Maxillary Incisors of the Horse before and at the Beginning of the Teeth Shedding: Radiographic and CT Study

Abstract

To gain insight into the radiographic appearance of maxillary deciduous incisors and dental germs of maxillary permanent incisors in the period prior to teeth shedding, radiographs and computed tomography (CT) of 25 horse skulls, with an estimated age of between 12 and 42 months, were studied. Data regarding morphology and development were obtained. Dental germs of first maxillary permanent incisors were identified radiographically as rounded radiolucent areas at the level of the apical parts of the first deciduous incisors, in skulls with an estimated age of twelve months. The first sign of crown mineralization of these dental germs appeared in skulls supposedly a few months older. Before teeth shedding, the unerupted, mineralized crowns of the first permanent incisor could be identified radiographically relatively caudal to the corresponding first deciduous incisors. The results of the present study indicate that radiographic intraoral images are suitable to identify the grade of development of the dental germs of maxillary permanent incisors. A detailed description of the radiographic appearance of deciduous incisors and dental germs of permanent incisors will help clinicians to expand their knowledge for diagnostic or treatment purposes.

An application of the density standard and scaled–pixel–counting protocol to assess the radiodensity of equine incisor teeth affected by resorption and hypercementosis: preliminary advancement in dental radiography

“…Although CBCT and FBCT have a substantial agreement in detecting dental and sinus abnormalities in equine cadaver heads [ 8 ], one may observe that in the case of the living horse's head scanning FBCT was used as the preferred modality to detect signs of dental disease [ 19 , 20 ], sinonasal cysts [ 21 , 22 ], osteoma, and progressive ethmoid haematomas [ 19 ]. Some authors have compared and validated the accuracy of FBCT and radiographic imaging in detecting cheek [ 20 , 23 ] or incisor teeth [ 24 ] disorders again, on both cadaver [ 23 , 24 ] and living horse's heads [ 20 ]. Although computed tomography (CT) modality complement and overcome the limitations of two–dimensional radiographic images [ 25 ], standard radiography is widely used in equine practice for diagnoses and treatment purposes [ 26 – 28 ].…”

Advances in Animal Anatomy

“…The second research article about horses focuses on equine dentistry. The most accessible maxillary teeth of the horse, the incisors, were studied by Miró et al [ 3 ] in 25 skulls from horses aged between 12–42 months. Combining visual inspection, radiographic study and computed-tomography imaging, they investigated the development of the deciduous incisors, the dental germs of permanent incisors, and the surrounding bone, just before and up to the beginning of teeth shedding.…”