elodont) nor closed rooted Roots close slowly 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Crown erupts very slowly 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Canine & Wolf teeth diastema 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Diastema A large gap between the teeth 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Incisor wear 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Aging Based largely on incisor wear Have to consider other factors besides groove and wear patterns Diet etc 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Dental ‘star’ = Receding ‘pulp’ 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Hook & Galvayne’s groove Upper I3 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

4 weeks 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

4-6 weeks 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

6-9 mths 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

2 ½ years 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

3 ½ years 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

4 ½ years 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

6 years 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

7 years 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Foals Acquire teeth – first week By 9 months full set of baby teeth First adult molars – 9-12 months Second molars – 2 years Adult central incisors –erupt at 2.5 years First PM ( wolf teeth) – erupts 2.5 years Second PM – erupts 2.5 years Third PM – 3 years Lateral incisors and third molar – 3.5 years Corner incisors and forth PM and Canines = 4.5 years 5 years complete set of permanent teeth 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Adults Galvaynes groove – on the surface of upper corner incisor 10 years – groove appears 15 years – half way down tooth 20 years – present entire length of tooth 25 years – groove begins to disappear from gum line first 30 years – groove gone 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Infundibulum The surface ( table ) of the incisor crown has a marked depression called the infundibulum Covered by enamel ( as is the crown and a part of the root ) Hence when the tooth wears 2 rings of enamel are seen an outer and inner ring 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Wear and Growth The occlusal surface of the horses teeth are in constant wear and the tooth is continually erupting from the socket Thus at successive periods of time, at first the crown, then the neck and finally the root are in wear 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Horse molars Grinding Large flat surface Grinding causes the cementum and dentine to wear faster than enamel causing enamel ridges which provide a self – sharpening surface Lower jaw narrower than upper – results in uneven wear Outside border of upper teeth and inside border of lower teeth can develop sharp spikes which need to be filed ( rasped ) called floating 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Malocclusions Parrot mouth, sow mouth Maxilla too wide All lead to sharp edges Require regular floating 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

‘Parrot’ mouth 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Abnormal wear Cause hooks, points, sharp edges Wave mouth Step mouth – sudden change in height of a tooth, usually when a tooth is lost Treatment floating 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Wave Mouth 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Step Mouth 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Sharp Points 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Sharp Points 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Teething Dental caps – retained deciduous cheek teeth, sharp, cut, trap food, bacterial overgrowth, periodontal disease and excessive salivation Wolf ( first PM )- usually in maxilla, can be removed without GA, to prevent interferance with the bit, usually done at 18- 24 months old Canine teeth may be absent in mare, may grow and traumatize opposite arcade or interfere with bridle, rasp down Periodontal disease Visible swellings occur along the mandible of young horses up to 4 years of age, hard, painless,cause no problems. Theses structures are enlarged dental alveoli, characterised by periapical by periapical radiolucency, associated with pressure Atrophy of the bone. They become smooth as the horse grows older and require no treatment 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Wolf Teeth Small teeth located in front of the lower second premolar Short roots A horse may have one, two, or none Often removed by vets to prevent pain or interference from a bit (bit pulls lips onto tooth causing pain and ulceration) 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Pulling teeth Tongue pulled out to side 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Rasping = “Floating” Rasping sharp points off teeth Mostly required in stabled horses Pasture grit helps grind teeth http://www.yourhorseshealth.com/health_care/dental_care.html FLOATING & PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE The process of rasping or filing a horse's teeth is known as floating. This is the most common dental procedure veterinarians perform on horses. Floating removes sharp enamel points and can create a more even bite plane. It also helps keep incisors and cheek teeth at a desirable length. When turned out on pasture, horses browse almost continuously, picking up dirt and grit in the process. This, plus the silicate in grass, wears down the teeth. Stabled horses, however, may not give their teeth the same workout. Feedings are more apt to be scheduled, not continuous, and to include processed grains and hays. Softer feeds require less chewing. This may allow the horse's teeth to become excessively long or to wear unevenly. Adult horse's teeth erupt throughout their life and are worn off by chewing. Unfortunately, cheek teeth tend to develop sharp enamel points even under normal grazing conditions. Because the horse's lower jaw is narrower than its upper jaw and the horse grinds its feed with a sideways motion, sharp points tend to form along the edges. Points form on the cheek side of the upper teeth and the tongue side of the lower teeth. These points should be rasped to prevent them from cutting the cheeks and tongue. Floating is especially important in horses who have lost a tooth, or whose teeth are in poor apposition and do not fit together well. Normally, contact with the apposing tooth keeps biting surfaces equal. When cheek teeth are out of alignment, hooks can form. If left unchecked, these hooks can become long enough to penetrate the hard or soft palate. Small hooks can be removed by floating. Longer hooks are usually removed with molar cutters or a dental chisel. 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Floating requires Mouth Gag 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

Horse dental gear 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

‘Float’ & ‘Rasp’ 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

‘Floating’ teeth 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

The End 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing