ArizonaRealCountry.com 5 October 2018 Q: If a tooth were cracked what kind of treatment would be involved? How would you diagnose it? What would the approximate cost be for such a treatment? A: The diagnosis and management for a cracked tooth depends on many factors, including the age of the horse, which tooth is involved, the configuration of the crack, and the degree of damage and infection to the sensitive inner structures. A cracked tooth can cause any number of signs, such as discomfort when eating, a foul smell coming from the oral cavity, exter- nal swelling or drainage from the tooth root, or based on a history of oral trauma. The first step is to have a thorough oral examination performed by your vet. The only way to do this effectively is to use a spec- ulum that holds the mouth open so the vet can see clearly and explore the teeth and gums with a mirror and dental probes. This will enable them to determine if the horse has tooth decay, abnormal gaps between the teeth that trap feed, loose or abnormal teeth, periodontal pockets, and obvious fractures. If there is suspicion of a fracture, the next step would be to take some radiographs of the jaw to evaluate root involve- ment and evidence of infection. If a molar is cracked but the fissure does not involve the sensitive structures and does not appear to be infected, you may choose to simply monitor the situation. Occasionally the crack will just be a small fragment shelled off the side of the tooth that can be removed with light traction. On the other hand, the crack may be deep and quite serious. At this point some decisions must be made as to whether to pull the tooth or leave it in place. Molar extraction can be very challenging, particularly in young horses where the roots are still very long and deeply embedded in the jaw. While this procedure can be performed in a well-sedated standing horse with lots of local anesthetic and patience, some are better done under general anesthesia. Aftercare can involve regular flushing and packing changes as the socket fills in, and the horse will require regular dentistry for the rest of its life since the opposite tooth will over- grow with nothing to grind against. Never underesti- mate the potential difficulty of dental extraction! As you have probably guessed, the cost can vary widely. A straightforward case involving manual extraction of a loose fragment would barely cost more than the actual exam, while a complicated surgical procedure with extensive follow-up would be in the thousands. If you are suspicious that your horse has a crack, your first step is to ask your vet to take a careful look in there. Q: My new horse has really bad teeth and scarring on her cheeks from chewing on them while being ridden with a bad bit. Can I rub Ambesol on them so I can keep riding while waiting for the vet to come float them? A: I would not recommend using oral lidocaine gel in this situation, since it seems that the problem is not really where the bit would lie in your horse’s mouth. It could also be risky to numb an important point of communication between horse and rider. While you wait for the vet to come, you can help the situation by rinsing her mouth out with salt water several times a day, and don’t use a noseband while you ride since this would press her cheeks against the sharp edges of her cheek teeth. Incidentally, this would not be caused by a bit but is due to the daily trauma that occurs while they are trying to chew with a neglected mouth. Bit trauma results in painful sores on the corners of the lips, the palate, tongue, and lower jaw just in front of the molars, generally from poor fit, overly severe mouthpiece, and rough hands. If her teeth are in really bad shape, I would be more concerned that she is eating and drinking properly. If she is dropping wads of poorly chewed feed, I would offer her a soaked diet that will be easier to swallow until the problems can be addressed. Q: I acquired a new gelding and was told he was 9 but I have doubts about this. I understand it is hard to be accurate once they reach 8 but are there certain things with teeth you could look for that happen at certain ages other than the galvayne’s groove? A: The best way to age a horse is by examining the registration papers or tattoo. It is pretty straightforward to be able to age a horse accurately until the age of five when all of the adult teeth are present, and you can still be fairly certain until they reach 12-15 years as long as they have a normal bite alignment and have not been grazing coarse or sandy pasture. I have found that most people are not trying to mislead you if they don’t give you an accurate age for a horse- either that is how old THEY were told the horse was or they have lost track of how many years they have owned the horse. In general, registration papers are the only way to be sure! Arizona REAL COUNTRY the magazine Mike Barna Publisher mbarna@963realcountry.com (602) 622-3695 Erika Smith Royal Editor erika963realcountry@gmail.com Misty Voitovski Creative Director Contributing Writers Desiree’Byrne, Greg Dill, Charlie LeSueur, Buck Montgomery, Jim Olson, Robert Piekow, Alan Rockman, Bob Roloff, Michael Sandford, Buddy Uldrikson, Michele Wilson Arizona Real Country is owned and published by Barna Broadcasting LLC. No person, organization or party can copy or reproduce the content on our website and/or magazine or any part of this publication without a written consent from the editor’s panel and the author of the content, as applicable. The publisher, authors and contributors reserve their rights with regards to copyright of their work. Follow Arizona Real Country for news, events, giveaways and more! 801 W. Wickenburg Way Wickenburg, AZ 85390 (602) 622-3695 ArizonaRealCountry.com Ask the Vet SAY CHEESE! BASICALLY, DETERMINING THE AGE OF A HORSE INVOLVES ASSESSING SEVERAL FACTORS: Look for the presence of baby teeth or “caps” on the incisors which are shed at certain ages until five years of age. The shape and alignment of the incisors- young horse teeth are more “square” and tend to meet vertically, while an aged horse’s incisors are long and narrow and meet at a protruding angle. Examination of the incisor surfaces for shape -young horses have oval teeth while old horses are triangular and the presence of surface markings at certain wear stages (dental “stars” and “cups” which are internal structures that are revealed as the teeth wear down). Also look for the presence of certain structures that are typically evident during certain periods (galvaynes groove, the “seven year hook”).