Characterisation of Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and
Hypercementosis (EOTRH): A Comparative Study Using MicroCT and
Radiography in Age-Matched Controls
Abstract
Background: Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis
(EOTRH) is a painful disorder primarily affecting the incisor teeth of
horses over 15 years of age. Clinical signs of the disease include
mastication problems, halitosis and weight loss. The disease
predominately affects the reserve crown and presents as a loss of dental
tissue and excessive build-up of cementum. Objectives: Determine the
radiographic scores of horses with EOTRH and age-matched controls.
Increase understanding of EOTRH using microCT to compare teeth from
horses with EOTRH and age matched controls. Methods: This study used
radiography ( in vivo) and microcomputed tomography (microCT) (
ex vivo) to help understand and characterise EOTRH. For
radiography, 87 patients were assessed using a radiographic scoring
system for EOTRH. The microCT study was undertaken on 20 incisor teeth
which were scanned and segmented to measure the different dental
tissues. These were assessed using a descriptive analysis (surface
roughening, tooth resorption, root blunting, pulp cavity). Study design:
In vivo and ex vivo studies. Results: Radiographic scoring demonstrated
that 03s were more severely affected than 01s in EOTRH. Total
radiographic score and age had a weak positive correlation. Following
microCT, we identified that EOTRH teeth had a lower pulp and enamel
volume and therefore significantly higher ratios relative to the whole
tooth volume, compared to control teeth. Cementum and dentine volumes
were more variable in EOTRH teeth. Thus, their ratios relative to the
whole tooth volume were not different to control teeth. Main
limitations: The number of horses was relatively small. Conclusions:
Results suggest differing degrees of tooth resorption and
hypercementosis, potentially indicating multiple phenotypes of the
disease.