Summary

# Editorial Summary Over a three-year period, Pollaris and colleagues conducted bi-annual dental examinations on 36 horses to track the progression of occlusal fissures on cheek teeth and determine whether these represent a genuine precursor to crown fractures. Of 785 fissures monitored (categorised as type 1a, 1b, or 2), 59 subsequently developed into partial crown fractures, with type 2 fissures carrying the highest risk (odds ratio 14.27) followed by type 1b fissures, and all fissure types proving statistically significant predictors of fracture development (p < 0.001). Mandibular teeth and the lingual tooth surface emerged as additional risk factors, whilst encouragingly, none of the 72 recorded partial crown fractures progressed to complicated fractures or endodontal disease during the study period. For practitioners, this longitudinal evidence validates monitoring of occlusal fissures as clinically worthwhile—particularly type 2 fissures on lower molars—though the low rate of pulpal involvement even in fractured teeth suggests a cautious approach to intervention is warranted, focusing on serial observation rather than prophylactic extraction of fissured but otherwise sound teeth.

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Key Findings

• •785 fissures were monitored over 3 years; 59 evolved into partial crown fractures (7.5% progression rate)
• •Type 2 fissures carried highest fracture risk (OR=14.27) followed by type 1b (OR not specified) compared to type 1a
• •Mandibular cheek teeth and lingual tooth surfaces were significantly more prone to fracture development (p<0.001)
• •All 72 recorded partial crown fractures were non-complicated with no progression to endodontal disease during follow-up

Conditions Studied

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