Pathological studies of cheek teeth apical infections in the horse: 5. Aetiopathological findings in 57 apically infected maxillary cheek teeth and histological and ultrastructural findings.

The study examines the causes and progress of apical infections in the cheek teeth of horses, based on 57 cases. It found that chronic infections could cause a variety of destructive changes, and identified several various causes of these infections, such as fractures, periodontal spread, or infundibular caries.

Research Methodology

• The research included examination of 57 apically infected maxillary cheek teeth in horses.
• The researchers looked for signs of both recent and chronic infections, observing differing types of tissue changes depending on the stage of the infection.
• They then identified the cause of apical infection in each case. Where the exact cause could not be determined, it was categorized as miscellaneous or undetermined.
• Finally, the researchers examined histological changes brought about by the infection and used scanning and transmission electron microscopy to confirm these changes.

Key Findings

• The study found that recently infected teeth typically exhibited one or more viable pulps and minimal apical calcified tissue changes.
• In cases of chronic infection, symptoms were more severe. Pulps were necrotic or entirely absent, pulp horns were filled with food if exposure was present, and gross caries of dentine occurred occasionally.
• Regarding apical changes in chronic infection, there was a broad range from gross destructive changes to extensive proliferative calcified apical changes.
• The cause of the apical infection varied among teeth. 16% were caused by infundibular caries, 51% by anachoretic infections, 12% by periodontal spread, 9% by fractures and fissures, 5% by dysplasia, and 7% by miscellaneous or undiagnosed causes.
• The microscopic analysis revealed that chronically infected teeth had a significant loss of predentine, progressive decay of the circumpulpar dentine, and bacteria present within the dentinal tubules surrounding infected pulps. Conversely, tertiary dentine deposition was not often detected.

Significance of the Study

• These findings contribute to better understanding the progression of apical infections in horses’ teeth and provide valuable insights into the predominant causes.
• The study’s findings can aid veterinarians in diagnosing and treating these conditions effectively and could possibly help in the development of preventive measures.