There are many types of equine dental issue but here are

some of the more common ones we encounter

Sharp Edges
During a horse's life its teeth continue to erupt
(grow) and wear down from chewing. This
cycle can lead to sharp enamel edges, often
causing soreness and ulcers on the tongue and
cheeks.
We see this extremely commonly in horses of
all ages, so it is important that all horses have a
dental check and rasp at least every 12 months.

Equine / Horse Dental Problems

The horses teeth can be divided into two main categories;
The incisors at the front which nip and tear the grass. The pre-molars and molars which then grind the food
down into a digestable size before swallowing.
To learn more about specific problems that could affect your horses' teeth please click on the jump links to the
left or scroll down the list to browse.

Pre-molar and molar problems

Sharp enamel points
Sharp edges known as enamel points will naturally develop over time as the horses teeth erupt. These sharp
enamel points will often cause soreness, lacerations and ulcers to the sides of the cheeks and to the tongue.
Often horses with sores from these sharp points will find it painful to chew and they will give up and spit out a
half chewed ball of hay. This is called quidding and is unfortunately a common occurrence. With routine dental
treatments the points will not become sharp and the horse will not suffer these problems.

Deciduous (Milk Teeth) Problems

Between two and a half years and four and a half years the transition from deciduous (milk teeth) to permanent
teeth occurs and concerns twenty-four deciduous teeth (12 incisors and 12 pre-molars). Often young horses
have problems shedding the deciduous teeth which can a painful experience causing quidding, and difficulty
masticating, and can lead to bad habits such as head tossing etc due to the pain.
Often deciduous teeth, otherwise known as caps, break in half because they have trouble being pushed clear
by the erupting permanent pre-molar. This may cause them to become retained and infected leading to a foul
smelling odour. When caps are retained, dental cysts of the mandible (lower jaw) and the maxilla (upper jaw)
can often be observed. These bumps are sometimes referred to teething bumps and will gradually disappear
over time. Between the ages of 2 1/2yrs and 5yrs it is most important to have the horse examined every six
months by a BAEDT qualified member.

Wolf teeth Problems

Wolf teeth are vestigial teeth and come in many different shapes and sizes. Usually they are short crowned
with a root two to three times the length of the crown.
These small conical teeth can often interfere with the bit and as a result they are often removed. This is due to
the position of the tooth, which is normally just in front of the molar arcades on the maxilla (upper jaw) and
occasionally on the mandible (lower jaw).
Wolf teeth in young horses (under 3) are usually easier to extract completely than wolf teeth in older horses. As
the horse gets older the roots of the tooth can become firmly attached to the bone making them much more
difficult to extract cleanly.
Blind wolf teeth (unerupted wolf teeth) are usually problematic and are nearly always extracted.

Ramps
Ramped cheek teeth are similar to hooks but have a more gradual slope to the tooth and can also be on the
front or back, upper or lower molars. Ramps on the first lower cheek teeth can cause pinching of the soft tissue
on the lower bars with contact on the reins. Ramps will also inhibit the natural anterior posterior movement of
the mandible, this is particularly important in the ridden horse.
Ramps can create problems to the cheek teeth arcades alignment and put pressure on the Temporal
mandibular joint (the hinge joint).

Hooks
Hooks develop due to the misalignment of the molar arcades. This is commonly the result of an over-bite or
under-bite (parrot mouth or sow mouth) of the incisor arcades. Unfortunately for horses if a tooth has no
opposition it will not be wearing down as it should be.
The part of tooth which is not in any contact will erupt and get more and more pronounced. This is how hooks
will get bigger over time. Hooks will restrict the anterior/posterior and lateral movement of the mandible, and
large hooks will cause extreme discomfort often leading to quidding, weight loss, choke and even colic.

Excessive Transverse Ridges

The horse is designed to have transverse ridges running across the surface of the teeth, these are very
important for the horse to chew and break down forage into a digestable size. Excessive Transverse Ridges
are much more pronounced than this and are a series of washboard like ridges that occur across the grinding
surface of the molar arcades. Excessive transverse ridges can restrict the movement of the Temporal
mandibular joint, forcing the horse to open its mouth to get anterior/posterior and lateral movement of the
mandible. This may sound unimportant but the correct function and movement of the mandible and Temporal
mandibular joint is vital for the horse. Whilst most would agree that normal ridging is important in the grinding
function of the teeth, if these ridges become too exaggerated they will need to be reduced to a normal level,
which may well need to be reduced on two or three separate occasions.

