Introduction to Equine Dentistry Presented By Ulf Berglund, Iaed C/EqDT Hyoid apparatus PERFORMANCE EQUINE DENTISTRY Thanks Tony Basile M/EqDT Thomas J. Johnson, D.V.M. Technical Advisors Andy Dibbern DVM 2000 Tony Basile History Of Equine Dentistry Upper jaw 30% wider Some evidence of equine dentistry dates back to 2,000 B.C. Bit-Seats: Information on bit-seats dates back to the British Veterinary Journal 1865 Equine dentistry was much better in late 1800 s then in the 1900 s 1900-Present Day: Many advances are made in equine medicine but proper equine dentistry is a small part of most veterinary college curriculums What We Will Talk About? Incisors Canines Wolf Teeth Premolars Molars Some Facts To Know About Teeth Human tooth crown is covered with enamel Once through the enamel the softer dentin, nerves, and pulp chamber are exposed. Humans chew their food in a pounding motion. Humans have short crowned teeth. (Brachydont) Horse teeth have enamel ridges throughout The crown has exposed enamel, cementum, and dentin and pulp chambers run throughout. Horses grind their food in a circular motion. Horses have long crowned teeth. (Hypsodont) 1
Our Teeth Long Reserve Crown Enamel Dentin Pulp Occlusal View Of A Molar Short Reserve Crown Enamel Folds: Hardest substance (Red Lines) Cementum: Supports the enamel (Blue Arrows) Dentin: Prevents access to pulp cavity (Green Arrows) Roots Are Deeply Imbedded Root Formation 2
Lateral Excursion and Angles Why Horses Teeth Get Sharp Ulcers on Tongue Floating Is Necessary Properly Floated With Bit-Seat Besides Floating What Else is There? Excessive Crowns (Overlong Teeth) Hooks Ramps Waves Steps Wolf Teeth Deciduous Teeth Loose and Necrotic 3
Excessive Crowns (Examples) Missing Teeth Results Of Excessive Crowns Are Painful 4
Molarized Incisor Abnormal Supernumerary Tooth Rostral Hook 5
Cut Hooks Caudal Hook and Wave Hooks Hooks And Waves Removed Waves Ramps 6
Ramp and Caudal Upper Hook Caudal Steps/ Transverse Ridge Ramp ETR: Excessive Transverse Ridges Preventing Free Caudal-Rostral Movement Ramp Reduced with Bit Seat Displaced Teeth 7
Shear Mouth Molar Forceps Lumps or Any Type of Swelling Diseased Molar Extracting a bad tooth can make a big difference to your horse Extracting Molar 8
Extracted molar Fractured Molar Impression Material Plug 9
Fractured Mandible/ Abscess Abscessed tooth Dental Problems: What To Look For Foul Breath Weight Loss Head Tossing Dropping Grain (Quidding) Refusing To Take A Lead Soaking Food Before Eating Large Pieces of Undigested Food Facial Swelling These are not always related but they are things to watch Abscessed Tooth Poor body condition 10
Wolf Tooth Elevators Wolf Teeth Normal Wolf Tooth Wolf Teeth If we want a good Bit-Seat we need to remove those wolf teeth Lower Wolf Tooth BIT 11
Removing Lower Wolf Tooth Blind Wolf Teeth Extracted Blind Wolf Tooth Bit Seats Blind Wolf Tooth Incision Canines 12
Calculus When Do They Shed? Approximate Times for Premolars 2 Years 8 months For 1st Set 2 Years 10 months For 2nd Set 3 Years 6 months for 3rd Set Approximate Times for Incisors Central Incisors 2 Years 6 months Lateral Incisors 3 Years 6 months Corner Incisors 4 Years 6 Months Deciduous Tooth Is Ready Deciduous Teeth Caps Continued Deciduous Teeth are also known as caps or baby teeth. The incisors and premolars are deciduous. In the process the deciduous tooth is absorbed and the permanent tooth moves into position. It takes approximately 4-6 months for a tooth to reach full wear. 13
Upper Premolar Cap Impacted cap Cap Extracted Impacted Molars Retained Premolar Caps Permanent Teeth Can Not Erupt Permanent Deciduous 14
Deciduous Teeth Don t Always Shed on Time Retained Incisor Caps Deciduous Teeth Permanent Teeth Crowded Incisors Retained Incisor Incisor Caps Retained Incisor 15
Take A Peek At Those Incisors Diagonal Bite Example Diagonals Absent Teeth Broken Teeth Dorsal Curvatures (Frowning) Ventral Curvature (Smiling) These problems can effect lateral excursion Balance Diagonal Bite We Balance In Two Points TMJ Molars Horses Balance In Three Points TMJ Molars Incisors Temporomandibular Joint Missing Incisor 16
Offset incisors & Sheared Molars Overlong Incisors Missing or Broken Teeth Overlong Incisors Horses need to grind their food Over jet Ventral Curvature 17
Dorsal Curvature (Frowning Incisors) Same Basic Problems As The Ventral Curvature Ventral Curvature (Smiling Incisors) Damaged Incisors 18
Incisor Reduction Geriatric Horses And Other Problems Brachynathia Lack of Enamel Prognathism 19
Worn Out Occlusal Surfaces Cupped And Worn What About All Those Wild Horses Natural Foods Are Best Wild horses graze 12-16 hours a day No Sugars Complete Feeds Save Horses Do Horses Get Cavities? Yes, And They Can Be Corrected 20
Decay Of The Infundibulum Composite Filling Using 3M s Z 250 Dental Records Are Very Important By Knowing Past Dental Maintenance We Can Do A Better Job If You Move If You Change Veterinarians If You Decide To Sell The Horse Cavities In Time Itemized Records Exposed Pulp Proper restraint is essential 21
What Is Proper Equine Dentistry GT Power Instruments with Vacuum Sedation? Horse needs to be quiet Needs to hold still Safer for horse and handler Radiology Pharmacology Bute or Banamine Antibiotics and Lab Work Listening to molar occlusion Battery Powered Float Proper Instruments Complete and Clean Power float 22
Bright Headlight McPherson Speculum Cheek Retractor Conrad Speculum Washing Out The Mouth Spool Speculum 23
Landmesser Wedge Suspended (With Motorized Float) Make sure it s a Horse!! Head Stand Or refer to Texas A&M Head Ring ( Hand Floating) 24
Stocks Summary With good Dental care your horse can live a happier healthier life QUESTIONS 25