Equine Dentistry 1 Flashcards
(59 cards)
what are the clinical signs of dental disease
not uncommon for horses with dental disease to present without any clinical signs at all
abnormalities are usually identified during routine appointments for occlusal equilibration (rasping or floating)
what are the common clinical signs associated with dental disease that you may observe (5)
- swellings or discharging tracts of mandible or maxilla
- unilateral nasal discharge
- weight loss due to a chronic painful condition
- packing of feed into cheeks
- submandibular lymph node enlargement
what are less common clinical signs that might be seen
- quidding
- headshaking
- increased fibre length/poor masticated food in feces
- not taking a bit
what is the first step in investigating a suspected dental disease
- clinical examination
what is important in the clinical exam
palpate the patients face/skull
check overall facial symmetry and watch out for any abnormalities, lumps or depressions, submandibular lymph node swelling, evidence of external draining tracts or masseter muscle atrophy
watch the horse eat if possible, is it chewing with both sides of its mouth? is it taking longer to chew than normal? quidding?
what equipment is needed for the oral examination
- bright light source
- speculum
- gloves
- dental syringe
- dental mirror
- pulpar explorer
- diastema forceps
- periodontal probe
what is a graduated periodontal probe used for
graduated periodontal probes are used for assessing the depth of periodontal pockets in cases of periodontal disease, as well as the depth of the infundibular caries
each demarcated band on the periodontal probe is 5mm in height
what are pulpar explorers used for
to identify dental pulps on the occlusal surface of teeth
how can horses be restrained for an oral exam
dental halter, or headstand
stocks or stall
sedation is highly recommended (alpha 2 agonist usually romifidine or detomidine and an opioid usually butorphanol)
what is the first step in the oral exam
- incisors
how do you examine the incisors (5)
starting without the speculum in place, assess the patient’s incisors
- count the number of incisors present (there may be supernumerary incisors, retained deciduous incisors, missing incisors)
- after counting the number, assess the incisors from the front –> is the occlusal surface of mandibular and maxillary incisors symmetrical? asymmetry of the incisors or unequal lateral excursion of the mandible may indicate a dental abnormality of the cheek teeth
- closely examine each incisor –> evidence of dental calculus (tartar) or draining tracts around the gingival margins, look for evidence of diastema (food packing between teeth)
- palpate each incisor individually to see if there is any tooth mobility
- assess the occlusal surface of each incisor, looking for evidence of pulp exposure
what is the second step in an oral exam
canines and wolf teeth
how are canines and wolf teeth examined
speculum placed
- check for evidence of of calculus formation, particularly around the lower canines, or fractures of the canines
- check for wolf teeth (displaced, blindly erupted or mandibular wolf teeth)
what is the third step in an oral exam
with speculum in place, palpate the cheek teeth
what is an important rule when palpating the cheek teeth
always keep one hand on the speculum when palpating the mouth to make sure you have control of the horse’s head
how are cheek teeth examined
palpate the cheek teeth for evidence of dental overgrowths and assocaited soft tissue trauma, dental fractures, displaced teeth, supernumerary teeth and diastema
what is the first step when evaluating the cheek teeth
evaluate without a dental mirror
count the number of cheek teeth present, assess soft tissue trauma if present and identify any fractures if present
what is the second step in examining cheek teeth (2)
use a dental mirror to assess the cheek teeth with a systematic approach
assess one triadan row at a time, paying close attention to
- the occlusal surface of every cheek tooth, including the pulps and infundibula
- interdental space between cheek teeth, buccally occlusally and lingual
what is shown here
infundibular caries
what is the third step in examining cheek teeth
use a pulpar explorar to assess the integrity of secondary dentine over individual pulp cavities on the occlusal surface of each tooth
when drawn across the occlusal surface of each tooth, the pulpar explorer should not be able to enter the occlusal aspect of a pulp cavity –> if it does there may be exposed pulp
what is the fourth step when evaluating the cheek teeth
use a dental mirror to assess the periodontium
when assessing the periodontium, ensure the mouth is well rinsed and pockets if present, are cleared of food
use a probe to determine the depth of periodontal pockets if present, it can also be used to assess the depth of infundibular caries
what is shown here
periodontal pocket after food has been removed
how can periodontal pockets be cleared of food
diastema forceps, and a diastema flusher
what is the fourth step in an oral exam
radiography
