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Often heard to stress the value of using metallic markers in certain cases
Here is an example ..
This pony had been seen by a number of vets and had a lengthy history before arriving
It took about 15 minutes to show that the problem was in fact a dead and infected tooth.
Within a week the hole in his face had healed ( it had been there for a long time ) despite the owners best efforts to find a solution.
So just an example of how metallic markers can be useful.
Just another example of why we take and interpret good quality X-rays ( dental images ) both to help with diagnosis and to aid in surgery planning.
In this patient with infection of a canine tooth we suspected that there would be a significant lesion in the centre of the tooth weakening it and making the possibility of fracture mid surgery more likely. After confirming this with the use of X-rays ( shown here ) we were able to work carefully and avoid fracture during surgery which makes a big difference to the speed of the total surgery and to the ease of the procedure and the patients comfort overall.
Patient arrived today for surgery with some pre existing oral trauma, here are a few before and after photos.
Just something a few people may want to think about ..
Think you know dentistry? 🤔 maybe…
Busy day again in Tasmanias north
Busy surgery day in Northern tasmania
Good day in the sun after the last 24 hours
Pulp exposure demonstration of the depth of the open root canal 🦷
Pulp exposure is very very very common, here are just a few examples from yesterday. To explain pulp exposure means that a tooth has an open root canal 🦷. Now not all pulp exposures are Equal however many are painful and they need to be correctly identified and investigated ( which requires the use of dental X-rays ) Finding a small black hole in a small black space can be one of the more challenging aspects of dentistry IN FACT we see many many misdiagnosed cases ( meaning horses diagnosed with that are WITHOUT and that can mean without our involvement SURGERY to remove healthy teeth ) NOT a great idea as we see it AND people not understanding the anatomy of the tooth correctly and diagnosing another NORMAL structure as pulp exposure AGAIN often leading to distress for owners and poor advice or even unnecessary surgery. EQUALLY we see it being missed sometimes in the same horses… SO don’t ignore pulp exposure and make sure you get the RIGHT eyes 👀 to look.
Wether it’s X-ray imaging or examining a patient it’s important to assess things from multiple points of view. In X-ray terms this is called taking orthogonal views and that’s because the structures being examined have many angles shapes or facets where as the images produced show only 2 dimensional representations of the structures that we are interested in.
The same applies when examining a patient and in some cases there will be crossover …. Meaning that there are shapes or structures we can see using using imaging tools like X-rays that cannot be detected during a visual exam.
In much the same way a “ simple “ dental mirror can be used to visualise issues not otherwise detected on oral exam because it allows us to change the angle and therefore the perspective.
Here are a few different types of examples
Questions?
Fire away
Spotting the difference between normal and not normal isn’t as hard as you’d think 🤔
EXCEPT you have to know where to look 👀
Explaining that an X-ray image as a 2 dimensional representation of a 3 dimensional shape such that it can not be interpreted beyond its capabilities …. As usual Ruby steps in and helps to make the point clearer.
Sometimes we still hear people repeating advice about EOTRH ( the condition pictured ) which recommends that it’s ok to leave horses without treatment or that it’s ok and not painful for the horse.
Here is a case with shows how the pus from infection oozes out as soon as we start to move and remove these teeth. 🦷
It’s horses like the one pictured who benefit from having smart owners and the correct advice that get relief from this painful, silent and debilitating disease. If you are unsure what eotrh is then why don’t you ask us, or better yet use the resources available on our website to learn about it.
Say Ahhh
How excited are we about this morning ? This excited 😆
Good 24hours with Lee Davis of Lee Davis Horsemanship, a few snap shots from that time. Lee and Nadeen have been utilising our services for many years and have become good friends. Both Lee and Nadeen are always interested in opportunities to learn and grow and each takes the time to watch and listen each year to observe the horses that come through and learn about what might be affecting them. Like the other switched on hosts and trainers across the region.
Compare. The pair
These are both X-ray images of the same patient
The differences are due to the techniques being applied to achieve the images.
Still misunderstand and perhaps think that an X-ray is an X-ray is an X-ray?.
Or just as importantly that anyone can read and interpret those X-rays?
Hopefully it is clear to you that the two images are very different and offer very different levels of detail. Both are good quality images but provide very different levels of detail.
As I’ve said recently … my role is to examine, distill the information, process it, analyse the clues and then formulate a plan and resolve the issues ..
Here’s just one of todays more common issues from start to finish.
Again however it is a nice simple example of what is happening daily
When people say “ Oh I know someone who had a horse with something like that “
…. Chances are they are confused 🫤 not always but often
More to dentistry than you might think 🤔
Probably time to do some thinking then 🧐
www.AED.vet
No. We are not just like everyone else
My job is to correctly identify, unpack and resolve the stuff others will tell you they know how to….
Currently I’m doing that in Tasmania, in part because tasmania does not have a another Dental veterinarian like myself so I come back each year to problem solve.
Injuries to the mouth are probably more common than you might think 🤔 Horse owned by kind, conscientious and very caring owner. This is the second patient I have seen in a few days with some sort of bitting related Trauma. The only way to truly know what’s going in is to go ahead with regular dental exams, and even sometimes checks between scheduled appointments. In this particular case the horse became loose and trod on the rein, the wound to the back has exposed the jaw bone.
