Computed tomographic assessment of equine maxillary cheek teeth anatomical relationships, and paranasal sinus volumes.
Authors: Liuti Tiziana, Reardon Richard, Dixon Paddy M
Journal: The Veterinary record
Summary
# Editorial Summary Disorders of the equine maxillary cheek teeth and paranasal sinuses are clinically prevalent, yet objective anatomical reference data remain scarce—particularly regarding how these structures change with age. Liuti, Reardon and Dixon performed computed tomography and gross examination on 60 normal cadaver heads stratified by age to characterise the three-dimensional positioning of individual maxillary cheek teeth, their relationships with the infraorbital canal and maxillary septum, and the volumetric dimensions of individual sinus compartments. The rostral maxillary sinus accommodated the alveoli of Triadan 10 teeth in 60% of cases; the infraorbital canal's proximity to the medial alveolar apex varied significantly with age; and the Triadan 11 exhibited substantial rostral drift with maturity, shifting a mean of 2.48 cm (clinical crown) and 2.83 cm (apex) more rostral in horses aged over 15 years compared to those under 6 years, reflecting continued eruption and reserve crown attrition. Sinus compartment volumes demonstrated considerable variation, from 175 cm³ in the caudal maxillary sinus to just 4 cm³ in the ethmoidal sinus. These anatomical reference values provide essential diagnostic benchmarks for evaluating dental and sinus pathology and should inform treatment planning across all equine disciplines, whilst establishing a foundation for future comparative studies in diseased populations.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Understanding age-related anatomical changes in tooth positioning and sinus relationships is critical for accurate diagnosis of dental and sinus pathology on imaging
- •Rostral drift of maxillary cheek teeth increases significantly with age; this must be considered when evaluating tooth position and designing treatment approaches
- •Reference values for normal sinus compartment volumes provide baseline data to help identify abnormal sinus enlargement or pathological changes on CT examination
Key Findings
- •Triadan 10 alveoli lay fully or partially in the rostral maxillary sinus in 60% of cases examined
- •The infraorbital canal lay directly on the medial aspect of alveolar apex in younger horses, with anatomical relationships changing with age
- •Triadan 11 clinical crowns and apices drifted mean 2.48 cm and 2.83 cm more rostral in horses >15 years old compared to <6 years old
- •Sinus compartment volumes ranged from 175 cm³ for caudal maxillary sinus to 4 cm³ for ethmoidal sinus