Equine Dentistry
By Dr. Marty Langhofer DVM.
PATD
Equine Dental Examination
Tooth Identification
Clinical Equine Anatomy and Common Diseases of the Horse. Reigel and Hakola. Equistar Publications
Biomechanics of Chewing
15 Degree Angles
Malocclusions & Pathology
Foxtails \ Foreign Bodies
Dental Equipment Power Grinders Extraction Tools
Hand Floats Speculum Equine Stocks
Mouth Speculum
Veterinary Dental Products – Flexi-Float
Treatments
Dental Identification
Bit Seating
 Placement and Mechanics
Three Point Balance
Clinical Equine Anatomy and Common Diseases of the Horse. Reigel and Hakola. Equistar Publications
Nerve Blocks / Analgesics
Nerves and Blood Vessels
Clinical Equine Anatomy and Common Diseases of the Horse. Reigel and Hakola. Equistar Publications
Clinical Equine Anatomy and Common Diseases of the Horse. Reigel and Hakola. Equistar Publications
Wolf Teeth  Do Equine use their wolf teeth to fight off other animals?
Dental Analgesia
Clinical Equine Anatomy and Common Diseases of the Horse. Reigel and Hakola. Equistar Publications
Clinical Equine Anatomy and Common Diseases of the Horse. Reigel and Hakola. Equistar Publications
Equine Dental Caps  Retained Caps Decidvous Teeth
Equine Dental Caps At what age do caps fall off horses teeth?
(A) 6 months, 12 months, 18 months (B) 24 months,
28months, 30 months (C) 3 years, 4 years, 5 years (D) 2 years 8 months, 2 years 10 months, 3 years 8 months (also depends on breed of horse)
Clinical Equine Anatomy and Common Diseases of the Horse. Reigel and Hakola. Equistar Publications
Equine Dentistry, 2nd edition. Gordon J. Baker and Jack Easley. Printed with Permission.
Equine Dentistry, 2nd edition. Gordon J. Baker and Jack Easley. Printed with Permission.
Dental Cavities and Fillings
Dental Extractions
Extraction Technique
Periosteal elevators Tooth spreaders-allow clot to begin forming Apply extractors-rock, rock, rock side to side Wait, wait, wait Resume rocking then wait, wait, wait Resume rocking then wait, wait, wait Dental fulcrum
Extraction Technique
Extraction Pack off alveolus to control bleeding with saline soaked gauze Pull pack Instill Bio-cell or Gel-foam in socket Add antibiotics (SMZ-TMP, metronidazole, Biotene oral gel) Seal with dental wax or STAT-soft acrylic Pull STAT plug in 7 days
Alternative
Flush alveoli socket daily with Chlorhexidine gluconate dilute solution Then seal with Bio-cell
NOTE: Gel-foam may be a holding place for bacteria
Control Bleeding
Pack with wet saline gauze Gel Foam (Pfizer)/Bio-stat (A/cell) Dental wax/ STAT-dental impression acrylic
Electrocautery
Daily dental packs
Surgical-oxidized regenerated methylcellulose (binds platelets and releases fibrin) (Surgicel-Johnson and Johnson)
Topical thrombin (Thrombostate, Pfizer) saturate with Gel-foam
Microfiber collagen (Avitene, Dacroln) either colluplug or collatape (Sulzer Calcitek)
Dental hemostatic powder/paste
Problems with Clotting
Salivary enzymes Clot dislodgment with tongue/chewing motions Bleeding disorders Liver or kidney disease Drugs
Aspirin-platelet interference Antibiotics-decreased Vitamin K production Anticoagulants Alcohol/mycotoxins-causes hepatopathy
Hypertension
Healing Process of Extraction
Extraction Blood flow from alveolar bone and gingiva Blood clot formation Forms barrier to debris, food, irritants, bacteria Forms a supporting structure for granulation tissue
Local tissue damage from extraction site Evokes an inflammatory reaction local expansion of blood vessels WBC’s and fibroblasts invade the connective tissue at the alveolus until granulation tissue is formed Leukocytes digest the blood clot as granulation tissue is formed
Healing Process of Extraction  Bone is layed down by osteoblasts  Coarse, trabecular, and compact bone is used in bone remodeling
After Extraction Pain medication (bone)
Augenal Benzocaine NSAIDS such as phenylbutazone and banamine
Antimicrobials
Iodofoam packing gauze Aluyjel (Septodont)-a fibrous product Biotene oral gel (A/cell)-enzyme that releases iodine and lactoferrin Calcium sulfate (plaster of paris) antibiotic plugs
SMZ-TMP Metronidazole Amikacin
Complications with Extractions
50% of extractions have complications X-Rays should be taken before ALL extractions Improper extraction tools Dental Elevations Extraction Tools Molar, incisor, canine, wolf teeth-long thin blade screw driver, trephines (Michelle and Mallet) and assorted dental punches
Strong peridental supporting structures
Complications with Extractions Abnormal root morphology-divergent, hooked, locked, ankylosed, germinated, misshaped, tumors of the tooth Hypercementotic teeth Teeth that are weakened (eg-dental decay that has been repaired) Teeth with abfraction or deep caries Desiccated teeth or brittle teeth associated with endodonic treatment Patients with inflammatory disorders associated with alveolar bone disease or Cushing’s disease
Complications with Extractions
Patients with limited opening or trismus (lock jaw) Oro-sinal fistula Broken off root tips Fractured bone Invasion into sphenoid bone-possible bacterial meningioencephalitis Sepsis systemically Dry socket or non-healing socket Sinusitis Pain Bleeding
Factors causing a Dry or Non-Healing Extraction Exzyme fibrinolytic production Alveolar infection
Especially anaerobes, but can be aerobes Streptococcus Fusospiral Treponema Bacteroids
Immunocompromised patient Systemic disease
Treatment of a NonHealing Site
Betadine flush Chlorhexidine gluconate Antibiotic tablets or calcium sulfate antibiotic plugs – SMZ/TMP + metronidazole Tetracycline PO or IV Clindamycin Mix capsule with calcium sulfate or gelfoam (drug of choice for anaerobes) Soak gauze with Clindamycin mixure and fill in alveolar socket Open caspules and place in alveolar socket
Look for systemic disease
Endodontics
Periodontal disease  Presence of disease and loss of tissue structures around the tooth.
