Ann Arbor Tooth Crown

Healthy teeth make for a healthy horse

“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth!” Although one abhors seeming ungraciously to the giver, it is always a good idea to look that Horse in the mouth, so you know what you are getting into by accepting the generous gift.

Examination of the teeth by a knowledgeable person can fairly closely estimate a horse’s age, and give an indication of what kind of care the animal has received. Teeth do not lie, and so you will get useful information “straight from the horse’s mouth.”

Horses eat lots of roughage, and even some dirt, and this is very wearing to the cutting and grinding surfaces of the teeth. Fortunately, their teeth undergo “continuous eruption” and are gradually pushed out through the gum to compensate for loss due to wear.

The appearance of the teeth differs along its length, so you can estimate the age of the horse based on the appearance of the visible tooth. At first the crown wears down, then the neck of the tooth and finally the root.

Due to forceful grinding over the years, the angle of the teeth changes as well, causing them to angle forward. “Long in the tooth” arises from this appearance. Although the visible tooth may appear longer in old age, more of the finite amount of dentation has been used up. In old age, horses’ teeth may actually be very short, with little root left, and may be lost altogether.

A horse's upper jaw is slightly wider than the lower jaw, to make side-to side grinding (lateral excursion) more effective. If every tooth is lined up perfectly, and the amount of tooth eruption equals the amount of wear, all is good.

If all is not ideal, uneven wear occurs, which can result in sharp points, hooks, and ridges. These can cause sores and cuts along the tongue or inner cheek. Pain and discomfort can make your horse unhappy, especially about being ridden.

Chewing grinds seeds and fiberous material, breaking food into smaller particles that can effectively mix with digestive enzymes. Incompletely chewed food that passes through the digestive system may make it more difficult for your horse to keep weight on.

Unchewed hay or grass may increase the risk of colic or bowel impaction (stuff getting stuck). A horse may even refuse to eat due to severe tooth pain.

How to keep your horses’ teeth healthy? Pasture forage is a good thing. Here in Michigan, we are dependant on hay in the winter. Grass, with its high water content, is softer and easier to chew, and is therefore easier on the teeth. Let them eat grass! (In moderation!

Dr. Shannon Norman-Kotre's Ann Arbor Dental Blog » The truth about ...

05.18.11 The truth about root canals

Posted in Uncategorized at 11:50 am by Dr. Shannon Kotre, Ann Arbor Dentist

If you ask around, many people will tell you that their most feared dental procedure is a root canal. But in reality, as a survey by the American Association of Endodontists revealed, most people’s information about root canals comes not from their own experience, but from others’. Unfortunately, inaccurate information about root canals can keep people from making informed decisions about their dental health. The truth is, most of those surveyed who experienced root canal therapy first hand had the procedure to alleviate pain, did not experience pain during the procedure, and afterward, felt better than they did before their appointment. It is believed that the negative perception of root canals stems from early treatment methods, which were indeed painful, and bear little resemblance to the way root canals are performed currently. Why does root canal therapy become necessary?

There are many reasons for root canal therapy, including invasive tooth decay, abscessed teeth, trauma (such as breaks that expose the nerve), or a dying tooth, which can result from aging or past trauma.

What to expect during root canal therapy

Root canal therapy can take more than a single appointment, but often takes only one. It depends completely on the extent of the damage that requires treatment. Dr. Kotre always advises her patients during their consultation as to whether their root canal therapy can be completed in her office, and how many visits will be required, or if they will need to instead be seen by an endodontist. If root canal therapy is necessary on a molar, patients will always be referred out to a specialist.

During an appointment for root canal therapy, a local anesthetic will be applied in order to numb the affected tooth. Once the tooth is numb, the patient will receive an x-ray, in order to fully examine the problem area and provide a reference for Dr. Kotre during the procedure. Different chemicals are used to completely clean and disinfect the tooth, and Dr. Kotre will use a dental dam to keep the affected area dry and the chemicals out of the rest of the mouth.

A small hole is then drilled in the enamel, and the dental pulp and nerve that fills the tooth extracted. Once the tooth is completely cleaned out, it is then carefully dried, and any remaining tooth decay removed before a rubber-like material called gutta percha is applied to seal the inside of the tooth. If Dr. Kotre has performed the procedure, she will then permanently fill the tooth to complete the root canal therapy. If an endodontist has performed the treatment, she will apply a temporary filling, and send the patient back to Dr. Kotre for one that is permanent.

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