Age-related morphometry of equine incisors.
Abstract: In the present study the age-related morphological characteristics of 948 equine incisors were investigated. After extraction, total incisival length and root length were measured at the vestibular side of the teeth. Equine incisors reach their maximal length 2-3 years after eruption. Notwithstanding severe occlusal wear, this maximal length is maintained during most of the horses' life due to prolonged root formation. Root formation, at the rate of 2.5 mm per year, starts at the age of 5-6 years and continues until the age of 17. As the root of the incisor develops, its apical foramen narrows and changes position. In young horses the apical foramen is situated at the apex of the tooth, whereas in older individuals it is located at the mesial, distal, or lingual side of the tooth at a distance of 5-15 mm from the dental apex. In horses aged over 20 years apical foramina are still present. Radiographic imaging is a good method with which to obtain reliable information concerning the total incisival length and the size and position of the apical foramen.
Publication Date: 2000-01-19 PubMed ID: 10638301DOI: 10.1046/j.1439-0442.1999.00261.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigates the changes in the size, shape and positioning of horse’s incisors as they age. It concludes that despite wearing through use, horses maintain the maximal length of their incisors throughout their lives due to ongoing root growth.
Objective of the Study
- The researchers carried out this study to understand the age-related changes in the morphology or structure of equine (horse) incisors.
Sample and Methodology
- The study examined 948 extracted equine incisors, measuring their total length and root length from the front (vestibular) side.
- The researchers used radiographic imaging as their primary tool for obtaining precise measurements of these teeth dimensions along with the identification of the position of the apical foramen– the opening at the tip of the tooth root.
Key Findings
- Horse incisors attain their greatest length 2-3 years following their eruption and manage to uphold this length for the majority of their lifespan. This is attributed to the extended root formation that compensates for the wear and tear caused by use.
- Root growth begins when the horse is around 5-6 years old and continues until they reach 17, with an average growth rate of 2.5 mm per year.
- The apical foramen, the opening at the end of the root, also experiences changes as the horse ages. In younger horses, the apical foramen is typically at the tooth’s apex. However, in older horses, it shifts to the mesial (towards the midpoint of the dental arch), distal (away from the midpoint), or lingual (near the tongue) side, sitting approximately 5-15 mm from the tooth’s apex.
- Even in horses over 20 years old, the apical foramen remains perceptible.
Implications of the Study
- This research contributes significantly to the field of equine dental anatomy and health, providing valuable knowledge regarding the age-related transformations in the structure of horse teeth.
- Understanding these changes might help improve dental care and treatment planning for horses of different ages.
Cite This Article
APA
Muylle S, Simoens P, Lauwers H.
(2000).
Age-related morphometry of equine incisors.
Zentralbl Veterinarmed A, 46(10), 633-643.
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1439-0442.1999.00261.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Morphology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Merelbeke, Belgium.
MeSH Terms
- Aging
- Animals
- Horses / growth & development
- Incisor / growth & development
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Heilen LB, Roßgardt J, Dern-Wieloch J, Vogelsberg J, Staszyk C. Isolation and cultivation as well as in situ identification of MSCs from equine dental pulp and periodontal ligament.. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1116671.
- Kau S, Motter KS, Moser VJ, Kunz JR, Pellachin M, Hartl B. Intra- and Interexaminer Measurement Variability Analysis of an Orthodontic Gauge Device to Determine Incisor Occlusal Surface Angles in the Horse.. Vet Sci 2022 Sep 7;9(9).
- Roßgardt J, Heilen LB, Büttner K, Dern-Wieloch J, Vogelsberg J, Staszyk C. The Equine Dental Pulp: Histomorphometric Analysis of the Equine Dental Pulp in Incisors and Cheek Teeth.. Vet Sci 2022 May 30;9(6).
- Miró F, Manso C, Diz A, Novales M. Maxillary Incisors of the Horse before and at the Beginning of the Teeth Shedding: Radiographic and CT Study.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Sep 10;10(9).
- Kau S, Failing K, Staszyk C. Computed Tomography (CT)-Assisted 3D Cephalometry in Horses: Interincisal Angulation of Clinical Crowns.. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:434.
- Liuti T, Dixon PM. The use of the geometric morphometric method to illustrate shape difference in the skulls of different-aged horses.. Vet Res Commun 2020 Nov;44(3-4):137-145.
- Łuszczyński J, Pieszka M, Petrych W, Stefaniuk-Szmukier M. The Frequency of Errors in Determining Age Based on Selected Features of the Incisors of Icelandic Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2019 May 30;9(6).
- Schrock P, Lüpke M, Seifert H, Staszyk C. Three-dimensional anatomy of equine incisors: tooth length, enamel cover and age related changes.. BMC Vet Res 2013 Dec 9;9:249.
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