Supernumerary cheek teeth (n = 24): clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and outcome in 15 horses.
BACKGROUND
There are few reports of case series of horses with supernumerary cheek teeth (SCT) that document clinical findings, treatment and long-term outcome.


OBJECTIVE
To review the clinical and ancillary diagnostic findings and responses to different treatments in horses with SCT.


METHODS
The case records of 15 horses were reviewed and long-term outcomes obtained by telephone interview.


RESULTS
Fifteen horses with a total of 24 SCT were identified. Two SCT were incidental findings and were not treated. Clinical signs were improved or resolved in 11 of 13 of the teeth treated conservatively and all 6 treated by extraction had a favourable outcome. Four horses were subjected to euthanasia within a short period of diagnosis, either due to a poor prognosis at the outset or failure to respond to initial conservative treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Some SCT are chance findings and do not cause clinical signs. In those instances where clinical signs of dental disease are mild, conservative treatment including the management of diastema and reduction of overgrowths is often effective. Horses with severe clinical signs attributable to an SCT are likely to require extraction of the offending tooth.


CONCLUSIONS
An SCT is an uncommon dental anomaly but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cases with signs of severe dental disease. The preferred management for SCT is very variable and determined by the severity of the associated changes, but ranges from conservative measures through forceps extraction per os to major facial flap surgery.
Quinn
G C
GC
Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK.
Tremaine
W H
WH
Lane
J G
JG
D000818:Animals; D003970:Diastema / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D014096:Tooth, Supernumerary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome