Dentistry

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Dentistry

• Only small part of tooth can be seen by handler.
• Teeth grow out continuously, and so we can tell
  the age of a horse fairly accurately.

2

• Horses have deciduous and permanent teeth. By
  five years of age all permanent teeth are in-
  full mouth. Molars are not present in deciduous
  teeth.
• Teeth are classified as incisors, molars,
  premolars, wolf and canine teeth.

3

• Mature males will have up to 42 teeth whereas
  mature females will usually have 36-38 teeth.
• Canines only develop normally in male-but 2-3
  mares will have upper and lower, 20-30 lower,
  6-7 in upper row only.
• Parrot mouth is a serious defect in the dentition
  of a horse whereas the upper arcade or row of
  teeth

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• protrude further out in front of the lower row.
• Undershot jaw is a condition opposite that of
  parrot mouth.
• Points- the most common problem caused by the two
  teeth surfaces grinding each other to a sharp
  point- teeth must be floated to remedy such a
  situation.

5

• Shear mouth is an especially bad case of points.
• Wave mouth is when the table surface of the teeth
  is uneven.
• Smooth mouth is when the grinding surface of the
  teeth is worn smooth in an older horse.
• Alveolar Periostitis is infection of the tooth
  socket. A root canal must be performed.

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Dental Formula

• I incisor I1 central incisor I2 middle
  incisor I3corner incisor
• Pm premolar Mmolar C canine
• Deciduous dental formula

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• 2 ( Di 3/3 Dc 1/1 Dpm 3/3 ) 28
• Permanent dental formula
• 2 ( I 3/3 C 1/1 Pm 3-4/3 M 3/3) 40

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Aging the horse by his mouth

• Looking to see what the color, shape, and
  presence of dental markers present.
• When looking at the tooth we can only see part of
  the neck-portion covered by gum.

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• Nor can we see the fang or root- which are
  imbedded into the bone.
• We do see the crown of the tooth, which is
  composed of (outside to inside) the cement,
  dentine, central enamel, and infindibulum. Later
  we will see the pulp cavity.
• We do see the infindibulum as "the cup"

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Primarily we use the

• ? eruption of the temporary teeth,
• ? the replacement of the temporary teeth and the
• ?presence of other markers

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• shape and disappearance of the cups
• the appearance and position of the dental star
• the shape, position and disappearance of the
  enamel ring
• shape of the table surfaces
• length of the crown, angle of the teeth,

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• Galyvayne's Groove
• Presence or absence of the 7 and 11 year hook.
• The determination of age from one to six years of
  age are based primarily on the appearance of the
  incisor teeth. Look at above factors, especially
  the presence

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• of the cup. Cup disappears about 3 years after
  eruption of tooth.
• Check for permanent incisors. None? Horse is
  under 2.5 years old.
• Central, middle, and corner incisors break
  through at 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 years of age. In wear
  within 6 months.

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• Central, middle, and corner incisors lose cup at
  6,7, and 8 years, respectively. Upper central
  incisors lose cup at 9,10,11 years.
• Central, middle, and corner incisors gain star at
  8, 9, and 10 years of age.
• Central, middle incisors become round at 9, 10
  years of age.
• Teeth become triangular at 16, 17 years.