Equine Teeth

Research shows that horses will graze at least 16 hours per day if allowed and will tend to wear their teeth down evenly without developing uneven ridges, waves, or tooth hooks. On the other hand, stabled horses with mixed diets of forage and concentrates are far more likely to develop irregularities in their teeth and consequently need regular dental care.

The crowns of equine teeth are covered by a hard mineral-rich enamel. The roots are covered by a calcified tissue called cementum. The cementum is the source of the collagen fibres which attach the tooth to the gum or gingiva of the teeth. Cementum is joined to the enamel at the cemento-enamel junction.  The next layer in the equine tooth is the dentin, which is a calcified collagen tissue produced by cells called odontoblasts. The dentin extends right through the root and up into the tooth crown. Finally, equine teeth have an inner core of pulp, which is highly vascularized, extends throughout the entire crown/root structure, and is attached to the lymphatic system of the horse.

The teeth of the horse are arranged in a pattern that includes 12 incisors — six on the top and six on the bottom — as well as a mature potential of 12 molars on each of the top and bottom arcades. The molars or cheek teeth are comprised of three premolars and three molars for a total of six molars in each quadrant. All four quadrants and all of the teeth within them are numbered for identification according to the modified triadan system. Teeth are usually identified by their quadrant and a