FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)2008; 178(3); 372-379; doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.09.017

Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis.

Abstract: A poorly described, painful disorder of incisor and canine teeth, variably causing periodontitis, with resorptive or proliferative changes of the calcified dental tissues, has recently been documented in aged horses. No plausible aetiopathogenesis for this syndrome has been recorded. Eighteen diseased teeth from eight horses were examined grossly and microscopically and showed the presence of odontoclastic cells by tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. A chronological sequence of odontoclastic resorption followed by hypercementosis was demonstrated and, consequently, the term equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH) is proposed for this disorder. EOTRH shares many features with similar dental syndromes described in humans and cats. An aetiological hypothesis proposes mechanical stress of the periodontal ligament as the initiating factor.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2008-11-17 PubMed ID: 19010701DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.09.017Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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 focuses on a painful dental disorder in aged horses, identified as equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH), which can variably cause periodontitis due to changes in the calcified dental tissues. The study utilizes data from 18 diseased teeth across eight horses and suggests mechanical stress of the periodontal ligament as a potential root cause.

Study Design and Focus

  • The research studies a relatively unknown, painful disorder affecting the incisor and canine teeth of aged horses. The disorder results in resorptive or proliferative changes in calcified dental tissues, occasionally causing periodontitis.
  • This disorder lacks a well-documented aetiology or pathogenesis, leaving a knowledge gap that this study aims to fill.
  • The research introduces a new term for the disorder: equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH).

Research Findings

  • 18 diseased teeth from eight different horses were scrutinized both at the macroscopic level (using visual/physical examination) and microscopic level (using special staining techniques).
  • The presence of odontoclastic cells – cells responsible for the resorption or breakdown of teeth hard tissues – were identified through tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining.
  • A chronological progression of the disorder was demonstrated, starting from odontoclastic resorption, followed by hypercementosis, an overproduction of cementum, the calcified substance covering the root of a tooth.

Comparative Analysis

  • The paper positions EOTRH alongside similar dental syndromes observed in humans and cats, drawing parallels between the features of these conditions.

Hypothesized Aetiology

  • As a result of the study’s findings, the research proposes an aetiological hypothesis that the mechanical stress of the periodontal ligament may play a key role in initiating EOTRH.
  • The periodontal ligament is a tissue that helps to anchor the teeth to the surrounding bone; stress on this tissue could, therefore, potentially trigger dental disorders.

Cite This Article

APA
Staszyk C, Bienert A, Kreutzer R, Wohlsein P, Simhofer H. (2008). Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis. Vet J, 178(3), 372-379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.09.017

Publication

Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
ISSN: 1090-0233
NlmUniqueID: 9706281
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 178
Issue: 3
Pages: 372-379

Researcher Affiliations

Staszyk, Carsten
  • Institute of Anatomy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, D-30173 Hannover, Germany. carsten.staszyk@tiho-hannover.de
Bienert, Astrid
    Kreutzer, Robert
      Wohlsein, Peter
        Simhofer, Hubert

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Dentin / chemistry
          • Dentin / ultrastructure
          • Female
          • Horse Diseases / pathology
          • Horses
          • Hypercementosis / pathology
          • Hypercementosis / veterinary
          • Male
          • Osteoclasts / ultrastructure
          • Tooth Extraction / veterinary
          • Tooth Resorption / pathology
          • Tooth Resorption / veterinary

