Brush Up on Equine Dental Terminology

Every specialty has its own language. From caps to canines, corners to cups, when it comes to equine dentistry, the terminology can be confusing. Brush up on basic dental terminology with this list of must-know words.

arcade – row of teeth

bars – the open spaces on the jaws between the incisors and the cheek teeth where the bit sits

canine teeth – small, pointed teeth that grow in the interdental space near the corner incisors, more commonly found in male horses; they are also called “tushes” or “tusks”

cap – a remnant of a deciduous tooth that persists atop a permanent tooth

centrals – the first centrally located upper and lower incisors

cheek teeth – a collective term for the premolars and molars

corners – the corner incisors or those located back and adjacent to the forward edge of the interdental space; sometimes called the third set of incisors

crown – the top of the tooth protruding above the gum

cup – the hollow space on the wearing surface of the incisor

deciduous teeth – temporary or baby teeth that shed when permanent teeth erupt beneath them

dental star – a star-shaped or circular structure near the center of the wearing surface of the permanent incisors

floating – filing down sharp edges on a horse’s molars using a rasp-like instrument called a float

full mouth – a complete set of permanent incisors

Galvayne’s groove – a stained vertical farrow that first appears at the gum line of the upper incisors and progresses down the tooth; once thought to be helpful in aging horses but research has wavered on its relevancy

hook – a point or peak on a tooth’s chewing surface developed through abnormal wear

incisors – the six top front teeth and six bottom front teeth, used for cutting and nipping rather than grinding

interdental space – the gum space between the incisors and the molars

laterals – the second set of incisors located between the central and corner incisors

molars – the 24 grinding teeth located along the jaws used for crushing feed; also called cheek teeth

neck of tooth – the part of the tooth between the crown and the root

occlusion – surface contact of normally aligned opposing teeth

premolars – the first three teeth in every battery of cheek teeth, sometimes referred to as molars

smooth mouth – smooth biting surface of the upper and lower incisors after the cups have disappeared at 12 years of age or older

speculum – a device used to hold open a horse’s mouth during dental procedures

wolf teeth – one of up to four rudimentary teeth occasionally present in front of the first molar; because of their shallow roots, removal is quick and uncomplicated