Page 777 - Equine Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, 2nd Edition

752 CHAPTER 4

VetBooks.ir Management of mastication. In horses with impaired mastica-
tion, exaggeration of these transverse ridges can
Historically, these overgrowths were removed
using dental chisels and molar cutters. Such crude
ment and be manifest as poor tolerance of the bit
instruments are cumbersome, unpredictable, have a potentially restrict rostrocaudal mandibular move-
high risk of iatrogenic pulp exposure and are obso- and reduced performance in technical disciplines.
lete. Removal of these overgrowths using hand It appears unlikely that normal transverse ridges
rasps (Figs. 4.66, 4.67) and mechanical grinding significantly restrict movement, since when rid-
instruments enables more precise correction of the den with the bit in place and the mouth closed with
overgrowths, with reduced risk of pulpal exposure incisors in occlusion, the molar arcades are not in
provided they are used with care, to avoid overheat- occlusion. ETRs will also develop opposite the dia-
ing the teeth. stema created after exodontia.

EXCESSIVE TRANSVERSE RIDGES (ETRs) Diagnosis
ETRs are easily detected on oral examination with
Definition/overview digital palpation.
The presence of exaggerated ridges in a buccopalato or
buccolingual direction, which are focally prominent, Management
and which may be associated with reduced mastica- Removal of the ETRs to free up movement is attrib-
tory movement and impaction of food into diastema uted with improved performance but the removal
on the opposite arcade. of transverse ridges in asymptomatic horses dur-
ing routine examinations is not justified. ETRs are
Aetiology/pathophysiology reduced using a powered burr.
Transverse elevations on the occlusal surfaces of the
teeth are a normal consequence of mastication and STEP MOUTH AND WAVE MOUTH
are usually present on the surface of equine teeth
in normal wear. The elevations on the mandibular Definition/overview
teeth interdigitate with the troughs on the maxil- Severely uneven mastication resulting in severe
lary teeth, and it is plausible that such an arrange- ‘steps’ in the occlusal surface of the arcade (step
ment, in combination with the different rates of mouth) or undulation of the occlusal surface in a
wear of the dental tissues, enhances the efficiency rostral to caudal direction (wave mouth) (Fig. 4.68).

4.66 4.67

Fig. 4.66 An up-angled low-profile dental rasp Fig. 4.67 Post rasping, the periphery of the tooth
is required to reduce sharp overgrowths on buccal is smooth to prevent mucosal trauma, but peripheral
maxillary 10s and 11s. cement is intact at the gingival margin.