Occlusal fissures of the equine cheek tooth: prevalence, location and association with disease in 91 horses referred for dental investigation.

This research article investigates the occurrence, location, and disease association of occlusal fissures (cracks) in equine cheek teeth. The study concluded that these fissures are common but do not directly correlate with the primary site of dental disease.

Methods of the Research

• The researchers examined digital video recordings of oral endoscopic examinations for horses referred to Rossdales Equine Hospital for dental investigation from November 2006 to June 2009.
• The location of the fissures in relation to both Triadan tooth position and pulpar secondary dentine was recorded.
• The direction of the fissure and concurrent involvement of enamel was also documented.
• The tooth location considered to be the primary site of dental disease at the time of examination was then correlated with the presence of fissures on these teeth.

Results of the Research

• The research identified 91 cases that met the inclusion criteria.
• In 53 of those 91 cases (58.2%), occlusal fissures were documented, with a total of 227 cheeks teeth being affected.
• The fissures were most commonly found mid-arcade.
• Majority of fissures in maxillary cheek teeth (92.1%) were associated with the caudal palatal pulp horn, while fissures in mandibular cheek teeth were mostly associated with the buccal pulp horns (95.7%).
• There was no significant difference in the number of teeth with fissures based on gender, nor was there a correlation between the age of the horse and the number of teeth with fissures.
• Horses with mandibular arcades had a significantly greater number of cheek teeth with multiple occlusal fissures than those with maxillary arcades.
• There was no correlation found between the presence of fissures and the location of the tooth identified as the primary site of the disease.

Conclusions of the Research

• Even though occlusal fissures were common in this group of horses, they were not correlated with the primary sites of dental diseases.
• The presence of these fissures in the cheek teeth should not be considered an indicator of tooth compromise in horses undergoing dental investigation.
• Most of fissure propagation’s location and direction do not substantiate that they directly cause slab fractures of the cheek teeth.
• The predilection of the fissure site may suggest some association with masticatory forces, the forces involved in chewing.