Kinematic analysis of equine masticatory movements: comparison before and after routine dental treatment.

This study aims to use kinematic analysis to explore how dental treatment affects the chewing movements in adult Warmblood horses that have minor dental issues.

Overview and Objective of the Study

• The main objective of this study is to determine the effect of dental treatment on the masticatory (chewing) movements of horses. To achieve this, the researchers used kinematic analysis, a method that studies the motion of points, bodies, and systems of bodies without considering the forces that caused the motion.

Research Methodology

• The study involved 15 adult Warmblood horses with mild dental conditions. Their chewing movements were recorded in a controlled setup using a specific type of hay.
• The researchers recorded the horses’ chewing movements for three days in a row before dental treatment was applied. The same measurements were carried out again three times after the dental procedure – on days 7, 21, and 28 post-treatment.
• The leading mandibular tracking marker placed at the rear edge of the inter-mandibular suture was the focal point of this study. Researchers compared the results before and after dental treatment statistically.

Study Findings

• The study found a high level of consistency in the measurements before the dental treatment was administered.
• After dental correction, the rostrocaudal (front to back) motion of the mandible reduced significantly. The average motion was 9mm before treatment and decreased to 8mm after the procedure.
• There was a reduction in oscillations during the chewing power stroke, the main motion during chewing, after dental treatment.
• The study did not find a significant difference in the lateral (side-to-side) and dorsoventral (top to bottom) motion of the mandible after dental correction.

Conclusion

• The study concludes that the kinematic analysis of masticatory movements gave consistent and reliable results. It effectively documented the changes in motion patterns in horses after dental surgery. Using this method could therefore potentially inform future studies on equine dentistry and beyond.