Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Complications of equine oral surgery.
Abstract: The vast majority of equine oral procedures are dental-related and, unless great care is taken, almost all such procedures have the potential to cause marked short- or long-term damage to other oral structures. This review of the more common complications of oral surgery begins at the rostral oral cavity with procedures of the incisors, and then moves caudally to deal with complications related to procedures of wolf teeth and cheek teeth, including salivary duct disruption and dental sinusitis. Finally, complications associated with maxillary and mandibular fractures are discussed.
Publication Date: 2009-02-11 PubMed ID: 19203698DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2008.10.001Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Review
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research article explores the potential short-term and long-term complications that may arise following equine oral surgery, with a particular focus on dental procedures. The study also provides a detailed review of common complications and discusses measures that can be taken to prevent or manage these issues.
Overview of the Research
- The study primarily concerns itself with the potential complications that can occur as a result of oral surgery in horses, specifically focusing on dental procedures. This focus exists because most equine oral procedures are related to dental issues.
- The paper starts with the review of complications that can arise from procedures involving the incisors, teeth located at the front of the horse’s mouth, and then moves towards the back (caudally) to discuss risks associated with surgeries on wolf teeth and cheek teeth.
Procedure-Specific Complications
- Procedures involving the incisors, wolf teeth, and cheek teeth are discussed separately in the paper, highlighting complications unique to each.
- Damage to the salivary duct is a potential complication from surgeries involving the wolf teeth and cheek teeth. A disrupted salivary duct might result in reduced saliva production, difficulty in food processing or even infections.
- Dental sinusitis, an inflammation or infection of the sinuses located around the teeth, is another risk associated with these dental procedures. This can lead to symptoms such as nasal discharge, facial swelling, and pain, which may affect the horse’s quality of life and performance.
Complications Linked to Maxillary and Mandibular Fractures
- The last part of this research article details potential complications that can arise following fractures of the maxilla (upper jaw) and mandible (lower jaw).
- Such fractures often occur during oral surgeries, suggesting that a high level of care must be taken whenever such procedures are being carried out.
- The article suggests that understanding these potential complications can help in the prevention or better management whenever they arise.
Cite This Article
APA
Dixon PM, Hawkes C, Townsend N.
(2009).
Complications of equine oral surgery.
Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 24(3), 499-vii.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2008.10.001 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Division of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Midlothian, Scotland, EH25 9RG, UK. p.m.dixon@ed.ac.uk
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Dentistry / methods
- Dentistry / standards
- Dentistry / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Mandibular Fractures / surgery
- Mandibular Fractures / veterinary
- Maxillary Fractures / surgery
- Maxillary Fractures / veterinary
- Mouth Diseases / surgery
- Mouth Diseases / veterinary
- Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
- Postoperative Complications / pathology
- Postoperative Complications / veterinary
- Surgery, Veterinary / methods
- Surgery, Veterinary / standards
- Tooth Extraction / methods
- Tooth Extraction / veterinary
- Tooth Fractures / surgery
- Tooth Fractures / veterinary
References
This article includes 27 references
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Klopfenstein Bregger MD, de Preux M, Brünisholz HP, Van der Vekens E, Schweizer D, Koch C. Cheek tooth repulsion aided by computer-assisted surgery in 16 equids. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1571539.
- Riahi Z, Naeini AT, Zare R. Evaluation of maturation-related changes in maxillary sinus diameter and cheek teeth positioning relative to the maxillary sinus in the Dareshuri horse. J Equine Sci 2025;36(3):81-91.
- Borowska M, Lipowicz P, Daunoravičienė K, Turek B, Jasiński T, Pauk J, Domino M. Three-Dimensional Segmentation of Equine Paranasal Sinuses in Multidetector Computed Tomography Datasets: Preliminary Morphometric Assessment Assisted with Clustering Analysis. Sensors (Basel) 2024 May 30;24(11).
- McAndrews A, Zarucco L, Hopster K, Stefanovski D, Foster D, Driessen B. Evaluation of Three Methods of Sensory Function Testing for the Assessment of Successful Maxillary Nerve Blockade in Horses. J Vet Dent 2025 Jan;42(1):48-54.
- Arndt S, Kilcoyne I, Heney CM, Wong TS, Magdesian KG. Bacterial meningitis after dental extraction in a 17-year-old horse. Can Vet J 2021 Apr;62(4):403-407.
- Gergeleit H, Bienert-Zeit A. Complications Following Mandibular Cheek Tooth Extraction in 20 Horses. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:504.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
