Lowder M Q, Mueller P O
Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, USA.
Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 1998 Aug;14(2):365-80. doi: 10.1016/s0749-0739(17)30203-1.
The dental management of geriatric horses can be a rewarding challenge to the practitioner. Owners become dissatisfied when their expectations are unrealistic. Consequently, communication between the owner and the practitioner is essential prior to the start of any dental procedure in a geriatric horse. Owners often expect the practitioner to correct what has been neglected for years. It is critical that the owner understand the possible complications associated with dental procedures and that some procedures (e.g., trephination) may necessitate protracted care. Often, when a tooth has been removed, there is a need for more frequent masticatory examinations to curtail any potential problems (i.e., development of step mouth). The owner needs to be aware of the extra dental maintenance costs that must be included in the upkeep of the horse.
老龄马的牙齿管理对从业者来说可能是一项既有回报又具挑战性的工作。当主人的期望不切实际时，他们就会感到不满。因此，在对老龄马进行任何牙齿治疗之前，主人与从业者之间的沟通至关重要。主人常常期望从业者纠正多年来被忽视的问题。主人必须了解与牙齿治疗相关的可能并发症，并且有些治疗（如开髓）可能需要长期护理，这一点至关重要。通常，当一颗牙齿被拔除后，需要更频繁地进行咀嚼检查，以减少任何潜在问题（即阶梯状口腔的形成）。主人需要意识到在马匹饲养成本中必须包含额外的牙齿维护费用。
