A Computed Tomographic (CT) and Pathological Study of Equine Cheek Teeth Infundibulae Extracted From Asymptomatic Horses. Part 1: Prevalence, Type and Location of Infundibular Lesions on CT Imaging.
Authors: Horbal Apryle, Smith Sionagh, Dixon Padraic M
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Infundibular Lesions in Asymptomatic Equine Cheek Teeth Infundibular disease remains a significant concern in equine dentistry, yet the subocclusal pathology present in clinically normal teeth has received limited scrutiny. Dixon's group examined 100 extracted maxillary cheek teeth using standard CT imaging (with eight specimens also analysed by microCT) to characterise the prevalence and distribution of infundibular lesions in both carious and non-carious teeth. Their findings revealed that developmental cemental hypoplasia affects 72% of infundibulae without occlusal caries, manifesting in two distinct patterns—apical cemental hypoplasia spanning the full width of the infundibulum's apex, and central linear hypoplasia running longitudinally through the central aspect—with caries subsequently developing once these lesions are exposed by normal occlusal wear. Rostral infundibulae and shorter infundibulae (particularly Triadan 09 teeth and older dentitions) showed greater susceptibility to occlusal caries, whilst some normal-appearing central vascular channels expanded substantially when viewed subocclusally, complicating diagnostic interpretation on imaging. These results emphasise that infundibular pathology often develops silently before clinical signs emerge, and that distinguishing benign vascular channels from true defects requires careful radiographic assessment—a distinction with significant implications for preventative dental management and predicting which horses may develop symptomatic infundibular disease as their dentition ages.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Infundibular lesions are extremely common in asymptomatic teeth, so their presence alone does not indicate clinical disease or necessity for extraction
- •Monitor teeth in Triadan 09 position and rostral infundibulae more closely for development of occlusal caries, as these locations are predisposed
- •Understanding that developmental cemental hypoplasia is normal and only becomes problematic when worn through to the occlusal surface may reduce unnecessary interventions
Key Findings
- •72% of maxillary cheek teeth without occlusal caries contained subocclusal developmental infundibular lesions (cemental hypoplasia and caries)
- •Shorter infundibulae (Triadan 09 position and older teeth) and rostral infundibulae showed higher prevalence of occlusal caries
- •Two main patterns of developmental cemental hypoplasia identified: apical cemental hypoplasia and central linear hypoplasia, which can progress to acquired caries when occlusally exposed
- •Central linear defects are difficult to distinguish from normal central vascular channels on CT imaging