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Dentistry in Juveniles:
“There is a tendency among farmers and many veterinarians to
pay too little attention to the teeth of young horses.”
Special Report on Diseases of the Horse, USDA, 1916.
Goal:
To diagnosis and correct abnormalities as early as possible, before
adult teeth erupt!
The foals will erupt 24 Deciduous (Baby)
Teeth between birth and 9 months of age, which will all be replaced
by 44 Permanent (Adult) Teeth between 6 month and 5 years of age.
Dental Formulae (For the academians):
Deciduous (Baby):
2 x (I 3/3, C 0/0, P 3/3) = 24 Teeth
Permanent (Adult):
2 x (I 3/3, C 1/1, P 4/4, M 3/3)= 44 Teeth
Typical Female: 2 x (I 3/3, P 4/3, M 3/3)= 38 Teeth
Typical Male: 2 x (I 3/3, C 1/1, P 4/3, M 3/3)= 42 Teeth
Congenital faults in foals, such as
Parrotmouth (Overbite) and Sowmouth (Underbite), are sometimes
correctable if addressed early enough with routine dental
care and/or orthodontic treatment. The foal's bite should
be examined shortly after birth, and if correction is indicated,
treatment should optimally begin at approximately 3 months of
age. Dentofacial Growth is a very complex process, and
Orthodontic Procedures should only be performed by Experienced
Dental Practitioners. (Orthodontics is oral surgery and should
not be performed by nonveterinary dental technicians!)
(The altering of an animal for
the purpose of misrepresenting the animal's true conformation is
unethical and will not be performed by ACH. These procedures are performed only to
improve the foal's quality of life.)
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Overjet: Before Treatment
Arab, 5m, S.
Overjet: After Treatment
Overbite
TB, 5m, S.
Overbite: Orthodontic Appliance |
Parrotmouth:
This is the common term for a bite where the upper incisors
protrude beyond of the lower incisors. This condition
is considered (although not proven) heritable in the
American Quarter Horse and the Thoroughbred breeds.
Some people erroneously refer to all parrotmouth
malocclusions as Overbites. Technically, the
parrotmouth is defined as an Overjet or an
Overbite, in addition to describing which teeth are
involved in the malocclusion. (Cheek teeth also could
be involved!) Completely defining the malocclusion is
critical before prescribing a treatment plan.
Overjet: A parrotmouth
malocclusion in which the upper incisors project beyond the
lower incisors in a Horizontal direction. (Note the
Blue Arrow in the Overjet and Overbite pictures.)
Many Overjets in foals are caused, or
accentuated, by cheek teeth malocclusions (Dental Interlock)
which restrict the free movement and growth of the mandible.
Treatment could be as simple as routine occlusal
equilibration to eliminate these interlocking malocclusions.
Overbite: A parrotmouth
malocclusion in which the upper incisors extend beyond the
lower incisors in a Vertical direction. (Note
the Red Arrow in the Overbite picture.)
In Progress!!! |
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Underbite1
Underbite1
Underbite2
Wry Nose |
Sowmouth:
This is the common term for a bite where the lower incisors
protrude beyond of the upper incisors. This condition
is considered (although not proven) heritable in the
American Miniature Horse breed. Some people
erroneously refer to all sowmouth malocclusions as
Underbites. Technically, the sowmouth is defined
as an Underjet or an Underbite, in addition to
describing which teeth are involved in the malocclusion, and
as in the parrotmouth, correctly defining the malocclusion
is critical before prescribing a treatment plan.
In Progress!!!
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Many of the malocclusions (Bite Misalignments)
seen in adult horses start during this adolescent
period when the permanent teeth are erupting; therefore, dental examination and treatment in the foal is primarily
focused on preventing Maleruptions (adult teeth erupting in an incorrect position or at an
incorrect time).
Correcting minor problems in foals will preclude severe problem
later in life.
Delayed eruption and/or maleruption of permanent incisors and cheek teeth are commonly seen in colts
and fillies whose deciduous teeth (caps) do not expire
appropriately. Problems such as Overcrowding Teeth and
Adult Tooth Impaction, secondary to Retained Caps, are common in
horse's with short or dish faces (Arabs, Pasos, Minis).
Recent unpublished data suggests that adolescent
horses who graze 18+ hours daily have fewer maleruption problems than
their stabled counterparts.
Treatments performed on the deciduous teeth, which
will facilitate the correct eruption of the adult teeth, can
completely prevent severe dental problems before they start!
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