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Shear Mouth in a Horse from Broken Tooth
- Nick Moore DVM
- May 25
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 8
In equine dentistry, it’s rare that a case involves just one simple issue. Horses often present with multiple interconnected problems—ranging from painful dental infections to long-term occlusal imbalances—all of which need to be addressed together. This is a perfect example of why modern equine dental care must be integrated, team-based, and thoughtful.
More Than Just a Tooth: The Bigger Picture
In the case we’re sharing today, a horse was referred to us with a draining tract on the lower jaw, a red flag that usually points to a dental origin—often a deeply infected tooth or, more rarely, a fractured jaw. While the visible problem may seem localized, the underlying causes often run much deeper.
Before jumping into treatment, we took a series of radiographs to ensure there was no jaw fracture. That's always step one—because the last thing you want to do is apply a speculum and risk worsening a fracture. Thankfully, in this case, there was no jaw break, but the imaging clearly showed a badly abscessed and fractured tooth with possible sequestrum (dead bone) involvement.
Occlusion Matters: Understanding How Horses Compensate
We often emphasize that dentistry isn’t just about extraction or restoration—it’s about balance. When a horse experiences dental pain, it may stop chewing on one side entirely. This shifts occlusal forces to the other side, leading to overgrowths, misalignments, and changes in table angles.
In this case, we observed the horse’s jaw was not centered—a clear sign of compensation. One side of the mouth showed 100% occlusion while the other had instant separation, indicating a long-term chewing imbalance.
Upon closer inspection, the teeth on the painful side had much steeper table angles and longer clinical crowns compared to the opposite side. All of these changes were secondary effects of the original dental problem—and unless we addressed the occlusion, removing the tooth alone wouldn’t solve the long-term issue.
The Surgical Plan: More Than Extraction
Once we confirmed the jaw was stable, we moved forward with a surgical plan. Using an endoscope, we examined the damaged tooth closely. It was severely broken down with almost nothing left to grab—making extraction delicate and technically challenging.
Before surgery, we numbed the horse, balanced the mouth, and began carefully removing the fragments of the tooth. This process is complex and requires years of training—especially when occlusal equilibration and advanced surgical skills are involved.
Why We Don’t Offer “How-To” Instructional Videos
We often get requests to show step-by-step procedures, but it’s important to note that these videos are not meant as instructional tools. There’s a lot of nuance and risk in equine dentistry. Without proper training, replicating what you see on video can lead to serious complications.
Instead, we focus on educating horse owners, veterinarians, and technicians about the thought process, diagnostic strategy, and the importance of integrated care.
Education & Training Resources
If this kind of work interests you, and you want to expand your skills in equine dentistry, we highly recommend attending the Academy of Equine Dentistry in Glenns Ferry, Idaho. It’s a unique environment where veterinarians and technicians learn side-by-side, focusing on high-end occlusal equilibration.
Depending on what part of the World you live in, we are happy to point you toward the right training resources, depending on your location and background. Just email us at mooredvmeducation@gmail.com, and we will help get you in touch with the right training program.
Veterinarians can also attend our courses in Texas. We offer a variety of training modules that start with Occlusal Equilibration & Diagnostics, which is a mixture of lectures and working in small groups on live horses each day. You can view more information HERE.
Final Thoughts
Equine dental problems are rarely isolated. A draining tract may lead to an extraction, but a lasting solution requires looking at how the entire mouth functions—from occlusion to bone integrity and beyond.
We hope this blog helped shed light on what goes into a complex dental case and why an integrative approach is so critical. As always, we’re here to help connect you with the right educational tools if you want to learn more.
Thanks for reading—and remember, a balanced mouth means a healthier horse.
Want to Learn More?
If you're a veterinary professional interested in learning how to perform these procedures, we offer training courses on equilibration, diagnosis, endoscopic assessment, and more. While the techniques require specialized equipment and training, they offer a high reward in clinical outcomes and client satisfaction. You can always contact us at mooredvmeducation@gmail.com or call the office at 512-508-8141.
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