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Supernumerary teeth are relatively uncommon occurrences in horses and, when present, usually occur in the permanent incisors or cheek teeth, with supernumerary “wolf” and canine teeth rarely diagnosed. The presence of supernumerary incisors which are usually of normal morphology (ie, termed supplemental supernumerary teeth) can cause displacements of the normal incisors with development of diastemata and periodontal disease. In addition, overgrowths will occur on incisors that are not in occlusal contact. If rostrally (labially) displaced onto the gingiva, supernumerary incisors can be extracted, but when present palatally to the normal incisor arcade, extraction is difficult and should be avoided if possible. Supernumerary cheek teeth may be of normal morphology or may be connated (ie, are large structures composed of a number of vestigial teeth). They most commonly occur at the caudal aspect of the maxillary cheek teeth rows. Their presence may give rise to a variety of clinical problems, such as malocclusion, food pocketing, and deep periodontal disease that may even lead to maxillary sinusitis. Overgrowths can occur on supernumerary cheek teeth and may cause soft tissue trauma to the cheeks and tongue which may render normal mastication difficult and, in some cases, impossible. These teeth may also result in eruption abnormalities from mechanical obstruction. In the presence of periodontal disease, diastemata, or sinusitis, extraction of the supernumerary tooth is indicated. If possible, this is best performed per os. Where significant periodontal disease is not present, reduction of overgrowths on the unopposed supernumerary cheek teeth is indicated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Diastema (plural, diastemata; Greek: “an interval”) is the presence of a detectable interdental space between adjacent incisor or cheek teeth. Diastema of the cheek teeth (CT) is a major differential diagnosis for quidding in horses, particularly in those with no obvious dental overgrowths on oral examination. Equine CT diastemata is a difficult and frustrating condition to treat and is currently underdiagnosed in equine practice due, in part, to the difficulty of reliable clinical examination of the erupted crowns, especially of the caudal cheek teeth. Diastema of the incisors is less common and also causes less severe clinical signs when present. In this article, we describe the etiology, pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnosis, and current treatment options for this condition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An ex-vivo study was performed on vertically mounted equine maxillary cheek teeth that had caries of 30 infundibulae, using high and low speed contra-angle dental drills and Hedstrom files to debride infundibular food debris and carious dental tissues. This technique effectively debrided 27/30 infundibulae with a mean depth of 19 mm (range 9.4–34.3 mm) as assessed by computed tomographic (CT) imaging. The debrided infundibulae were treated with sodium hypochlorite, EDTA and a bonding agent, and then then filled in layers with endodontic restoration materials. Further CT imaging and direct examination of sectioned restored teeth showed 6/30 infundibulae, including three that were incompletely debrided, to have defects between the restoration and the infundibular wall/apex. Twenty-one of the remaining 24 infundibulae contained air bubbles, largely within restorations. It is concluded that the use of drills and Hedstrom files is effective in debriding carious infundibulae but improved techniques and materials are required to more effectively fill infundibulae with restorative material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]