Incidence 40 % prevalence in 3 to 5 year olds Eruption of permanent dentition
Decreased incidence in 5 to 10 year olds. 60 % in horses > 15
Anatomy and Function Teeth are attached to the alveolus by bundles of connective tissue. Periodontal membrane or ligament Collagen fibers attach cement covering to the bone Embedded portions known as sharpey’s fibers
Fiber transfer occlusal forces to longitudinal forces along the tooth Supports the nerves and blood vessels from occlusal forces Tooth suspended in the alveolus but has slight movement
Anatomy and Function Gingiva attached to periosteum with dense fibrous CT. Portion of the gingiva adjacent to the tooth is the gingival sulcus. This adheres to the tooth by surface tension. If the sulcus develops periodontal disease it is called a perio(dontal) pocket.
Signs of periodontal disease four categories 1 local gingivitis with hyperemia and edema Erosion of gingival margin 5mm and periodontal pocket Periodontitis with gum loss Gross periodontal pocketing, lysis of alveolar bone, loosening of bone support
Etiology Multifactoral
Abnormalities of wear (malocclusions). Tooth eruption Plaque deposition (salivary glycoproteins + bacteria + inorganic minerals from feed. Chronic oral bleeding
tartar, perio, ulcers all secondary to exaggerated ridges
5 yr QH
Pathology of Periodontitis inflammation
Plaque build up
Tooth loss
Hyperemia Edema
Bone loss Loss of support tissue
Treatment
Eliminate the malocclusion Remove tartar Eliminate or minimize the pocket Eliminate or reduce occlusion at site Open up space between teeth if pocketing involves entire space Extraction
Treatment Powerfloat
Grind off the side of affected tooth with wheel Flush mouth twice daily chlorhezidine Cheap
Air abrasion Clean pocket with bicarbonate of soda
Fill with doxyrobe gel (pfizer-pharmacia) Apply impression material Expensive
Identification of Pulp Cavities and Measurments  #1 Pulp cavity measurements are 5-7mm from the interdigital edge of opposing teeth (Dr. Rugby- West Virginia, USA)
Tartar removal
Buccal perio pockets 107/8 8/9 207/8 8/9
Buccal perio pockets 107/8 8/9 207/8 8/9
Perio pocket 406/7
Perio pocket
Thru and thru perio pocket
Food material packed between two teeth from medial to lateral sides Gingival erosion and odor Visible crevice between teeth (usually) Tooth may be loose
Perio pockets
•Food packed between 206/7 7/8 8/9 •All teeth firm
Advanced perio •Food packed either side of 207 •Tooth loose •Should be extracted •Minimal gum attachment •Food frequently packed above & under the attached gum
Powerfloat burrs
Diastema treatment
Diastema Treatment
Perio pocket after opening •Minimal bleeding •Local not used •Pack w/ metronidazole tabs •Flushed twice daily with chlorhexidine •Healing in 10-14 days
Advanced perio
Diastema treatment
•Low speed to prevent heat buildup •Remove gloves—apply chlorhexidine 5% teat dip full strength to area
Diastema treatment
26 year old mare 5 perio diastemata
106/107 107/108 burred open immediate post treatment
Two months later
Perio pocket 207/8
Two months post treatment
Exaggerated ridge probably contributed to this perio pocket
Diastema burring The treatment has been criticized as potentially damaging to; the periodontal ligament gum tissue tooth possibly opening a pulp cavity from the side.
Diastema burring The burr does not remove any tooth below the level of the top of alveolar bone. The pulp cavity does not extend above the level of alveolar bone. There is already loss of interproximal tooth material, (cementum); the burr removes only 1-2 mm more from each tooth. Regeneration of healthy gum and solidification of the tooth within the alveolus occurs within weeks.
Diastema treatment •Chlorhexidine soln •Flush mouth twice daily for 7 10 days •Oral antibiotics +/-