How to Evaluate Dental Cavities in Horses

The goal of dentistry is to preserve functional dentition to promote the general health, longevity, and productivity of the horse; however, throughout recorded equine dental history, exodontia has been the primary treatment for diseased teeth. This treatment predisposes the equine dentition to subsequent periodontal disease, malocclusion, and additional tooth loss. Restorative dentistry is the dental discipline concerned with the treatment, repair, and conservation of teeth broken down by trauma or decay. The indications for restorative dentistry include dental decay, resorptive lesions, crown fractures, attrition, congenital anomalies, enamel hypoplasia, and access closure of an endodontically treated tooth. Although dental caries has been recognized in horses for over a century, these cavities have been therapeutically ignored until the last decade. The early and accurate diagnosis of a cavity can make restorative treatment a realistic option for preserving a functional tooth. Evaluation of cavities is one component in a complete dental examination.