| dc.description.abstract | The aim of this thesis named ‘Current insights on incidence, diagnosis and treatment of
EOTRH in literature and clinical investigation’ was to provide detailed information about
aetiology and possible approaches in diagnosis and clinical management of equine
odontoclast tooth resorption and hypercementosis that is comprehensible on the basis of
undergraduate Veterinary studies. Furthermore, the author intends to raise awareness for this
most widely unfamiliar and undetected periodontal disease of equine incisor and canine teeth
in general and among certain age groups, gender and breeds. Alternatives to conservative
treatments are also presented in this work.
Diagnosis and treatment recommendations, as found in international literature, were
compared with 19 case studies and analyses of 131 dental charts of different horses of the
dental station of the private veterinary clinic in Gessertshausen, Germany.
EOTRH was found in greater amounts in male, middle aged, European warmblood horses,
with progression of the disease from corner to medial and central incisors and independent
occurrence of the disease in canine teeth. Clinical alterations of the gingiva appear only in
more progressed cases; therefore early diagnosis can only be made by means of radiographic
pictures. First signs of resorption and hypercementotic enlargement of the tooth root can be
depicted slightly labial/palatal of the apex.
Conservative treatment consists of shortening of mildly affected incisor teeth, preferably with
concomitant periodontal treatment and extraction of severely diseased teeth to alleviate pain
and prevent infection of further teeth. Antiphlogistics should be applied in case of tooth
extractions, accompanied by antibiosis in horses with severe periodontal changes. Follow-up
interviews with owners revealed that extraction of severely affected teeth results in
improvement of the horse’s well being.
Within the clinical survey, the average age of the patients was 20 years and certain horse
breeds like Icelandic horses, Haflingers and Arabian horses were commonly affected besides
European warmblood breeds. Alternative treatments like application of medicinal leeches on
inflamed areas, as well as feeding of additives like medicinal fungi were found to be a
possibility for concomitant therapy if only mild gingivitis and periodontitis were present.
But further monitoring of the cases with radiographic images, a larger group of patients and a
longer observation period would be necessary to obtain objective results.
A check list for veterinary practitioners sums up the most important steps to a reliable
diagnosis and a dental chart as used by practitioners in Gessertshausen can be also found. | en |
