One of the most common dental problems that horses suffer from is rough and/or sharp edges to their teeth, the molars in particular. These sharp enamel points occur naturally as the teeth erupt (grow) and are worn down by chewing.
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The enamel points will prevent the side-to-side movement of the horse's jaw, required when grinding food.
Left: Frontal view of mandible during the chewing cycle. |
Rough/sharp edges on the buccal (Outside) edge of the upper molars can cut into the inside of the horse's cheek. This obviously leads to discomfort for the horse but can also cause infection and mouth ulcers.
Rough/sharp edges on the lingual (Inside) edge of the bottom molars can cut into the horses tongue when chewing. This will cause pain and discomfort for the animal, especially when it comes to eating.
Teeth with rough/sharp edges can easily be treated with the use of a rasp by a professional equine dentist.
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