Current insight on incidence, diagnosis and treatment of EOTRH in literature and clinical investigation

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.