          Citations

          This article has been cited 18 times.
          1. Pistor P, Janus I, Janeczek M, Dobrzyński M. Feline Tooth Resorption: A Description of the Severity of the Disease in Regard to Animal's Age, Sex, Breed and Clinical Presentation. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 3;13(15).
            doi: 10.3390/ani13152500pubmed: 37570307google scholar: lookup
          2. Górski K, Borowska M, Turek B, Pawlikowski M, Jankowski K, Bereznowski A, Polkowska I, Domino M. An application of the density standard and scaled-pixel-counting protocol to assess the radiodensity of equine incisor teeth affected by resorption and hypercementosis: preliminary advancement in dental radiography. BMC Vet Res 2023 Aug 9;19(1):116.
            doi: 10.1186/s12917-023-03675-4pubmed: 37559089google scholar: lookup
          3. Wright AL, Earley ET, Austin C, Arora M. Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH): microspatial distribution of trace elements in hypercementosis-affected and unaffected hard dental tissues. Sci Rep 2023 Mar 28;13(1):5048.
            doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-32016-6pubmed: 36977746google scholar: lookup
          4. Górski K, Borowska M, Stefanik E, Polkowska I, Turek B, Bereznowski A, Domino M. Application of Two-Dimensional Entropy Measures to Detect the Radiographic Signs of Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis in an Equine Model. Biomedicines 2022 Nov 13;10(11).
            doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10112914pubmed: 36428482google scholar: lookup
          5. 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).
            doi: 10.3390/ani12223120pubmed: 36428347google scholar: lookup
          6. Bishop IT. Diagnostic value of full-mouth radiography in horses. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:971886.
            doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.971886pubmed: 36277061google scholar: lookup
          7. Albers L, Bienert-Zeit A, Staszyk C. Equine Incisor Lesions: Histologic Confirmation of Radiographic, Macroscopic, and Micro-Computed Tomographic Findings. Vet Sci 2022 Jul 11;9(7).
            doi: 10.3390/vetsci9070348pubmed: 35878366google scholar: lookup
          8. Górski K, Borowska M, Stefanik E, Polkowska I, Turek B, Bereznowski A, Domino M. Selection of Filtering and Image Texture Analysis in the Radiographic Images Processing of Horses' Incisor Teeth Affected by the EOTRH Syndrome. Sensors (Basel) 2022 Apr 11;22(8).
            doi: 10.3390/s22082920pubmed: 35458905google scholar: lookup
          9. Górski K, Stefanik E, Bereznowski A, Polkowska I, Turek B. Application of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) as a Healing Aid after Extraction of Incisors in the Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis Syndrome. Vet Sci 2022 Jan 15;9(1).
            doi: 10.3390/vetsci9010030pubmed: 35051114google scholar: lookup
          10. Lee S, Bush SJ, Thorne S, Mawson N, Farquharson C, Bergkvist GT. Transcriptomic profiling of feline teeth highlights the role of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) in tooth resorption. Sci Rep 2020 Nov 3;10(1):18958.
            doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-75998-3pubmed: 33144645google scholar: lookup
          11. 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.
            doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00434pubmed: 32851019google scholar: lookup
          12. Rahmani V, Häyrinen L, Kareinen I, Ruohoniemi M. History, clinical findings and outcome of horses with radiographical signs of equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis. Vet Rec 2019 Dec 14;185(23):730.
            doi: 10.1136/vr.105253pubmed: 31601733google scholar: lookup
          13. Grier-Lowe CK, Anthony J. Novel treatment of equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis of incisor teeth in a 22-year-old Arabian mare. Can Vet J 2015 Aug;56(8):855-62.
            pubmed: 26246633
          14. 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.
            doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-249pubmed: 24321365google scholar: lookup
          15. Nugent Z, Jensen A, Owen N, Peffers AJ, Moothanchery M, Peffers MJ. Characterisation of equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis: A comparative study using microCT and radiography in age-matched controls. Equine Vet J 2025 Jul;57(4):1099-1109.
            doi: 10.1111/evj.14453pubmed: 39825614google scholar: lookup
          16. Jensen A, Clarke EJ, Nugent Z, Paice E, Gringel I, Yamamoto K, Rocchigiani G, Peffers AJ, Cooper L, Peffers MJ. Inflammation and response to bacterial infection as potential drivers of equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis: A proteomics insight. Equine Vet J 2025 Jul;57(4):977-990.
            doi: 10.1111/evj.14469pubmed: 39777419google scholar: lookup
          17. Sundra T, Kelty E, Rossi G, Rendle D. Retrospective assessment of the use of extended-release cabergoline in the management of equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1332337.
            doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1332337pubmed: 38511195google scholar: lookup
          18. 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
          Subscribe to our newsletter
          Join 99,727 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.