Radiographic evaluation of tooth drift after cheek tooth extraction and insertion of an intra-alveolar prosthesis in ponies.

The research investigates tooth position changes in ponies after a cheek tooth extraction and the subsequent impact of using an intra-alveolar prosthesis, a type of synthetic bone substitute.

Objective and Methodology

• The main objective of this study was to examine the effect of tooth extraction on the positional changes in surrounding teeth, a phenomena termed tooth drift. The study further aimed to understand the influence of an artificial bone substitute prosthesis, placed in the tooth socket, on the tooth drift.
• For the study, tooth extraction was performed on the upper jaw of five ponies under general anaesthesia. In each pony, the alveolar socket, or the cavity in the jaw that holds the tooth, on one side was left empty to naturally heal while on the other side, a synthetic bone substitute prosthesis was inserted.
• To track the changes, standard radiographic images of the ponies’ heads were captured monthly for the first year and at 24 months after the procedure. These images were used to measure different parameters associated with the dental and jaw structure and statistically analyzed.

Key Findings

• After tooth extraction, a drift in the position of remaining teeth was observed. Molar teeth tended to drift toward the front (rostral drift) while premolar teeth drifted in a backward direction (caudal drift).
• The use of synthetic bone substitute prosthesis was found to significantly hinder tooth drift. In fact, the positional change in teeth was slower on the sides where the prosthesis was installed, indicating its effectiveness.
• Secondary mandibular overgrowths were observed on teeth, though the implications of this occurrence were not found to be clinically significant.
• Tooth wear was more significant in premolars when compared to molars. Moreover, the attrition rate was higher on the sides where the prosthesis was used, implying that the use of a prosthesis could increase tooth wear over time.

Implications

• This study provides valuable insights about tooth drift in ponies, demonstrating that the extraction of a tooth can cause a shift in the positions of the remaining teeth. This indicates the importance of monitoring and managing tooth drift in post-surgery care to prevent potential dental issues.
• The research also highlights the effectiveness of an intra-alveolar prosthesis in slowing down tooth drift. This could potentially improve the dental care options for animals after tooth extraction surgery.
• The finding that the prosthesis can increase tooth wear is significant, and suggests that better material or design options might be needed to reduce this side-effect.