Occlusion, the alignment and contact between teeth, is a critical aspect of dental health in both brachydont and hypsodont dentition. Since the inception of equine dentistry, practitioners have sought to modify occlusion through the floating of horse teeth, making this procedure one of the most commonly performed treatments to this day. While this act of floating horse teeth-scientifically described as odontoplasty - remains omniprevalent, it is based on very limited scientific research. Furthermore, we lack the tools to uniformly describe, document, and monitor the occlusion of the equine dentition, all of which are essential in our quest for Good Veterinary Practice (GVP) and evidence based medicine (EBM). Extensive research on occlusion in human dentistry has produced well-established definitions and nomenclature; however, to the authors’ knowledge, there is no consensus on definitions or species- specific terminology in equine dentistry. This gap presents an opportunity to explore insights from the occlusal characteristics of brachydont teeth to enhance our approach to hypsodont dentition. This presentation will provide an overview of the current terminology used in both human and equine dentistry. Whenever possible, terminology and nomenclature from brachydont dentition can be adopted, while also recognizing that hypsodont dentition requires specific terms. The goal is to advocate for the establishment of standardized definitions to improve data collection, communication and understanding within this specific field. This topic is proposed as the first of a three-part presentation series. The second presentation will explore the various occlusal types encountered within the equine population. The third presentation will delve deeper into occlusal findings observed during closed-mouth oroscopy and their relevance for diagnostics and treatment.