Age Related Dental Abnormalities

This page describes age related dental abnormalities that are seen on a regular basis in different age groups. Good dental exams find these problems early so they may be addressed in a timely fashion.

Newborn – 2 years old

A foal should first have a dental exam at birth or shortly thereafter to check primarily for a normal occlusion of the mouth. With the foal’s head vertical, run a finger along the front of the gums/teeth to check if they are meeting evenly. If not, if one of the jaws is off, that is an indication that as those teeth erupt and grow then they will develop either an underbite (sow-mouth) or an overbite (parrot-mouth).

Underbite or overbite may not sound so bad but it can have a huge affect on the occlusion of the cheek teeth causing malocclusions and abnormal wear, resulting in less efficient chewing and more likely to develop sharp hooks and ramps. If by the age of 3 months the young horse’s incisors are not meeting correctly then they may need to wear a corrective device, such as a bite plate, for a while to encourage a more desirable alignment.

Some of these problems may only be corrected early in life. If diagnosed late, treatment options may not be available or the horse won’t respond as well to treatment.

Common dental findings in foals and yearlings:

  • Parrot mouth (prognathism)
  • Sow-mouth (brachynathism)
  • Wry-nose (lateral deviation of maxilla and mandible)
  • Missing teeth
  • Supernumerary teeth (more teeth than normal)
  • Developmental cysts
  • Neoplasia
  • Fractures
  • Sharp enamel edges or ‘points’
  • Sharp hooks and ramps
  • Ulceration and lacerations to cheeks and tongue

2 years – 5 years old

This is a VERY important age to be checking the mouth on a 6 monthly basis. Young horses can have surprisingly sharp teeth and it is wise to make the mouth comfortable prior to starting any ridden or driven work.

Horses of this age will shed 24 baby teeth (caps) and erupt 36-44 permanent teeth so it is very important to check their mouths regularly to ensure the caps shed on time. Retained caps can cause delayed eruption (impaction) or malpositioning of permanent teeth. If you can catch these little problems early enough, it can save bigger developmental problems in the future.

Another consideration for a youngster is having their wolf teeth removed before having a bit in their mouth. The wolf teeth are small (often tiny) teeth located just in front of the first upper cheek tooth. Their positioning can interfere with the bit and create a very unpleasant sensation for the horse. It is not uncommon to find unerupted (blind) wolf teeth that sit just under the gum, these are usually extremely painful for the horse and it is very important to locate and remove these.

Common dental findings in youngsters:

  • Delayed shedding of deciduous teeth (caps)
  • Premature eruption of permanent teeth
  • Impacted (blind) wolf teeth
  • Impacted cheek teeth
  • Impacted canine teeth
  • Crowded teeth
  • Eruption cysts or pseudocysts
  • Fractures
  • Trauma to immature root
  • Sharp enamel edges or ‘points’
  • Sharp hooks and ramps
  • Ulceration and lacerations to cheeks and tongue

5 years – late teens

As horses get older often 12 monthly visits are sufficient to keep the mouth comfortable and balanced however some horses need more frequent care, particularly if there are any abnormalities of growth such as overlong or displaced teeth.

Keeping the mouth balanced and equilibrated will spread the forces of mastication evenly throughout the mouth ensuring the maximum life for all of the teeth. Keeping their mouths comfortable also positively affects the horse’s ability to round at the poll without creating stiffness or tension, optimising their performance.

Common dental findings in adult horses:

  • Wave mouth
  • Step mouth
  • Sheer mouth
  • Overgrown teeth
  • Tartar or plaque accumulation
  • Gingivitis
  • Periodontal disease
  • Diastema
  • Caries
  • Loose teeth
  • Missing teeth
  • Fractures
  • Tooth root infections or abscess
  • Sinusitis
  • Neoplasia
  • EOTRH
  • Sharp enamel edges or ‘points’
  • Sharp hooks and ramps
  • Ulceration and lacerations to cheeks and tongue

Senior 20+ years

As the horse gets into their 20’s they are now dealing with teeth that are wearing out so it is very important not to be too aggressive when rasping in order to preserve what grinding surface area remains in the mouth. We want to keep the teeth that are there working the best they possibly can for as long as they possibly can.

Common dental findings in senior horses:

  • Worn out teeth
  • Wave mouth
  • Step mouth
  • Sheer mouth
  • Overgrown teeth
  • Tartar or plaque accumulation
  • Gingivitis
  • Periodontal disease
  • Diastema
  • Caries
  • Loose teeth and tooth loss
  • Tooth root infections or abscess
  • Fractures
  • Sinusitis
  • Neoplasia
  • EOTRH
  • Sharp enamel edges or ‘points’
  • Sharp hooks and ramps
  • Ulceration and lacerations to cheeks and tongue

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