General dentistry
Wolf teeth
Also referred to as the 1st pre-molar, these teeth serve no purpose but can cause pain if they come into contact with the bit or are malpositioned. Typically these teeth are removed. Extraction of any tooth, including wolf teeth requires sedation and a local nerve block to ensure the horse experiences minimal pain.
Did you know: Around 70% of horses have wolf teeth and there is no correlation to the sex of the horse.
Caries (Cavities)
Yes, horses get them too!
Cavities can occur due to numerous reasons and can sometimes involve the pulp chambers. This can lead to pain and tooth decay due to pulp infections so, it's important that every tooth is checked and probed appropriately to determine the severity of decay.
Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis (EOTRH)
A painful, progressive disease commonly affecting the incisors or canines of older horses. As there is no cure, extraction of the diseased teeth is currently the only effective treatment.
Quick tip: A horse should be able to bite directly through a carrot, if they can't then get your horse checked by a registered dental vet.
Gingivitis and periodontal disease
This is very common, occurring in 60-70% of horses over 15 and is the leading cause of tooth loss. It can also be seen in younger horses during teething (also known as eruption periodontitis).
Periodontal disease involves inflammation of the supporting tooth structures (gum, periodontal ligament and surrounding bone) and commonly occurs due to long term gum disease (gingivitis).
Gingivitis may occur in response to malocclusions, sharp points, food impactions, missing teeth or calculus, which progresses down the side of the tooth and then into the bone. Gingivitis is reversible if treated early however, once disease progresses past the gingivitis stage the damage is irreversible and termed periodontal disease.
Signs of periodontal disease include bad breath, quidding, excessive drooling, head tilt, or in some cases sensitivity to water.
Malocclusions
A malocclusion means your horse's teeth are not aligned. Parrot mouth (overbite) or sow mouth (underbite) are the most common findings. Malocclusions can impede normal jaw function and create further problems with both the cheek teeth and incisors (overgrown teeth and hooks are common). If your horse has a malocclusion it will generally require more regular dental care (every 3–6 months depending on severity). Early detection may lead to better outcomes.
Other cheek teeth abnormalities
Common cheek teeth issues found during routine examinations include:
- retained 'caps'
- wave mouth
- enlarged diastema
- excessive transverse ridges
- elongated teeth
- hooks, ramps or steps
- shear mouth.
All of these conditions can be treated during a routine dental visit.