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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Rec / History, clinical findings and outcome of horses with radiog...
The Veterinary record2019; 185(23); 730; doi: 10.1136/vr.105253

History, clinical findings and outcome of horses with radiographical signs of equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis.

Abstract: The progression of equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH) has not been completely evaluated, and currently, the only effective treatment is extraction of severely affected teeth. We aim to describe how the disease relates to the history and clinical findings and to report on the outcome in individual horses. This case series comprises data collected from 20 horses (age 14-29 years old) with radiographic findings of EOTRH in their incisor and/or canine teeth. Most horses affected with EOTRH in this study were admitted for dental problems, but some for other complaints such as colic. Of the 288 teeth evaluated radiographically, 224 teeth were abnormal. Radiographic findings were most frequently located in the apical aspect and reserve crown of the teeth, and lesions were also commonly found in clinically normal teeth. Histopathology of extracted teeth showed inflammation in the periodontal ligament and revealed that resorption often extended to the dentine. Some owners were unwilling to allow extraction of their horses' severely affected teeth, even though this treatment has been shown to increase the wellbeing of the horse. As EORTH is a life-long condition, the progression of the disease has to be continuously monitored and the treatments adjusted accordingly.
© British Veterinary Association 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. Published by BMJ.
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Publication Date: 2019-10-10 PubMed ID: 31601733PubMed Central: PMC7008772DOI: 10.1136/vr.105253Google 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.

The research investigates the progression and consequences of equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH) in horses, a condition that often necessitates tooth extraction, providing insights on links with disease history, clinical findings, and outcomes for individual horses.

Overview of the Study

  • The study focused on EOTRH, a dental disease found in horses that often leads to the extraction of severely affected teeth as the only effective treatment to date.
  • The authors aimed to understand how this disease relates to the horse’s history and clinical findings and report on the outcomes for individual horses.
  • They collected data from 20 horses aged 14-29 years old that displayed radiographic signs of EOTRH.

Findings of the Study

  • Most of the horses affected by EOTRH in this study were admitted for dental issues, although some were brought in for other reasons, such as colic.
  • A total of 288 teeth were evaluated radiographically, out of which 224 were found to be abnormal.
  • The researchers found that the abnormal findings were most frequently located in the apical aspect (the tip of the root of a tooth) and reserve crown (hidden portion of the tooth under the gum line), and lesions were frequently found even in teeth that appeared clinically normal.

Pathological Insights

  • Histopathology of extracted teeth showed inflammation in the periodontal ligament, which is the tissue that helps hold the teeth in place, and resorption – the process where the body breaks down bone tissue – often extended to dentine, the layer underneath the enamel of a tooth.

Treatment and Owner Response

  • Some owners were unwilling to permit the extraction of their horses’ severely affected teeth, even though studies prove that this treatment improves the horse’s wellbeing.
  • As EOTRH continues throughout a horse’s life, it is crucial to persistently monitor the disease’s progression and adjust treatments accordingly. This suggests that further education of horse owners about the benefits of tooth extraction in severe EOTRH cases can be beneficial.

Cite This Article

APA
Rahmani V, Häyrinen L, Kareinen I, Ruohoniemi M. (2019). History, clinical findings and outcome of horses with radiographical signs of equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis. Vet Rec, 185(23), 730. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.105253

Publication

The Veterinary record
ISSN: 2042-7670
NlmUniqueID: 0031164
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 185
Issue: 23
Pages: 730

Researcher Affiliations

Rahmani, Vahideh
  • Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland vahideh.rahmani@helsinki.fi.
Häyrinen, Lotta
  • Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Kareinen, Ilona
  • Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Ruohoniemi, Mirja
  • Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cuspid / diagnostic imaging
  • Cuspid / pathology
  • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horse Diseases / surgery
  • Horses
  • Hypercementosis / pathology
  • Hypercementosis / surgery
  • Hypercementosis / veterinary
  • Incisor / diagnostic imaging
  • Incisor / pathology
  • Periodontal Ligament
  • Radiography, Dental / veterinary
  • Tooth Extraction / veterinary
  • Tooth Resorption / pathology
  • Tooth Resorption / surgery
  • Tooth Resorption / veterinary
  • Treatment Outcome

Conflict of Interest Statement

Competing interests: None declared.

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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
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  3. 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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