As Doozle. When I want to explain something Ruby comes to the party on the visuals. Here she is trying to help you all understand how confusing it can be to choose a dental care provider … because many of you while needing the wolf end up with the confused “ sheep “ to the right and think you have chosen wisely …
Haven’t paid your bill or deposit yet?
Just remember no one wants a visit from our debt collector 😉
Do horses get calculus build up?
…. Well given I’m not that good with photoshop I’ll just let you decide
The first Tasmanian referral case has arrived for 2024s trip thanks to Dr Helen Law from Longford Vet Clinic in Tassie’s North and it’s a Doozy. Even if it’s wrapped in a small package. It’s a small pony with a history of a snotty nose. These cases are complex and require a number of things from experience, equipment, patience and some times lateral thinking 🤔.
Having now been coming annually to tasmania for these trips and cases long enough to have seen pony club kids become pony club parents we bring a little of all of the above 🙂
And yet still many will miss the point of this …. And make some erudite comment such as “ if I had a serious problem then… I’d be off to see you.. “
The “ team “ some more professional than others 😉
Melbourne, VIC
3000
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Pulp exposure demonstration of the depth of the open root canal 🦷
People often ask question such as how will a patient cope without a tooth or teeth post surgery. Or comment that a serious dental problem would lead to a horse showing serious outward signs of the problem. In fact in most cases of dental disease affecting horses the opposite is true, it’s hard to comprehend given a horse with a foot abscess is often 3 legged lame, but it’s true all the same. Most horses with serious dental problems ( what are we calling serious? ) broken jaws, fractured teeth, root canal infection, tooth root abscesses etc. show little or no outward signs of the problem. And while recovery from each surgery is an individual journey many are like the patient shown … quick to recover.
A fracture through the front tooth of a horse, the fracture runs through the root canal exposing the sensitive nerve tissue to air, water and bacteria
Ouch
A “ little “ pocket in another complex case belonging to another dedicated owner
A case from today that would be representative of many. An older horse with a cheek tooth affected by gum disease which has reached a stage where the solution is tooth removal. There was some mobility in the tooth 🦷 present prior to starting to remove it. Hopefully 🙏 a few of you might watch or share witha vet interested in dentistry to encourage them to seek good support from an experienced clinic ( such as ours ) on cases like these. www.AED.vet
Shortly after the complex extraction of a dead infected cheek tooth 🦷 …. Eating fine
Tooth death 💀 tooth infection is common. What happens next varies .. One possible and not unusual outcome is that cells that form part of the tooth react and produce more dental material ( a cementoma ) You can perhaps think about this ( visualise this ) as a large ball of concrete on the base of a fence post. More to dentistry than you might have thought? 💭 www.AED.vet
Often we are asked if/how horses cope after surgery to remove teeth. Here is a short video taken within just 1-2 hours of the completion of surgery to remove a painful dead infected cheek tooth. 🦷 the patient shows no outward signs of discomfort nor difficulty eating.
Commonly we are asked if/how horses will cope post surgery without some teeth. Even in the immediate post op period ( as in the first few hours after surgery ) many exhibit no signs of difficulty with eating nor pain. Look at todays other posts for some information on these common surgeries As you will see and hopefully agree if you watch the videos of these patients post op they display no signs of discomfort or difficulty eating with the removal of the painful teeth.
Perio Perio Perio Oh Oh.. still the number 1 disease affecting horses of ALL age groups So pretty important thing to KNOW about as a horse owner 🐴 More here www.AED.vet
When you’re not the outdoor type ;)
Watch until the end to learn her secret
This is Monty He has had previous surgeries to remove all of his front teeth and a lower canine tooth. Yesterday afternoon he underwent surgery to remove the remaining lower canine. This is him eating his dinner last night .. For the skeptics. 😉 E.o.t.r.h challenging disease, but with the right advice the horses do amazingly well www.AED.vet
A couple of interesting cases this morning in and around Seymour Victoria referred by Drs Jess Kaczmerak and Alice Nixon of Seymour Equine Clinic. Watch the Vid …. And Wait for it….
Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption & Hypercementosis or E.O.T.R.H for short. This is a disease with some knowns and many unknowns, it affects a number of horses 🐎 once they reach late teens and on. Whilst not all horses with EOTRH will have the same form or be affected in exactly the same way clinically, it is a progressive, painful and often debilitating disease. There is no cure BUT there is effective treatment available. With more awareness of this disease many more affected patients are being identified ( and hopefully helped ). Just take a moment to consider however the importance of a correct diagnosis for these horses A. Because failure to diagnose it means affected horses suffer in silence B. Because an incorrect diagnosis means a healthy patient undergoes unnecessary surgery and the removal of healthy teeth.🦷 To learn more check out this video and others or visit us at www.AED.vet
It’s a disease you may have heard about, however the other question you should be asking yourself is how much experience does the clinician talking to you about it actually have? Which practice was the first to document and bring to the attention of the veterinary profession EOTRH in Australia ? Want a hint ? www.AED.vet
Melbourne Animal Specialist Hospital
Maroondah Highway
