ABSTRACT
Introduction An examination of the oral cavity should be performed using a full mouth speculum (gag) to enable a thorough visual and digital examination. Diseases affecting the oral cavity may not result in clinical signs until quite advanced, and a cursory look into the oral cavity can easily result in diseases in their early stages being overlooked. Many horses will require sedation in order to complete this procedure thoroughly and safely; alpha-2 agonists such as romifidine, detomidine, and xylazine, in combination with opiate partial agonists such as butorphanol, at standard doses, are suitable for this. A bright light source is essential and head torches are a convenient way of illuminating the oral cavity for examination. The examination is best conducted in the sedated horse with the horse’s head supported on a head-stand or suspended halter. The occlusal surfaces and buccal palatal margins of all teeth should be inspected; subsequently, a dental mirror is used to demonstrate the occlusal surfaces and interproximal spaces. In addition, digital palpation should be performed to detect defects that may be obscured by the tongue, and the teeth should be counted carefully to avoid missing supernumerary teeth. Lesions are identified and `recorded (e.g. on a dental chart) and a treatment plan formulated that may be staged on different occasions for complicated treatments. Dental defects should be recorded using the Triadan system (742) and dental charts are a convenient method of doing this. A more detailed examination of the occlusal surfaces of the caudal cheek teeth can be performed with the assistance of an endoscope.
