Removal of 11 incompletely erupted, impacted cheek teeth in 10 horses using a dental alveolar transcortical osteotomy and buccotomy approach.
Authors: Tremaine W Henry, McCluskie Laura K
Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS
Summary
# Editorial Summary Impacted cheek teeth—those failing to erupt properly—present a significant clinical challenge in equine dentistry, often causing pain, quidding, and performance issues that are difficult to diagnose without advanced imaging. Tremaine and McCluskie reviewed ten cases from 2002–2008 in which horses underwent surgical removal of eleven impacted molars using a transcortical osteotomy combined with buccotomy (an approach involving bone removal and buccal mucosa incision), detailing both the surgical technique and post-operative outcomes. All teeth were successfully extracted, with three horses developing transient mandibular swelling that resolved spontaneously; notably, every horse returned to its previous level of work or use. This technique offers practitioners a reliable, evidence-based surgical option for managing impacted cheek teeth that fail to respond to conservative management, with favourable long-term prognosis and minimal permanent complications—information particularly valuable for practitioners working with performance horses where early intervention can prevent secondary issues from abnormal mastication and pain-related behavioural changes.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Transcortical buccotomy is a reliable surgical option for removing unerupted impacted cheek teeth in horses with good functional outcomes
- •Expect transient mandibular swelling in roughly 30% of cases, which resolves without intervention
- •Horses can return to work following this procedure with appropriate post-operative management
Key Findings
- •11 impacted cheek teeth were successfully removed from 10 horses using transcortical osteotomy and buccotomy approach
- •3 of 10 horses (30%) experienced residual mandibular swelling post-operatively, which resolved completely
- •All 10 horses returned to previous use following surgical recovery
- •Transcortical buccotomy technique demonstrated good long-term prognosis for remission of clinical signs associated with impacted cheek teeth