Page 767 - Equine Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, 2nd Edition

742 CHAPTER 4

VetBooks.ir 4.42 4.43

Fig. 4.42 Gingival recession due to periodontitis Fig. 4.43 After odontoplasty (diastema widening),
underneath the putrefying food. entrapped food is removed allowing debridement of
the periodontal lesions.

4.44 DENTAL PULPITIS

Definition/overview
Infections of the apical pulp of the tooth, which
manifest as localised pulpitis with ensuing caries.
Incisors, canines and cheek teeth can be affected.
The disease has also been termed: apical infections,
apical necrosis and tooth root abscessation.

Aetiology/pathophysiology
Dental pulpitis occurs as a consequence of bacterial
contamination of the dentinopulp complex, leading
to inflammation. Oedema of the pulp within the
dental pulp cavity results in congestion, and even-
tual irreversible ischaemic necrosis of the pulp. This
will result in suppuration, causing a periapical cor-
onitis, and in some cases a gingival, submandibular
Fig. 4.44 Once the diastema is debrided, food or facial discharging tract. Caudal maxillary teeth
re-entry can be impeded by temporary stenting using tend to suppurate into the maxillary sinuses with
polyvinyl siloxane. a consequential maxillary sinusitis. Dental apical
infections are the most commonly observed end-
odontic lesion of equine teeth (Fig. 4.45). Incisors
diastema, result in clinical improvement but recur- and canines are infrequently affected. Cheek tooth
rence is highly probable and constant management pulpitis is observed in all types of horses and is
of the condition is a more realistic aim than total most commonly observed at 3–5 years of age for
clinical cure. mandibular teeth and 2–7 years of age for maxillary