Advances in equine dentistry

Following half a century of neglect^1,2  , a significant scientific and clinical revival of equine dentistry has occurred over the last 25 years^{3, 4, 5, 6}  . When considering the major equine dentistry advances that have been made during that time, immediately one could consider the use of computed tomography to diagnose apical infections or the complex surgery needed to treat wry-nose in foals, but in my opinion these have not been the most significant advances.

The main advances over the last 25 years have been a fuller understanding of equine dental anatomy in particular gaining knowledge of the various types and distribution of dentine, enamel and cementum in teeth; the dimensions, numbers and configuration of pulps and roots, and of maxillary cheek teeth infundibulae (which commonly have defects) and of the equine periodontium.

The second major advance, which could not have occurred without the former anatomical studies, are our increased understanding of equine dental disorders including the complex aetiopathogenesis of cheek teeth apical infections⁴ , the physical mechanisms for interdental food entrapment and periodontal disease development, improved understanding of dental dysplasia and dental eruption abnormalities, of idiopathic cheek teeth fractures and infundibular cariesrelated cheek teeth fractures and of newly recognised disorders such as equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH). [...]