Page 774 - Equine Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, 2nd Edition

Gastrointestinal system: 4.1 The upper gastrointestinal tr act 749

VetBooks.ir 4.59 4.60

Fig. 4.60 Repulsion of root fragments can be
achieved in the conscious horse with precise
diagnostic imaging, nerve blocks and instrumentation.

4.61

Fig. 4.59 Incisor 201 with an oblique fracture that
exposed the pulp that has undergone pulpectomy
and restoration using light-cured dental composite
(arrow).

fragment during extraction. Removal is challenging
via p/o extraction, reconstructed extraction, mini-
mally invasive buccotomy screw extraction or other
surgical techniques (Figs. 4.60, 4.61). Outcome
failures are commonly associated with the presence Fig. 4.61 Surgical extraction via a corticotomy and
of dental fragments or non-vital alveolar sequestra, lateral buccotomy is technically challenging but yields
and both can lead to oroantral fistula formation. good results.

DENTAL DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH WEAR

ABNORMALITIES OF INCISOR WEAR observed in older horses. A slanted occlusal angle is
usually indicative of abnormalities of the cheek teeth
Incisors are used for cropping forage and rarely sus- causing a unilateral masticatory action resulting
tain wear abnormalities alone. Full lateral movement in imbalanced wear. Before correcting any incisor
of the mandible results in occlusion of the molar asymmetry, correction of cheek tooth abnormali-
arcades and eventual separation of the incisors by ties should be performed. Horses with stereotypi-
about half the width of one incisor. Extreme over- cal behavioural problems including crib biting will
growths of an incisor may prevent normal move- experience accelerated wear of the incisor tables,
ment but such defects are uncommon. A concave or giving the appearance of a prematurely ageing horse
convex occlusal angle when the incisors are closed is (Fig. 4.62).