Dental diastemata and periodontal disease secondary to axially rotated maxillary cheek teeth in three horses

Abstract

Summary Malerupted axially rotated maxillary cheek teeth (CT) were identified as the primary cause of diastemata and severe periodontitis in 3 horses. Diastema widening and periodontal debridement was performed initially in one case but did not resolve clinical signs. Subsequently, all 3 cases underwent extraction of the axially rotated teeth per os without complication. Follow‐up indicated remission of periodontitis and signs of oral pain. In these cases, maxillary CT had erupted in a manner that resulted in axial rotation of CT with undulating buccal and palatal surfaces aligned with the interproximal surfaces of adjacent normally orientated teeth. This resulted in poor interproximal compression and diastemata causing severe periodontitis. Axially rotated maxillary CT and the severe periodontitis that they precipitate, have not been previously described as a discrete dental disease entity.

The aetiopathogenesis of equine periodontal disease – a fresh perspective

“…), with 71% of these donkeys also having concurrent dental disorders such as displaced cheek teeth, which probably initiated or contributed to diastemata formation. Malerupted (rotated) maxillary cheek teeth have also been described as the primary cause of diastemata formation and associated severe periodontitis (Casey and Tremaine ) ( Fig ). Voss () suggested that irregular feeding times interrupted salivary flow in horses, which in turn could contribute to the development of periodontal disease.…”

The microbiome associated with equine periodontitis and oral health

“…plaque-induced) periodontal disease was rare in horses, but periodontal disease induced by food impaction due to abnormal spacing between the cheek teeth was common [ 5 ]. The condition is often associated with the presence of cheek teeth diastemata [ 6 ] and can also be present secondary to other oral disorders such as supernumerary, displaced or rotated teeth [ 7 ]. Dropping of feed (quidding) and difficulty eating are the main clinical signs [ 8 ], although these can be subtle and easily overlooked.…”

Cheek tooth malocclusions and periodontal disease

“…It can safely be presumed, however, that normality is at least defined by the buccal and palatal (or lingual) margins of the erupted crown of any cheek tooth being in general alignment with those of adjacent teeth and that this alignment should mirror that of the contralateral arcade. Cheek teeth ‘rotated’ on their longitudinal axis (), to a degree described in the 3 cases in the accompanying article by Casey and Tremaine (2010) are very unusual. It is far more common to encounter rotational malocclusions of a less overt nature and sometimes attention may only be drawn to these irregularities by the presence of focal dental overgrowths arising from long‐term malocclusion at the site in question.…”