 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Equines
Equine dentistry has evolved rapidly in recent years.
The most common procedure in practice has long been floating (or rasping) of teeth. Most herbivores are anisognathic. This means that the mandibular cheek teeth are closer together than the maxillary cheek teeth in the rostro-caudal plane. The upper and lower cheek teeth have a normal occlusal plane of around 15 degrees from the horizontal. If the upper and lower jaws meet abnormally, or if the food is not abrasive enough, spikes form on the lingual borders of the mandibular cheek teeth and the buccal borders of the maxillary cheek teeth. These are then removed by rasps or shears.
Periodontal abscesses can occur if the chewing unit of six cheek teeth is disrupted and food becomes impacted.
Crown fractures lead to pulp inflammation, pulp death and, eventually, abscessation via the root tissues. Root canal treatment is available to horses for this condition in some circumstances.
As equines have radicular hypsodont teeth, their root closes as they get older. A closed root is available for root canal treatment but this is always performed in retrograde fashion – through the root area. Once the cavity is cleaned and diseased root is removed, the pulp canal is cleaned and filled as far up as is possible
| Common case types |
|
Click the following links for more details on the most common referral case types. |
|
