Repulsion of maxillary and mandibular cheek teeth in standing horses.

This study examines the process and effectiveness of removing cheek teeth from horses while standing and sedated, if oral extraction fails. It looked at cases from 2006-2009, where this repulsion technique was used majorly to resolve dental diseases such as maxillary sinusitis and mandibular drainage.

Methods

• The study reviewed medical records of horses from 2006-2009.
• 18 horses and 6 ponies who had cheek tooth disease and required repulsion after failed oral extraction attempts were included.
• Horses were sedated and a local nerve block was administered before starting the procedure.
• To ensure complete removal of dental remnants and proper positioning of tools, intraoperative radiographs were used.
• After tooth removal, alveolar cavities were packed, and if any secondary dental sinusitis was found, it was treated with lavage.

Results

• The median age of horses in the study was 7 years, with ages ranging from 1-30 years.
• Successful removal of maxillary (15 cases) and mandibular (5 cases) cheek teeth was achieved.
• One horse had to be euthanized due to concurrent liver disease a week after tooth removal.
• After the first treatment, discharge was resolved in 59% of horses.
• About 41% of the cases required additional medical or surgical treatment to resolve signs, this included 6 maxillary sinusitis cases and 1 persistent mandibular drainage case.

Conclusions

• The technique of repulsion of diseased and fractured cheek teeth in standing, sedated horses was found to be effective in resolving dental disease symptoms when oral extraction was not successful.
• However, chronic sinus involvement appeared to increase the risk of postextraction surgical treatment for sinusitis.