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Atypical Case 1
CASE HISTORY REVIEW
Horse: Porter Age: 18
Porter was purchased as a four-year-old. He was put into training for eventing and had been shown for a number of years. During this time, the owner had trouble with him bucking and pulling on the bit. A local veterinarian floated his teeth but suggested that he go to the Academy of Equine Dentistry for further dental work. At that time the owner didn’t know how to get in contact with the Academy.
Clint Malarchuk, who attended the Academy in August 2000, was in the area and examined Porter. He suggested taking him to the Academy for the next upcoming class, which was in November 2000.
EVALUATION:
During the November class, Porter was evaluated and ten lower incisors were discovered. Six incisors were permanent and four were retained deciduous teeth. The lower #1 caps had shed but the rest remained. Due to pressure from the retained teeth, the 3/2 and 4/2 permanent teeth were displaced behind the #1 incisors. Pressure from the displaced #2’s forced the #1’s forward about ¼ of an inch. The 3/2 permanent tooth was lying in a horizontal position behind the 3/1. The upper incisors were wedged and an incisor reduction would be necessary.
TREATMENT:
All deciduous incisors were extracted and bite realignment was performed. A relief cut was made on the 3/2 permanent incisor in hopes that the tooth would move forward. However, when Porter returned to the Academy in February 2001, the 3/2 incisor had not moved enough into the correct position. If the tooth were left alone, pressure from eruption would extend the 3/1 further forward. Therefore, the decision was made to extract the 3/2 incisor. An 18-gauge wire was placed on the lower #1 incisors and 3/4 canine to pull the teeth into better alignment. An additional wire was placed on the 4/2 and 4/3, and 4/4 canine to hold their position and keep the teeth from drifting.
DISCUSSION:
January 2004
I received my certification in February 2001 and was responsible for Porter’s aftercare. I tightened the wires each week by twisting them 2-3 turns with a wolf tooth elevator. I also used a small pair of needle nose pliers. The mouth was flushed to keep the food and debris from packing in the area. After a few weeks, the wires wore out and I replaced them with o-rings. The o-rings worked really well and did not seem to collect food debris as much. The teeth moved into position quickly in the beginning and then at a gradual rate for the remainder of the eight weeks. All of this was done without sedating Porter and every week he was less guarded about his mouth. I continue his dental maintenance annually, however, it is difficult to recognize how irregular his teeth were three years ago.
-Clint Malarchuk CEqD, Nevada
After talking with the owner, Porter is less flighty and easier to catch. He used to shake his head and open his mouth all the time, however, he is now a happier horse and quiet in the bit.
Atypical Case 2
Horse: Jubilee Age: 7 Year Old Mare
Used For: Driving
Evaluation:
Jubilee came to us with an under-bite. She had little occlusion of the cheek teeth batteries with the
mandible well locked in one position. Lateral excursion was very limited due to ramped and
protuberant lower number six teeth, locking, and blocking incisors. There was no anterior
posterior movement of the mandible and she had a great deal of difficulty rounding up due to
the locking aspects of the dentition. The number 2/6 cheek tooth was very sharp and pointed
and had erupted in a horizontal plane nearly piercing the cheek. It had created a large ulcerated
hole in the soft tissue of the cheek and the horse was in a great deal of pain. Veterinarian
radiographs accompanied the horse that aided substantially in determining a treatment plan.
Treatment:
Cheek teeth batteries were floated; molar tables adjusted and protuberant locking and blocking
3/6 and 4/6 were cut with an "A" head simple joint cutter, and then floated. The horizontal 2/6
cheek tooth was elevated around the gums and loosened with a variety of elevators and extracted
with a three pronged molar forceps. Cutting the crowns with a diamond cut off wheel reduced lower
incisors. Upper and lower incisor tables were dressed with a diamond drum burr in a large Dremel
hand piece. After the mandible was freed of all trapping and blocking it moved caudally
approximately ¼ inch.
Discussion:
It is reported by the owner that it took some time for the horse
to rehabilitate and relearn normal mastication patterns. The happy, pain free, Jubilee is
presently in training and doing very well.
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