My horse had a loose tooth today. Vet came and “pulled it” but it appears to have been partly fracture previously (based on appearance of an older fracture?). It broke off at the gum line basically. He’s 29. Vet said the gum will heal over the remaining root. I’m terrified of infection or issues with the remaining root. He said it would really disrupt the teeth next to it to dig out the root. Should I stop stressing?
Listen to your vet and stop stressing. 
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My horse did the same…hers broke off in slabs until the whole crown was gone. Vet suggested removing it…they would have to go through the sinus since there was nothing to grasp inside the mouth. I drug my feet…she was eating fine. No smell or drainage. We keep a close eye on it and her teeth need to be done at least 2x per year due to the unopposed lower tooth but so far so good. I just couldn’t see subjecting her to the oral surgery if she wasn’t having a problem. IF it gets infected or she has problems, it will come out but as long as she remains infection free, I am going to leave it alone. It has been a 1 1/2 years since the crown broke off completely (she was 21 at that time).
Susan
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Thank you! He didn’t tell me what would be involved. Other than “the root is solid and I don’t want to dig it out. It will disrupt the adjacent teeth”. Since this is incisors at least it will be easy to just do those as needed due to the lack of opposing tooth. Easier than back tooth! Thank you for sharing your story. That eases my mind. I Googled but got human results too even though I include the word equine / horse. And I wasn’t finding much solid info.
I have a horse with some fractured teeth and at least one they suggested be removed. I have not done anything. She is eating well (if not too well) and always on a diet.
If it causes an issue, I will have it removed. There are risks to removal and it would be a major surgery and possibly open up a hole to the sinus.
Would a bottom tooth have the same risk to the sinus?
I worry about it causing pain or infection by remaining. Maybe I am over stressing. I just assumed we’d have to get it all out and when we didn’t I was shocked.
Bottom teeth are safer to remove because they aren’t near the sinus.
There was nothing to grab so I don’t know how we’d have got it out. And certainly the teeth next to it would probably be compromised. Especially one of them as it was the outer incisor. I guess I just have to wait and see.
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At that age there probably is not much root left. I don’t know if there is enough tooth left to keep erupting or not. I would keep an eye on it and the opposing tooth, which might not have much left either. Since the horse is not using the tooth to chew you might be alright, but I would watch for an abscess.
Edited to add - you might get a syringe to keep the hole (where the tooth used to be) flushed out so food does not pack in there. You can use a dilute mix of water and antibiotic to flush. That would help discourage an infection.
I don’t think much root left either. I asked the vet if it would continue to erupt and he said probably not. I’m suppose to flush with salt water this week. He expected the gum to close over it. Fingers crossed!
There are few equine veterinarians who have training and expertise in dental diagnosis and surgical procedures. It is not a subject that receives much attention in vet school or even in equine surgical residency training. I just yesterday had a conversation about this with my equine dental practitioner, who has specialty certification in equine dentistry following vet school and equine surgical residency. In fact there are only two such dental trained vets in my part of the southeast. I’d be looking for one to see my horse.
Just like human dentists, if I had a problem with a broken tooth below the gumline I’d look for a board certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, not a general dentist who makes a living doing fillings.
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I have one, in my own mouth. Part of a root still down in there. No one is worried about, not the dentist or the oral surgeon.
I suppose there could be an issue, but it likely will be just fine for your horse too.
That’s funny. My vet said he has one in his mouth too. I think I’m mostly worried about it suddenly popping an abscess. I’m very much the worrying / anxious type. And it didn’t occur to me that leaving the root would even be possible.
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My vet is very much trained in dentistry. I honestly think it’s his favorite part of his work. Obviously there are some surgical parts of dentistry that I’d have to go the university / clinic to have done. I may consult with the vet at the university, but I’d absolutely say that my vet has much more dental training than an average vet. He’s done my horse’s teeth since he was 7 and he’s 29 and still chewing and eating hay!
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A remaining piece of root can indeed cause issues. My mini had a tooth pulled 18 months ago and a piece of root remained causing complications. I would get a second opinion.
Just because a vet is a good tooth floater does not necessarily mean he or she is trained, knowledgable or experienced in equine dental surgery. I think most people just assume their beloved equine vet is trained and experienced in all things horse.
DVM’s vary in training and experience, just as MD’s do. And equating equine dentistry to human dentistry using human anecdotes about one’s retained tooth roots makes little sense to me.
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I understand. I also understand my vet’s dentistry background and training and it’s way better than the average vet. I am consulting with the university vets on this issue. But I also wanted some real life feedback which I did receive in this thread. I balance my choices for my horse on a lot of feedback, real life feedback and also his age. Thank you for your recommendation, I had already planned on consulting with the university and my vet said he would as well just to get me piece of mind. Thanks.
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To update: my vet did discuss with a equine dentist and that Dr also said to leave the root alone at this point.
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Jingling that your boy does not have any issues with the root bit going forward!
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Thanks. I’m sure there is a chance, but right now I will wait and see and listen to my boy. I can tell when something is bothering him. In hindsight I had signs about this tooth as well. I just couldn’t identify what was bothering him. It didn’t occur to me to check his mouth because he was eating well. I’m bummed I couldn’t find it, but thankful that I eventually did.
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