EVDF OSLO NORWAY 2025

Equine Dentistry

Occlusal patterns in horses: what can we learn from closed mouth endoscopy?

Stijn Teysen1, Wouter Demey2, Torbjörn Lundström3
1 DAP Vetrident, Geertskouter 32, 1730 Asse, Belgium;
2 DAP Equide, Stappersestraat 3, 3290 Schaffen, Belgium;
3 Djurtandvårdskliniken, Västra Husby, SE-605 96 Norrköping, Sweden. 

A significant number of horses underwent an in-depth oral examination and closed-mouth endoscopy. After performing a visual oral exam, each horse was assigned a specific (mal-) occlusion type as described by Lundström et al. To determine the occlusion type, we focused on three specific areas in the mouth: the region of the 06’s, the 11’s, and the 08-09 region. If horses scored 2 out of 3 or more, they were classified under a specific occlusion type. Using closed-mouth endoscopy, the same regions were inspected. The occlusion of these specific teeth was evaluated and correlated to the visual open mouth inspection. Closed-mouth endoscopy was utilized to guide and assess the odontoplastic measures. It has become a valuable tool for better understanding the functionality of occlusal patterns, the process of mastication, and equine dental physiology as a whole.