For comparative reasons we are including the photo of Apple's first appointment in December 2013 for comparison. Each photos includes:
PHOTO 1) Natural incisor alignment before the appointment.
PHOTO 2) Incisor alignment after the molar angle has been treated.
PHOTO 3) Incisor alignment after the final stage of the appointment.
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| Visit 1: December 2013 (Age 7 Months) |
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| Visit 2: March 2014 (Age 10 Months) |
Since Apple's first appointment, as we expected her teeth returned to
their natural state and her parrot mouth was again evident three months
later. This is because the changes that we made to her mouth in
December were not structural changes to her bone structure, but just
changes in the angles of her teeth causing her jaw to lay in a different
position. As the teeth grew and wore, the changes that we made were
slowly erased and the teeth again started to fall into their position
that shows the overbite.
Not to mention, because of growth spurts that cause the head and jaw to grow at differing paces, Apple's parrot mouth and may continue to enlarge and lessen as she ages. Bone growth in the skull of horses continues for a longer time than much of the rest of the skeletal structure, particularly in the maxilla and jawbone which house the developing and erupting teeth. While most of the growth plates in the distal parts of the limbs (below the knee and hock) are typically fused by age two, the fusion of the higher up joins and vertebral physes, as well as bone growth in the skull, can continue until about age six. For more information about bone growth, see this article by Deb Bennett: http://www.equinestudies.org/ranger_2008/ranger_piece_2008_pdf1.pdf
Not to mention, because of growth spurts that cause the head and jaw to grow at differing paces, Apple's parrot mouth and may continue to enlarge and lessen as she ages. Bone growth in the skull of horses continues for a longer time than much of the rest of the skeletal structure, particularly in the maxilla and jawbone which house the developing and erupting teeth. While most of the growth plates in the distal parts of the limbs (below the knee and hock) are typically fused by age two, the fusion of the higher up joins and vertebral physes, as well as bone growth in the skull, can continue until about age six. For more information about bone growth, see this article by Deb Bennett: http://www.equinestudies.org/ranger_2008/ranger_piece_2008_pdf1.pdf
As shown, this process is not meant to "fix" Apple but to help her live a more normal and comfortable life. It is a continual process that will need to be sustained throughout her entire life. Our goal is to simply make these changes sustain longer between each visit.
Using similar techniques as last time, you can see that we were again able to give Apple some occulsion - meaning that the incisors touch. This will help her considerably with eating and give her the ability to have at least some wear on her front incisors which is very important to her dental health.
Using similar techniques as last time, you can see that we were again able to give Apple some occulsion - meaning that the incisors touch. This will help her considerably with eating and give her the ability to have at least some wear on her front incisors which is very important to her dental health.
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