Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis is a painful, progressive equine dental condition. It is most commonly diagnosed in older equine patients (over 15 years of age). Initially, EOTRH is characterized by resporption (or loss) of the bone and tissue surrounding the roots of a horse’s incisors (front teeth) and canine teeth. These unstable teeth are often brittle and prone to fracture (breaking). The condition is also often characterized by proliferation of cementum, a type of dental tissue, leading to a bulbous enlargement of the affected tooth roots. Currently, the cause of this condition is unknown.
Photo of a horse with EOTRH demonstrating characteristic gingival lesions (red circle), bulging gingiva (blue circle), and an unstable, exposed tooth root surrounded by proliferating cementum (green circle).
How is EOTRH diagnosed?
Signs of EOTRH are often subtle and stem from incisor pain. Some horse owners notice a change in behavior when bridling their horse, or an increase in headshaking behavior. Others may notice the horse dunking their hay or having difficulty biting into hard treats such as carrots or apples. Weight loss and resistance to having the mouth or teeth examined can also sometimes be attributed to EOTRH.
A veterinarian may suspect EOTRH on an oral exam based on the presence of red pimple-like lesions on the gingiva (gums), gingival recession, or a bulbous appearance in this region.
Definitive diagnosis of EOTRH requires radiographs of the incisors and canine teeth. These images are then used to identify affected teeth, stage the disease, and guide the best approach to treatment.
Radiograph showing characteristic resorption (blue circle) and hypercementosis (red circle) in a horse with EOTRH.
Radiograph of a different horse, not suffering from EOTRH.
How is EOTRH treated?
The recommended treatment for EOTRH is surgical extraction of affected teeth in order to provide relief from this painful condition. This procedure is typically done in a standing, sedated horse. The use of local anesthesia ensures that the horse remains comfortable during this procedure. Following a brief recovery period, these patients do remarkably well and can return to grazing and being ridden normally. Many owners report a noticeable improvement in their horse’s attitude, and many horses gain weight once these painful teeth have been extracted.
