Tooth decay
QMy vet said my horse has caries. She has already had to have one fractured tooth removed. How should I manage this issue to prevent problems down the road?
Kelly Simpson, Oxon
James says: Caries (pronounced cah-reeas) is a decay of the tooth. Teeth are graded on the severity of the decay and it is caused by a number of factors, but diet is a prevalent cause, as well as diastemas (gaps between the teeth), which trap food. As that food rots, it produces enzymes which eat away at the enamel. The tooth not producing enough ‘cementum’ where the food gets stuck on the chewing surfaces also has an impact.
Dealing with caries
Depending on the grade, the first thing to address is to see what we can change to eliminate the decay from getting further into the tooth, usually in the form of removing as much sugar content from the horse’s diet as possible, and having that horse live in the most natural way it can, with a lot of natural grazing. Also, the horse’s ability to wear his/her molars down evenly in a lateral motion and produce enough saliva when chewing will decrease the chances of caries.
Routine procedure
The treatment of caries has advanced greatly in recent years, and procedures by veterinary dentistry specialists are now routine; it’s nearly the same as us getting a filling.
If the caries has become severe, this can lead to infection in the pulp of the horse’s tooth, and lead to an apical infection (at the root). At this point, the horse will require an extraction.
Caries can be detected by your EDT and managed over many years without it worsening; but if this isn’t the case, the tooth will require filling or extraction.