Cornerstone Equine Dental Services LLC

Cornerstone Equine Dental Services LLC Complete dental care for all equines, big or small! By Appointment only

Very nicely said!
06/12/2025

Very nicely said!

June is full!!šŸŒž July is limited, and have begun scheduling for August!Just a reminder, sedation is REQUIRED to be availa...
05/30/2025

June is full!!šŸŒž July is limited, and have begun scheduling for August!

Just a reminder, sedation is REQUIRED to be available (doesn't mean every horse needs sedated, but just so a plan is in place if they do need it) scheduling me with your vet or having dorm oral are both great easy options

05/30/2025

A horseā€™s teeth will erupt about 1/8ā€ per year. Since the upper jaw is wider than the lower, points develop on the cheek side of the upper teeth and the tongue side of the lowers

I often get asked to check if a horse ā€œneeds itā€ when the owner knows they havenā€™t been done in well over a year

Yes, yes they do

An interesting, and stinky, case
05/13/2025

An interesting, and stinky, case

Schedule update!!! šŸ˜ŽThe rest of April is completely full as well as May, unless I can get you on an existing trip in you...
04/15/2025

Schedule update!!! šŸ˜Ž
The rest of April is completely full as well as May, unless I can get you on an existing trip in your area.
Now scheduling for June! šŸŒž

Check out these massive blind wolf teeth šŸ˜³ Blind wolf teeth are not visible to the eye as they are under the gums but ca...
04/12/2025

Check out these massive blind wolf teeth šŸ˜³ Blind wolf teeth are not visible to the eye as they are under the gums but can be felt with a good palpation of the upper and lower bars. They present just as much of a problem, if not more than regular visible wolf teeth. The wolf tooth to the left is a fairly normal sized one that I broke the root tip off of (extracted in one piece) and was able to carefully pull out the pulp tissue which is circled in blue. Before you start saddle breaking babies, always make sure those pesky wolf teeth are out of the way to avoid bad behavior and pain!šŸ‘šŸ¦·

03/29/2025

Following on from our last post, hereā€™s a handy guide to average permanent eruption dates for you to save, helping you to keep track of your young horseā€™s dental changes!

03/29/2025

Are you preparing to introduce your young horse to work this spring? Itā€™s really important before you start your young horse to ensure their mouth comfort.

šŸ¦· Before the age of 5 years horses undergo significant dental changes including:

- the shedding of 24 deciduous (baby) teeth
- the eruption of 24 permanent molars, 12 incisors, possibly four canines and possibly wolf teeth.
This period generally coincides with the introduction of the bit and bridle and then ridden work.

šŸ—“ļø Regular check-ups every six months for young horses are extremely important, providing an opportunity to detect and address issues early, also paving the way to allow the horse to perform at their maximum potential.

šŸ” Common dental problems in young horses include:

Sharp Enamel Points

As horses teeth erupt and come into wear, they are gradually worn down from chewing. This natural process creates sharp enamel points that may cause painful ulcers on the cheeks and tongue. These sharp points develop on the outside of the upper cheek teeth and the inside of the lower cheek teeth. When a horse has a bit in and a bridle on, the tack can press the soft tissue against these sharp points, increasing the risk of painful soft tissue damage. Thorough rasping of the teeth removes these sharp edges and helps maintain balanced dental arcades, reducing the likelihood of future malocclusions. Because horses have hypsodont teeth, meaning their teeth continuously erupt, sharp points will keep forming over time. Regular dental treatments will give your young horse the best possible experience of a comfortable mouth as they start their career.

Problematic Wolf Teeth

Wolf teeth are small, vestigial teeth that typically erupt between 6 and 18 months of age. Wolf teeth can be present in both male and female equines. They are most commonly found on the upper jaw and rarely on the lower jaw. While the impact of wolf teeth on performance is widely debated, itā€™s traditionally common practice to remove them in young horses as they serve no useful purpose. Lower wolf teeth almost always certainly need to be removed and upper wolf teeth are usually assessed on a case-by-case basis depending on their location.

