TOTALLY TEETH. by Dr. John Charles (BVSc) Straight from the Horse s Mouth why the fuss about a healthy mouth?

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Stephanie Carr
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1 19 August 2010 TOTALLY TEETH by Dr. John Charles (BVSc) Straight from the Horse s Mouth why the fuss about a healthy mouth? The healthy condition of your horse s mouth is essential to his/her existence as a companion animal and as a performance horse. Horses use their teeth to apprehend (nip off pieces of grass) and masticate (grind) their feed and dental problems interfere with optimal digestion and have been cited as a leading cause of chronic weight loss, pain (colic) and infection in the equine patient. We use bits which place pressure on aspects of their mouths which cause discomfort and pain for the horse. SIMPLY... failure to provide adequate dental care is a welfare issue!!! And also, PREVENTION IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN CURE!!! A Head Start simplified low-down of your horse s teeth

2 Wolf Teeth Horses can have up to 4 of these. They are equally common in both males and females, and more likely to be on the upper jaw. They can cause problems when bitting and rasping, so are often removed. Canine Teeth A horse may have up to 4 of these. Also known as tusks or tushes. These serve no specific function. Generally, all male horses have four canine teeth; however, a small percentage of mares have one or two although only partially erupted. Incisor Teeth These front teeth are used to nip pieces of grass as the horse grazes. Adults have 12 incisors. Premolars Horses have 12 premolars: three on each side of the upper and lower jaw. These grind fibrous feed to a form that can be swallowed. Molars An adult set of teeth has 12 often referred to as cheek teeth. Horses use these to grind fibrous feed. Root The whole of the tooth is housed in the horse s skull from birth the teeth gradually erupt through the gum throughout his life Biting Point hey Doc, what are some of the most common tooth abnormalities? Like humans, horses can suffer from a variety of dental problems, which can cause eating and riding to become painful. Many abnormalities stem from the fact that horses teeth erupt continuously throughout their life, and are designed to wear down at the same rate at which they erupt. Here are some common problems that horses can suffer from when this does not happen as it should... Molar problems - SHEAR MOUTH The biting surface of each individual cheek tooth is severely sloped, as a result of side-to-side chewing. The normal angle is 15 degrees, but shearing can increase this angle up to 75 degrees! This severely affects the horse s ability to chew properly, meaning that good food is poorly utilized.

Hooks can cause problems with the bit when the horse changes his head carriage when ridden, it causes extreme discomfort and pain!

3 - HOOKS Sharp points on a tooth, commonly seen on the front of the first upper premolar and last lower molar. They prevent the horse from chewing freely side-to-side, and the surrounding soft tissues are also susceptible to laceration and trauma from the sharp points. Hooks can cause problems with the bit when the horse changes his head carriage when ridden, it causes extreme discomfort and pain! - WAVE COMPLEXES An uneven, wavelike appearance of the premolars and molars. They can wear teeth out prematurely, and can cause tooth decay and even loss. Free side-toside chewing is impaired, so the horse cannot grind his food properly

- ACCENTUATED TRANSVERSE RIDGES These ridges run across the biting surface of the molars, and can become

4 - RAMPS Excessive height of the lower premolars They prevent the horse from chewing freely side-to-side. Furthermore, when ridden, they can cause the horse extreme discomfort with the bit. - ACCENTUATED TRANSVERSE RIDGES These ridges run across the biting surface of the molars, and can become enlarged if the horse is not chewing properly. This interferes with the normal jaw motion and can even result in severe diseases around or near the tooth.

5 - PERIODONTAL POCKETS Gum disease around the tooth causes a pocket to form, in which food lodges and accumulates. This can lead to bone erosion around the tooth and can, eventually, even cause infection, abscesses and tooth loss. IT IS DIFFICULT TO TREAT, SO PREVENTION IS THE KEY!! Incisor problems - OFFSET / DIAGONAL BITE The upper incisor teeth on one side of the mouth and the lower incisors of the opposite side become excessively long, causing the incisors to meet at a diagonal. This painful problem can develop from one-directional chewing, or from cribbing.

6 - UNDERBITE This is a relatively uncommon abnormality, where the lower incisors protrude in front of the upper incisors. This can be a hereditary defect, or can develop as a result of ramps, and can cause the horse discomfort with the bit. - OVERJET - BONE SPURS These are abnormal bony growths most often caused by trauma from the bit to the lower jaw bone. They can be extremely painful for the horse, especially if the bit touches the affected area. They may be removed by a vet if causing problems.

