109 Extraction

This 13 year old Warmblood mare had no significant history. On routine oral exam, pulp horn defects of pulp horns 2 and 4 were found of the 109. Pulp horn defects are abnormalities in the covering of the tunnel that runs through the tooth and contains blood, nerve, and lymph supply. This covering is there so that feed material and other bacteria can't enter the tooth and cause an infection. These defects can be very subtle and easy to miss without a bright light, mirror, and dental probes.

Radiographs showed apical blunting and a periapical soft tissue opacity/halo, confirming that this horse did indeed have evidence of an apical infection of the 109. The patient was standing sedated and regional anesthesia of the 100 cheek tooth quadrant was administered. The 109 was extracted orally. You can see a very obvious draining tract associated with this tooth. Post extraction radiographs confirmed a vacated alveolus of the 109. A dental impression material packing was placed in the alveolus which was removed 2 weeks later. The alveolus was approximately 20% granulated in at that point and healing well.