Equine Dentistry 2 Flashcards
(144 cards)
what is periodontal disease
progressive disease in which tissue surrounding affecting teeth is destroyed until eventually teeth may be lost
what is the most common cause of periodontal disease
mechanical impaction of food between and around teeth
what is the cycle of periodontal disease

how does food become impacted between the teeth
diastema allows food to become impacted between teeth
what are diastemas
abnormal spaces between adjacent teeth that should normally be tight in occlusal apposition
what are the two types of diastema
- valve diastema
- open diastema
what are valve diastema
the space between adjacent teeth is wider near the margin of gum than the occlusal surface
creates a one way valve, where food becomes trapped between teeth, but cannot escape
what is an open diastema
the space between adjacent teeth is of equal width from the occlusal surface to the margin of the gum
food can enter and leave the space easily and is less likely to become trapped
what are the most common teeth that are affected by diastema
caudal mandibular cheek teeth
between triadan 09 and 10s
why are diastema painful oral diseases
due to concurrent gingivitis and periodontal disease
what are causes of diastema (4)
- misalignment or overcrowding of teeth due to the presence of supernumerary or dysplastic teeth
- reduction in crown diameter as horses age, resulting in a loss of rostrocaudal compression of a dental arcade
- large dental overgrowths displacing apposing teeth
- dental extraction resulting in diastema formulation due to subsequent dental drift
how are diastema initially treated
removal of all food material from diastema is the single most important aspect of treatment
then dental equilibration should be performed to remove opposing sharp enamel points and excessive transverse ridges
how is diastema treated following the removal of teeth
diastema should be temprorary packed with dental dressings to prevent re-impaction of food while the periodontum heals
how are diastema managed long term
diastema odontoplasty: widening with a motorized burr (3mm groove in the interdental space to reduce occlusal forces from opposing teeth)
when should a diastema odontoplasty
3-4 weeks after initial treatment, especially if initial treatment is ineffective at treating periodontal disease
there is great risk of a iatrogenic damage to pulp horns
how are diastema managed with diet
eliminate or remove consumption of food containing long fibres (hay or haylage) as they become trapped easier
short fibre foods (<5mm) such as chopped grass, alfalfa and some grain
grazing should be encouraged
why do horses on short fibre diets need more frequent floating
short fibres alter the masticatory action of horses, causing them to chew with a more vertical than lateral mandibular action, encouraging cheek teeth enamel overgrowths
what other things can cause periodontal disease
dental calculus (tartar)
what are dental caries
the result of demineralization of calcified (inorganic) dental tissues and eventual destruction of the organic component of teeth
what are the two types of dental caries
- infundibular caries
- peripheral caries
what are infundibular caries
caries of the infundibulae of maxillary cheek teeth
what are peripheral caries
caries of the outside surface of teeth especially of the caudal three cheek teeth
what type of dental carie is this

infundibular
what type of dental carie is this

peripheral carie






