Steps
A step occurs when the clinical crown of one cheek tooth is longer than those in the rest of the arcade. This
usually occurs when a horse is either missing a cheek tooth, or is opposed to a damaged or impacted cheek
tooth. The "step" in the molar arcade will restrict the lateral excursion, and anterior/ posterior movement of the
mandible.
The step has to reduced on a six monthly basis through burring and floating so that it does not affect the horse.

Shear Mouth
A shear mouth will occur when the horse is only using one side of its mouth to grind its food. As a result one
side is being worn at a faster rate than the other. The table angles of the cheek teeth will be very steep on one
side. It will often cause an incisor slant as well. This is fortunately quite a rare dental condition, and work to the
incisors as well as the cheek teeth is required to improve the malocclusion.

Wave Mouth
This term describes uneven wear of the molar arcades creating a differing clinical crown heights throughout
molar arcades. This problem usually comes from a lack of dental attention as a young horse, impacted molars,
which are slow or irregular in eruption or retained caps.
Wave mouths can be difficult to correct fully especially in older horses. However most can be improved
especially in younger horses with regular 6 monthly maintenance.
Diseased and infected te eth (Caries)
Teeth can become diseased or infected due to trauma, abnormal wear over a long period of time or old age.
Chronic infection of the teeth can lead to general health problems, and can also cause infections of the sinus
where the tooth root sits.
Caries can sometimes be difficult to see properly but with the use of a good quality headlight and dental mirror
this becomes easier.
Caries can be filled to help reduce the risk of the tooth fracturing in the future. Peripheral caries affect the sides
of the teeth. These cannot be filled and appear to be more common where horses are fed haylage for most of
the time.

Displaced and rotated cheek teeth

Cheek teeth can become dispaced or rotated.
This is normally due to overcrowding of the cheek teeth arcades, and where the teeth are short of space.
Periodontal pocketing around these displaced or rotated teeth is common, and they may also cause ulceration
to the tongue or cheeks. This can be an extremely painfull condition.
Severely displaced cheek teeth may require extracting, although routine removal of sharp edges will stop ulcers
and soft tissue damage.

Diastema
A diastema is a gap between two teeth. These areas are very prone to grass and food impaction. This material
then breaks down over time and will cause periodontal pocketing and gum recession. These diastemas can be
extremely painful and will often lead to quidding and foul smelling breath.
At present picking out these diastemas and flushing out the area with high pressure air and water, or in some
cases actually widening the gap seems to be the best treatment plan. However it can be an extremely painfull
and persistant condition for the horse which will require ongoing monitoring and treatment.

Supernumary Teeth
Supernumary or ‘extra’ teeth are rare, but can cause problems especially if they are unoposed. It is vital that
the overgrowths are reduced at least twice or three times a year.

Incisor Problems
The incisor teeth are found at the front of the horses mouth and are used for nipping the grass. It is normal for
the horse to have a set of twelve decidous incisors, which are replaced by twelve permanent incisors.
One of the main dental problems occurs in the domestic horse due to its lack of continuous grazing. In a study
at the royal veterinary school, Edinburgh, it was found that the horse eats for an average of 16 hrs per day
while out at grass. This time is obviously greatly reduced when horses are fed rations of hay in the stable. The
study also found that horses fed on hay take far fewer bites with their incisor teeth. This leads us to the main
problem. The incisors are being erupted at a constant rate, but in many stabled horses the incisors are not
being worn down at the correct rate because much of the time the horse is not eating. Below are some incisor
malocclusions.

Ventral Curvature (smile)

When the incisors are curved upwards at both sides when viewed head on, hence the term a 'smile'. In this
instance the lower corner incisors are too long, as are the upper central incisors. The problem with a smile, is
that the incisors cam off each other and force the cheek teeth apart too early. It restricts the lateral excursion,
and 'grind' of the cheek teeth. The table angles of the cheek teeth are often too steep as a result. The problem
is corrected through the use of power work again, or in a mild case with the use of a hand float, while the table
angles in the cheek teeth can also be corrected by hand.

Slant (diagonal bite)

When looking at the incisors from the front of the horse, the incisors should look almost horizontal. In some
cases they are not and are clearly on a slant. This is called a 'slant mouth', or 'incisor wedge'. The horse with a
slant has upper incisors which are too long meeting lower incisors which are too short on one side of the
mouth. On the other side the problem is reversed. The result being a severe 'slant.' This type of situation is
corrected using power work while the horse is sedated by the vet. It is also not uncommon for there to be quite
severe cheek teeth problems, when the horse has a slanted incisors. These problems have to be addressed at
the same time.