Retained Deciduous Teeth (Caps)

Retained deciduous teeth are baby teeth that are present beyond their normal shedding time, which can affect the proper eruption of adult teeth. Mobile caps or those with a clear junction between the baby and adult tooth should be extracted to prevent issues like food trapping, gum inflammation (gingivitis), or more severe problems such as periodontal disease, or even apical infections. Retained teeth may also cause dental displacements, which may lead to diastemata with periodontal disease, and soft tissue trauma if they are out of line and pressing against the cheek or tongue. However careful assessment of deciduous teeth is really important as premature removal can damage underlying adult teeth.

By prioritising early dental care, youā€™re not only ensuring your young horseā€™s comfort and willingness to accept the bit but also reducing the risk of dental disease in later life. Itā€™s a really important component of your horses overall life long wellbeing and every horse should have regular dental treatments.

Today was a super successful clinic day with a couple surprises thrown in to make it interestingšŸ˜ A huge thank you to N...
03/15/2025

Today was a super successful clinic day with a couple surprises thrown in to make it interestingšŸ˜ A huge thank you to New Visions Veterinary Service! Dr. Vanessa and her staff are amazingā¤ļø

Spring has sprung and busy season is in full swing!!! šŸ’šŸŒž Schedule update:šŸ£March: the 25th and 31st are my only available...
03/11/2025

Spring has sprung and busy season is in full swing!!! šŸ’šŸŒž Schedule update:

šŸ£March: the 25th and 31st are my only available days left.

āœļøApril: is about 50 percent full so if you need a date, get ahold of me ASAP

šŸŒ» May: starting in May, I will only be scheduling on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays. Have already started scheduling some folks for then as well.

I do not have any Saturday availability until the end of May so if you need a Saturday, please let me know!! Let riding season commencešŸ„³

02/07/2025

EOTRH stands for Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis. šŸ¦·

This is a painful and progressive condition that predominantly affects horses aged 15 years and older. It mainly affects the incisors and occasionally the canine teeth, but there has been some very rare cases of affected molar teeth.

The condition involves two primary processes:

Resorption: this is where the calcified dental tissue starts to break down by the horseā€™s own odontoclast cells reabsorbing the dental structures. This process is believed to be immune-mediated.

Hypercementosis: this is the development of excess cementum which occurs as the dental structures are reabsorbed. The body compensates by over producing cementum in an attempt to stabilise the tooth. This results in bulbous or club-like shapes forming at the apex of the tooth.

The presentation of EOTRH can vary greatly between horses. Some horses exhibit more dominant with hypercementosis, others are more dominant with resorption.
The disease may progress rapidly in some cases but slowly in others.

Due to its progressive nature, early clinical signs may be subtle or go unnoticed until the disease reaches an advanced stage.

Common symptoms include:
ā€¢Tartar buildup due to reluctance to use the incisors
ā€¢Bulbous dental structures beneath the gumline (caused by hypercementosis)
ā€¢Diastemata (gaps between teeth), leading to food entrapment, gingival recession, and periodontal disease
ā€¢Red, inflamed gums with draining tracts due to infection
ā€¢Loose, fractured, or missing teeth
ā€¢Halitosis

Affected horses often struggle to bite into carrots or pull hay from a haynet. Some may develop headshaking, and severe cases can lead to weight loss.

Diagnosis of EOTRH is confirmed through X-rays, which will reveal the extent of resorption and hypercementosis. Currently, the only effective treatment is the extraction of affected teeth by a vet. Each case requires an individualised approach depending on the severity of the disease. Horses adapt very well following extraction, and their improvement highlights the level of pain they were experiencing before treatment.

The cause of EOTRH remains unknown, current studies are exploring periodontal ligament strains, bacterial causes, occlusal pressures, and genetics, however itā€™s likely to be multi factorial. As our understanding of the disease grows with ongoing research we hope to develop more effective management strategies.

Regular incisor checks are super important to identify signs of EOTRH early. If you suspect EOTRH, consult your EDT or Vet, early intervention can help minimise discomfort for your horse!

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202 Woodlands Road
Connoquenessing, PA
16033

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