An anatomical study to evaluate the risk of pulpar exposure during mechanical widening of equine cheek teeth diastemata and ‘bit seating’.
Abstract: Cheek teeth (CT) diastemata are a major equine dental disorder that can be treated by mechanically widening the diastemata. There is limited anatomical knowledge of the spatial relationships of the individual pulps to the adjacent interproximal surfaces; on the risks of exposing the 6th pulp horn when performing the clinically unproven 'bit seating' procedure on Triadan 06s. Objective: To describe the anatomical relationships between the occlusal and interproximal surfaces of CT and the adjacent pulp horns; and between the 6th pulp horn and the occlusal and rostral surfaces of Triadan 06s. Methods: The CT from 30 skulls of horses subjected to euthanasia for non-dental reasons were sectioned to expose the rostrally and caudally situated pulp horns to allow the anatomical relationships between the pulp horns and the occlusal and interproximal aspects of the CT to be assessed. Results: Pulp horns were mean ± s.d. of 5.74 ± 1.45 (range 1.3-10.8 mm) from the nearest interproximal surface, with 5.3% of pulp horns being <3.5 mm from the interproximal surface. In contrast to expectations, pulps tended to became closer to the interproximal surface (and also to the occlusal surface) with increasing age. Teeth with physiologically tall clinical crowns, and also those in the Triadan 09 position had pulps that were closer to the interproximal surfaces than the remaining CT. The more caudally situated pulp horns, i.e. in particular, the 4th maxillary and 5th mandibular pulp horns were closer to the interproximal surfaces than the remaining pulp horns and these pulp horns also had the thinnest sub-occlusal secondary dentine. Pulps that were close to the interproximal surface were also found to be close to the occlusal surface of the CT. Conclusions: While diastema widening is theoretically safe between the majority of CT, a small proportion of pulp horns are only 1.3 mm from an interproximal surface and others lie just 1.6 mm beneath the occlusal surface, and such pulps are at risk of pulpar exposure and to thermal injury during this procedure. The risk of pulpar exposure increases when dental tissue is removed from the caudal aspects of CT.
© 2010 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2011-05-20 PubMed ID: 21592210DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00138.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article studies the risk of pulp exposure during the treatment of cheek tooth diastemata in horses. Through anatomical investigations, the research reveals the spatial positioning of pulps in horse teeth and highlights potential risks when applying a common therapeutic procedure.
Research Objective and Methods
- The primary objective of the research was to understand the anatomical positioning of the pulp horns in relation to the occlusal and interproximal aspects of the cheek teeth (CT). Additionally, the study aimed to figure out the spatial relationship between the 6th pulp horn and the occlusal and rostral surfaces of Triadan 06s (a specific type of tooth).
- To achieve this objective, the researchers examined the CT in 30 skulls of horses euthanized for non-dental reasons. The skulls were sectioned to analyze the rostrally and caudally positioned pulp horns and their relationship with the occlusal and interproximal aspects of CT.
Study Findings
- The pulp horns were an average of 5.74 mm from the nearest interproximal surface, with around 5.3% of pulp horns being less than 3.5 mm from the interproximal surface.
- Contrary to expectations, the pulps were found closer to the interproximal and occlusal surfaces with increasing age. Teeth with tall clinical crowns and those in the Triadan 09 position had pulps closer to the interproximal surfaces than the remaining CT. Also, the caudally located pulp horns were closer to the interproximal surfaces.
- Additionally, these pulp horns had the thinnest sub-occlusal secondary dentine.
- The pulp horns that were located close to the interproximal surface were also found close to the occlusal surface of the CT.
Conclusions
- The researchers concluded that while diastema widening is generally safe for most of the CT, a small proportion of pulp horns situated close to interproximal surfaces might be at risk. Some pulp horns are as close as 1.3 mm to an interproximal surface and 1.6 mm beneath the occlusal surface, and they are vulnerable to exposure and possible thermal injury during the treatment procedure.
- The risks heighten when dental tissue from the caudal aspects of CT is removed, revealing the intricate relationship between dental anatomy and therapeutic approaches.
Cite This Article
APA
Bettiol N, Dixon PM.
(2011).
An anatomical study to evaluate the risk of pulpar exposure during mechanical widening of equine cheek teeth diastemata and ‘bit seating’.
Equine Vet J, 43(2), 163-169.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00138.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Division of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Dentistry / methods
- Dentistry / veterinary
- Diastema
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Molar / abnormalities
- Tooth Diseases / therapy
- Tooth Diseases / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Proost K, Staszyk C, Boone MN, Vogelsberg J, Josipovic I, Vlaminck L, Chiers K. A histological description of alpaca (Vicugna pacos) cheek teeth: Findings and anatomical variations in macroscopically normal molars.. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:972973.
- Proost K, Boone MN, Josipovic I, Pardon B, Chiers K, Vlaminck L. Clinical insights into the three-dimensional anatomy of cheek teeth in alpacas based on micro-computed tomography - Part 2: Maxillary cheek teeth.. BMC Vet Res 2022 Jan 3;18(1):6.
- Proost K, Boone MN, Josipovic I, Pardon B, Chiers K, Vlaminck L. Clinical insights into the three-dimensional anatomy of cheek teeth in alpacas based on micro-computed tomography. Part 1: mandibular cheek teeth.. BMC Vet Res 2021 Oct 22;17(1):334.
- Pollaris E, Broeckx BJG, Rajasekharan S, Cauwels R, Vlaminck L. Fracture Resistance of Equine Cheek Teeth With and Without Occlusal Fissures: A Standardized ex vivo Model.. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:699940.
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