Gum disease, known by veterinary dentists as periodontitis, is a very painful condition in horses. Studies suggest that up to 40 % of horses are affected. What starts as inflammation of the gums around affected teeth, if left unmanaged, spreads beneath the gum line and leads to infection of the bone that holds the teeth in place. Advanced cases of periodontal disease result in bone loss and mobile teeth, with potential infection of the sinuses or jaw bone, and an end result of tooth loss.

In horses, gum disease is usually an orthodontic issue caused by teeth that are misplaced. Orthodontic misalignment results in abnormal spaces between teeth, which veterinary dentists refer to as diastema. Food entrapment in these spaces initiates the gum inflammation and later periodontal disease. If identified early, the inflammation can be halted or sometimes reversed. When unmanaged or diagnosed in later stages, permanent soft tissue and bone loss may have already occurred.

Our goal is always to increase oral comfort and halt or reverse disease progression when possible. There are a variety of periodontic management options available and each case is treated individually, taking into consideration the patient’s age, breed, history, and stage of periodontal disease.