Infundibular Caries b yT.J. Johnson and CM. Porter - AAEP Focus 2006

In the horse the incisors and maxillary cheek teeth have enamel invaginations called infundibula that penetrate the occlusal surface. The infundibula provide the occlusal surface with additional enamel. These infundibula are filled or partially filled with cementum and normally have a pin-like hole in the center of the occlusal surface of the cementum that generally travels the length of the infundibulum. This defect is the site of the former blood vessels present when cementum was laid down during development. During development, the infundibulum receives the majority of its blood supply from the occlusal aspect of the tooth, but some studies suggest that there may also be a blood supply from the apical aspect. The incisors have a single infundibulum termed a “cup” and the maxillary teeth each have two infundibula. The mandibular teeth have none. Incisor infundibular caries is rare. Infundibular caries of the maxillary cheek teeth exist to some degree in the vast majority of aged horses examined.