Equine idiopathic cheek teeth fractures. Part 1: Pathological studies on 35 fractured cheek teeth.

This research study focuses on exploring the pathology pertaining to idiopathic fractures of horse molars (like cheek teeth). The goal of this study is to gain better understanding of the fracture patterns, causes, and duration of these occurrences, by conducting a thorough investigation on 35 equine cheek teeth which have such fractures.

Methodology

• The research examined the fracture patterns of 35 cheek teeth, known as CT with idiopathic fractures. Of these, 20 underwent extensive examinations including gross, histological and ultrastructural inspections, as well as thickness measurements of the dentin, which constitutes the bulk of a tooth.
• The dentinal thickness measurements were compared to that of control CT teeth that matched in dental age and specific tooth position.
• This allowed for a deduction on the possible duration and prior existence of endodontic disease that might have contributed to the fractures.

Results

• The investigators found that the fracture planes were prominently located in the pulp chambers of the teeth, in 30 out of 35 CT examined.
• Moreover, the fracture planes also occurred in areas with coalesced, carious infundibula (funnel-shaped dental cavities) in five CT, all located in the upper jaw.
• The study noted a particular predilection for the maxillary CT, especially the Triadan 09 position (a numbering system for equine teeth).
• The most common fracture, named maxillary buccal slab fracture, passed through the 2 lateral pulp chambers and was usually confined to the clinical crown (visible part of the tooth).
• Dentinal thickness was found to be reduced in 25% of the fractured teeth, which suggests the presence of prior pathological changes in these teeth.

Conclusions

• The researchers concluded that the majority of these fractures involved the pulp chambers, especially on the buccal (cheek-facing) side of both upper and lower CT.
• Surprisingly, these fractures were typically not associated with any predisposing endodontic abnormalities in most of the affected teeth before their fracture incidents.
• The remaining fractures not involving the pulp chamber were found to be resulting from advanced carious infundibula.
• It was concluded that teeth with such idiopathic fractures are all susceptible to infections in the dental pulp or even at the tooth base (apex).