Horse's Teeth
Teeth And Aging
Horses, like people, have two sets of teeth: temporary teeth, also known as milk teeth, and permanent teeth. The milk teeth are smaller, smother and whiter than permanent adult teeth that replace them. The adult teeth are strong, large and yellowish in color.
By the time a horse is six years old, he will have a full set permanent teeth.
Arrangement of the horse's teeth
1- Mandible (lower Jaw)
2- Upper molars
3- Root of tooth
4- Maxilla (upper jaw)
5- Upper canines
6- Upper inclisors
7- Lower incisors
8-Lower Canines
9- Crown of tooth
10- Lower Molars
The horse has six front teeth in the upper jaw, and six in the lower jaw. These are called Incisors (Biting teeth.) The pair in the middle are called centrals. The next pair on either side are the laterals, and the outer teeth are called corners. Behind the incisors lie the powerful molars (cheek teeth), which are used to gained up food. An adult horse has 24 permanent molars. while an immature horse has only 12 temporary molars.
Tooth tables
As a horse grows older, the tables (biting surfaces) of the incisors are worn away. This reveals different parts of their inside structure. Incisor tables can give an idea of
a horse's age.
Care of teeth
All horses should have their teeth checked every six months. When they chew food, their teeth suffer a lot of wear. Sometimes the wear is uneven. The grinding process on the molder teeth often creates sharp edges.
Mouth Problems
The inside of a horse's cheeks and his tongue can be rubbed sore, and develop ulcers. Chewing ids then painful and difficult, which can lead to indigestion and weight loss.
