tongue, cheeks and gums, causing laceration and pain. Retained caps can be identified through palpation and can be removed by a veterinarian using dental forceps. Wolf tooth is the common term used to refer to the _______________ . The wolf teeth are generally small, poorly formed, vestigial teeth that are located tight to the rostral border of the second premolar. A horse may have up to four wolf teeth, but a pair located in the upper jaw is the most common. These teeth have little functionality and often interfere with the placement of the_______________ in the horse’s mouth. Most trainers and owners decide to have the wolf teeth removed to avoid any complications that may occur during training.
Polydontie
Polydontie is a term used to describe an abnormal _______________ of teeth. Occasionally this occurs due to retained deciduous teeth but may reflect a congenital developmental defect.
Oligodontie
Oligodontie describes an abnormal _____________ in the number of teeth. This may occur if any of the teeth fail to erupt. The canine teeth are the most likely to fail to erupt, but it is possible that any of the teeth may do so. Occasionally a developmental defect may result in the fusion of two or more teeth, causing oligodontie.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is the #1 cause of premature tooth loss. It is a painful condition that can affect the incisors, canines or cheek teeth. Structures affected include the gingiva, alveolar bone, periodontal ligament and the tooth cementum. With normal mastication, a horses mouth is _________________ due to saliva, white blood cells and good bacteria. The lack of space between teeth also helps to prevent food build up in this area. The cause of periodontal disease is the decay and bacterial fermentation of feed stuffs that gets packed between teeth. Once trapped feed starts to decay and ferment, this begins the breakdown process of the periodontum. ______________occurs with varying degrees of bleeding and inflammation. A pocket then begins to form between the tooth and gum line which packs with more and more feed. The cycle of decay and fermentation continues leading to the breakdown of periodontal structures towards the root of the tooth. Once the periodontal _________________ is destroyed, the tooth becomes loose in the socket and is either completely lost or abscess formation occurs. The alveolar bone may also become necrotic and could develop osteomyelitis.
255
Made with FlippingBook Publishing Software