1. Equine Dental Abnormalities & Dentistry Brendan Kraus, DVM Photos courtesy Leon Scrutchfield,DVM

2. Equine Teeth Horses evolved as a continuously grazing animal
Free range horses graze hours per day.
Dental problems have been made worse by man altering the horse’s natural lifestyle
Stalled horses eat grain or pelleted feed in short periods of time.
The composition of the diet has a great influence on the development of dental abnormalities
Lack of grazing to wear incisors
Lack of fiber mastication to wear cheek teeth
Lateral movement of jaw is important

3. Equine Teeth, cont.
Horses developed teeth suited to mastication of grass
High Crowns
Abrasives would wear out low-crowned teeth
Increased # of cusps
Complex pattern of enamel
Self sharpening (layers with different degrees of hardness)
Increased size of grinding teeth
Formation of grinding teeth into a battery (arcade)

4. Hypsodont Teeth Adult Teeth are continually erupting.
At least 2-3mm per year to allow for worn away tooth
Allows for dental abnormalities to compound themselves
Teeth will eventually slow down eruption, and “wear out”

5. Horse Tooth Complex
Enamel
Pulp/dentin complex
Cementum

6. Young Teeth/Old Teeth

7. Veterinary Dentistry
The field has recently been advanced with the development of improved tools and sedatives
Artificially wear down the teeth with manual or power instrumentation
Correct problems that have developed
“Maintenance” to prevent problem development
Shaping of teeth to enhance use/performance

8. Veterinary Dentistry, cont.
Help Promote Effective Chewing
Help Prevent Colic and Choke
Help protect the mouth’s soft tissues
Help prevent discomfort from the bit
Help prevent discomfort from the bridle
Help prevent neck and back pain
Help alleviate problems in the “Golden Years”

9. Dental Abnormality Symptoms
NONE!
Slobber
Eat Slowly
Tilt Head
Quid
Head Toss
Chew the bit
Tail Swing
Bucking
Refuse collect or take lead
Facial swelling
Nasal discharge
Draining tracts

10. Oral Examination Wash out feed material Sedation Stocks/Restraint
Full Mouth Speculum
Light source

12. Abnormalities Sharp Enamel Points Hooks Ramps Steps Waves
Transverse Ridges
Incisors
Bite
Retained Caps
Periodontal Disease
Wolf Teeth

14. Sharp Enamel Points

21. Hooks

27. Caps-Retained Deciduous Premolars
First 3 Cheek Teeth in Place at Birth
Permanents erupt in-caps shed
2 Years Eight Months
2 years Ten Months
3 Years Eight Months

28. Lower Jaw Caps

30. Upper Caps

34. What Killed This Horse?

35. Wolf Teeth

36. Blind Wolf Tooth

38. Lower Wolf Tooth

39. Canines

40. Incisors

44. Retained Baby Incisor

46. Wave Mouth

52. Other Problems

53. Parrot Mouth

54. Extractions Some teeth are beyond correction
Teeth which are loose, broken, or in the
wrong position may need to be extracted
Extraction can be easy or very difficult
Specialized equipment and sedation is
required.

55. Equipment

56. Diamond Burr

57. Picks/Gingival Elevators

58. Mirror

59. Slim Hand Float

60. Extractors

62. Dental Conditions: “You Never Know Till You Look”

64. Questions?