Dorsal Curvature (frown)

When the incisors curve downwards, causing the appearance of a frown. It is the opposite of a smile but
causes similar problems with the cheek teeth. It is again corrected by realigning the incisor arcades, usually
with the use of power tools.

Missing Tooth
When a horse is missing a permanent incisor, or has a badly damaged incisor, a problem will develop over
time. The problem is that as the incisors are erupting normally, they are usually worn by the opposing teeth. If
one is missing, the healthy opposing incisor will grow into the gap. This causes a blockage, and will 'lock' the
incisors. As the healthy tooth continues to erupt, so the situation becomes worse. Horses with this problem will
probably be quidding, and will 'chomp' its food with a vertical, up and down chewing motion. The remedy is to
reduce the overlong incisor using either a diamond disc cutter, or carbide burr. The tooth will always need
regular dental attention.

Overbite

Commonly referred to as a "parrot mouth." This is not an uncommon problem, and is where the upper incisors
protrude too far forward in relation to the lower incisors. It is also common to find large 1/6, 2/6 upper rostral
hooks, and large 3/11, 4/11 lower caudal hooks on the molar arcades. In most cases a procedure known as an
"incisor reduction" and corrective floating, is performed to restore anterior-posterior movement of the jaw, and
to reduce pressure that this exerts on the Temporal mandibular joint.

Underbite
Or commonly referred to as a "sow mouth" this is a fairly rare abnormality, and is where the lower incisors
protrude too far forward in relation to the upper incisors. It is also common to find large 3/6, 4/6 lower anterior
hooks and large 1/11, 2/11 upper caudal hooks on the molar arcades. Again the most common procedure to
correct this abnormality is an "incisor reduction" and corrective floating, which has the same affect on the
tempro-mandibular joint as the above overbite.
Some common signs of equine dental problems are:
• Food not being chewed properly
• Dropping food out of the mouth when the horse is eating
• Weight loss or trouble maintaining weight
• Poor overall condition (i.e. dull coat)
• Reluctance to accept bit contact
Many horses will suffer silently from dental disease so it is important to have regular
check-ups to ensure their mouth is healthy. Signs that can indicate there is a problem
are:

 Halitosis (bad smelling breath)

 Quidding -dropping partially chewed food particularly over the stable door or
around the feed bucket
 Reduced appetite/difficulty eating/slow eating
 Food packing within cheeks
 Poorly digested food in droppings
 Weight loss
 Difficulties when ridden such as unsteady head carriage.

What sort of problems can be relieved?

One problem tends to lead to a variety of problems which in time, can be more difficult
to correct, so early detection and treatment is vital. Some problems may need to be
treated over a period of time rather than at one examination. For example a large
overgrowth will need to be reduced in stages to avoid the sensitive structures within the
tooth from becoming exposed.

Common dental problems in horses

In the adult horse, where all of the teeth have erupted, several common problems can
develop. Horses naturally chew their food in an elliptical fashion, with the 'grinding' part
of the cycle occurring during the sideways movement. In the wild, when chewing forage,
the extent of the sideways motion (lateral excursion) is large, covering the whole of the
grinding surface of the teeth, including the edges. In domesticated horses this sideways
movement can be reduced, and the horse doesn't tend to grind right to the edges of the
teeth every time. The tooth surface can therefore get worn away quicker than the
edges, which then become long and sharp.
Some problems that are regularly seen are:

 Abnormal wear with sharp enamel edges on both the lower and upper check
teeth. If pronounced this can cause painful ulcers and erosions on the soft
tissues of the cheek or tongue.
 Overgrowths secondary to a misaligned jaw (parrot mouth) or as a result of a
missing tooth.
 Fractured, displaced, loose or missing cheek teeth.
 Diastema (gaps between the teeth where food collects) causing gum disease.
 Caries: dental disease.
 Tooth root abscess.
 Retained deciduous (baby) teeth.
 Blind (unerrupted) or abnormally large or displaced wolf teeth.
 Abnormalities of the incisors.

You can help your horse by providing at least half of his diet as good quality long fibre. If
you have an older horse, he may require special attention with his diet, especially if he
is missing teeth and struggles to chew long fibre. Fibre replacements offer a good
solution in such cases, but again, speak to your vet with any concerns or to an equine
nutritionist for feeding advice.
Horse health categories:
Dental care