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Frontiers in veterinary science2021; 8; 646870; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.646870

Equine “Idiopathic” and Infundibular Caries-Related Cheek Teeth Fractures: A Long-Term Study of 486 Fractured Teeth in 300 Horses.

Abstract: Background: Limited objective information is available on the prevalence of non-traumatic equine cheek teeth fractures, the signalment of affected horses, and the clinical features and treatment of these fractures. Objectives: This study aims to document patterns of idiopathic and infundibular caries-related cheek teeth fractures in a referral population and evaluate associations between fracture patterns and horse age, Triadan position of affected teeth, clinical signs, and deemed necessity for treatment. Study Design: A retrospective case review. Methods: The clinical records at Edinburgh University Veterinary School (2010-2018) were examined for the presence of non-traumatic equine cheek teeth fractures. Variations in the frequencies of different fracture patterns were compared between horse ages, Triadan tooth positions, clinical signs, and deemed necessity for treatment. Results: Records of 300 horses with 486 non-traumatic cheek teeth fractures including 77% maxillary and 23% mandibular teeth with a mean of 1.6 (range 1-10) fractured teeth/horse were available. Fracture patterns included maxillary first and second pulp horn ("slab") cheek teeth fractures (n = 171), caries-related infundibular fractures (n = 88), other maxillary teeth fracture patterns (n = 92), mandibular first and second pulp horn ("slab") fractures (n = 44), other mandibular fracture patterns (n = 62), and complete clinical crown loss (n = 29; including 23 maxillary and 6 mandibular teeth). The median age of affected horses ranged from 11 years with maxillary "slab" fractures to 15 years with infundibular caries-related fractures. Triadan 08-10s were the most commonly (86%) fractured maxillary teeth. The Triadan 08 and 09 positions were the most commonly (64%) fractured mandibular teeth. No clinical signs were noted in horses with 48% of the fractured teeth; oral pain/quidding was recorded with 26%, clinical apical infection with 23%, and bitting/headshaking problems with 6%. Treatments included extraction of 40% fractured teeth, extraction of small/loose fragments (10%), and odontoplasty. Stable remnants of 60% of fractured teeth were left in horses without clinical signs. Main Limitations: Long-term follow-up information was not available for all cases. Conclusions: There is increasing recognition of equine non-traumatic cheek teeth fractures, with about half not causing clinical signs. Teeth with apical infection, multiple fractures, or advanced caries require extraction. Other fractured teeth with subclinical endodontic disease may not need exodontia unless they later cause clinical signs.
Copyright © 2021 Dixon, Kennedy and Reardon.
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Publication Date: 2021-05-28 PubMed ID: 34124217PubMed Central: PMC8192706DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.646870Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This research aims to provide information about the prevalence, clinical features and treatment of non-traumatic fractures in horse cheek teeth. Through examining clinical records at the Edinburgh University Veterinary School, patterns of fractures and their correlations with various factors such as horse age were established.

Methodology

  • The study was conducted retrospectively with clinical records at Edinburgh University Veterinary School from 2010 to 2018. This aimed to identify the patterns of non-traumatic horse cheek teeth fractures.
  • From these records, the researchers compared variations in the frequencies of different fracture patterns, based on factors such as horse age, position of the affected teeth (Triadan position), clinical signs and necessity for treatment.

Results

  • A total of 300 horses with 486 non-traumatic cheek teeth fractures were included in the study. The affected teeth included 77% maxillary (upper jaw) and 23% mandibular (lower jaw) teeth, with an average of 1.6 teeth fractured per horse.
  • Different fracture patterns were identified, including maxillary and mandibular first and second pulp horn fractures (also known as “slab” fractures) which are fractures on large, flat surfaces of the tooth, caries-related fractures, and complete clinical crown loss.
  • The average age of horses varied based on the type of fracture. The average age of horses with maxillary “slab” fractures was 11 years, while it was 15 years for horses with infundibular caries-related fractures.
  • 86% of fractured maxillary teeth were located in the Triadan 08-10 positions, while 64% of fractured mandibular teeth were in the Triadan 08 and 09 positions.
  • Around 48% of the horses did not show any clinical signs, while the rest had symptoms such as oral pain and quidding (dropping food from the mouth while chewing), clinical apical infection (infection at the root of the tooth), and bitting/headshaking problems.

Treatments and Conclusion

  • Among the fractured teeth, 40% required extraction. Other treatments included extraction of small or loose fragments, and reshaping of the teeth (odontoplasty). About 60% of the stable remnants of fractured teeth were left in horses that did not show clinical signs.
  • The study concludes that there is an increasing recognition of non-traumatic horse cheek teeth fractures, with about half not causing clinical signs. For teeth with apical infection, multiple fractures, or advanced caries, extraction is required. However, other fractured teeth with subclinical endodontic disease may not need extraction unless they later exhibit clinical signs.

Cite This Article

APA
Dixon PM, Kennedy R, Reardon RJM. (2021). Equine “Idiopathic” and Infundibular Caries-Related Cheek Teeth Fractures: A Long-Term Study of 486 Fractured Teeth in 300 Horses. Front Vet Sci, 8, 646870. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.646870

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 8
Pages: 646870

Researcher Affiliations

Dixon, Padraic Martin
  • The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Kennedy, Rebekah
  • The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Reardon, Richard J M
  • The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Sidwell AE, Duz M, Hill B, Freeman S, Hole SL. Application of the horse grimace scale in horses with dental disease: Preliminary findings. Vet Rec 2025 Feb 1;196(3):e4800.
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  2. Borowska M, Jasiński T, Gierasimiuk S, Pauk J, Turek B, Górski K, Domino M. Three-Dimensional Segmentation Assisted with Clustering Analysis for Surface and Volume Measurements of Equine Incisor in Multidetector Computed Tomography Data Sets. Sensors (Basel) 2023 Nov 2;23(21).
    doi: 10.3390/s23218940pubmed: 37960639google scholar: lookup
  3. Górski K, Stefanik E, Turek B, Bereznowski A, Czopowicz M, Polkowska I, Domino M. Malocclusions and Dental Diseases in Privately Owned Horses in the Mazovia Region of Poland. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 11;12(22).
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  4. Stieger-Vanegas SM, Hanna AL. The Role of Computed Tomography in Imaging Non-neurologic Disorders of the Head in Equine Patients. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:798216.
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