Page 58 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

Wave mouth

In this condition, the surfaces of the molar teeth form an undulating ‘wave’ pattern (Figure
VetBooks.ir 2.13) This is due to abnormal wear. Correction is easiest if identified early. The teeth that

have grown too long are reduced in height and the opposite, shorter, teeth, which then have
nothing to grind against, will grow to meet them. This may have to be done in stages. A wave

mouth should be treated conservatively in older horses as radical reduction of the taller teeth
may prevent the teeth from ever meeting again as there may be insufficient tooth left to erupt

from the opposite jaw and provide a grinding surface.

Figure 2.13 Wave mouth

Exaggerated transverse ridges

The molar teeth have transverse ridges of enamel on the grinding surfaces that efficiently

crush and shear roughage into small pieces. However, in some horses these ridges become
overdeveloped and those of the upper and lower jaws interlock when the horse is ridden. This

prevents the forward movement of the lower jaw when the horse is asked to flex during
ridden exercise. Correction involves reducing the ridges sufficiently so that normal
movement of the jaw is restored.