7 - SMILE The corner lower incisors grow longer relative to the corner upper incisors. They may occur as a result of retained baby teeth, or abnormal chewing secondary to molar problems. Root of the Problem where to from here, Doc? Remember, feeding difficulties, behavioral problems and troubles under saddle can all be tooth-related. Discover why caring for your horse s teeth is more important than you might think. Some other dental problems not covered so far... Abscesses Loose teeth, cracks Infections Retained baby teeth Plague build-up And hence it is imperative to have your horse s teeth examined by a veterinarian, or a qualified equine dental technician (EDT) AT LEAST EVERY SIX TO TWELVE MONTHS or as determined by the following cues to be on the lookout for that could indicate a tooth problem:- Is your horse reluctant to eat Eating more slowly than usual Leaving some of his feed Chewing with his mouth open Dropping partially-chewed food out of his mouth ( quidding ) Turning his head to the side whilst he is chewing Excessive salivation while eating Blood in his saliva Foul smelling breathe (halitosis) or from his nose Any discharge from his nostrils or jaw (abscess) Facial swellings Examine his droppings for undigested feed Chronic (long term) weight loss despite regular deworming Problems under saddle Gaping the mouth Difficulty in picking up the canter and performing flying changes Head tossing Bucking Tilting the head Difficulty bending and getting on the bit/going behind the bit Refusal to collect OK, open wide!

The goals of equine dentistry is (1) to reduce mouth pain hence enhancing mastication (side-toside grinding) and performance and (2) prevent and correct bite

Rasping (or floating) the teeth involves removal of those sharp points or protuberant areas of the teeth as previously illustrated.

8 The goals of equine dentistry is (1) to reduce mouth pain hence enhancing mastication (side-toside grinding) and performance and (2) prevent and correct bite abnormalities by reducing sharp enamel points WITHOUT causing soft tissue trauma or damage. Rasping (or floating) the teeth involves removal of those sharp points or protuberant areas of the teeth as previously illustrated. Any dental equipment in the wrong hands can do more harm than good! Many efficient treatment goals can be achieved without power tools. Power tools have their advantages especially on the teeth furthest back in the mouth because they cause less trauma.

9 Sedation may be required for fractious horses, difficult dental procedures or nervous horses and this may only be administered by a veterinarian because of the possible life threatening side effects of the type sedative most commonly used to sedate equine patients. Your veterinarian would consider the interrelationship between dental problems and other disease processes concurrent in other parts of the body. The veterinary oral examination will cover aspects such as the history of the problem; examination of the head; oral examination; dental records and methods of identifying teeth; fractured teeth; dental disease; caries and oral/nasal discharge requiring further radiographic examination (x-rays) with an ultimate treatment plan. Care must be taken not to wear away too much of the tooth s surface otherwise it will not be rough enough to grind food. Furthermore, excessive rasping could expose the sensitive interior of the tooth or damage the sensitive pulp, which in turn could lead to the tooth having to be removed. This danger being inherently a serious disadvantage of power tools if used incorrectly. The incisor teeth may need some attention as unlevel incisors force the teeth apart as the horse chews. Wolf teeth may be removed if they are causing problems with bitting or problems under saddle. Plaque build-up also needs to be monitored. Plaque often forms around the base of the canine teeth, and also, very commonly, around the base of the lower corner incisors. Failure to remove it can cause inflammation of the gums. Most horses need to have their teeth floated every 12 months but remember, each horse is individual, so your vet or EDT will be able to advise you on this and using the tips given earlier to be on the lookout for early identification/signs of possible dental problems you will prevent discomfort and pain to your equine friend. THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS THAT PREVETION IS BETTER THAN CURE!!!

10 In the author s experience the following are experiences noteworthy to share:- As a general principle: err on the side of caution when removing dental overgrowths, i.e. don t remove any more than is necessary because one single floating of a biting/grinding surface of a cheek tooth reduces the grinding surface and capacity of that tooth ultimately decreasing the digestive capacity of the horse s teeth. Foal and older horses require more regular checkups as there is more likely to be a problem. Start floating your youngster s teeth at about 2 years old. Remove caps of baby teeth, as the adult teeth erupt, because the baby teeth are painful for the horse when eating. Tongue lesions are underestimated and are more painful and serious than cheek lesions resulting from sharp edges as demonstrated above with shear mouth.

Common Equine Dental Malocclusions Molars

Common Equine Dental Malocclusions Molars CAUDAL HOOKS Definition - Dominant lower or upper last molar overhanging opposing molar. Etiology - Hereditary - May result from horse born with over or under