{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,17]],"date-time":"2026-06-17T15:03:58Z","timestamp":1781708638498,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,17]],"date-time":"2026-02-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1771286400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Vet. Sci."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Destructive lesions of the peripheral and infundibular cementum are increasingly recognized in equine dentistry. While similarities to human caries have been noted, current evidence does not conclusively support this classification. This study aims to assess the prevalence, distribution, and potential risk factors associated with these lesions in a defined horse population.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Materials and methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A total of 114 horses from northern Germany underwent standardized oral examination between 2021 and 2023. Clinical data on peripheral and infundibular lesions, diastemata, and influencing factors such as age and sex were collected and statistically analyzed using adapted grading systems and multiple comparative tests.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Peripheral cemental lesions were present in 77.2% and infundibular changes in 61.4% of the horses. While molars were more frequently affected than premolars, no significant correlation was found between the two lesion types. Infundibular disease increased significantly with age, whereas peripheral lesions showed a non-significant age-related trend. Female horses exhibited a higher prevalence of peripheral cemental lesions.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion\/conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Despite similar cemental involvement, peripheral and infundibular lesions differ markedly in clinical relevance and progression, necessitating distinct diagnostic approaches. Peripheral changes are often benign, whereas infundibular lesions may lead to pulpitis or fractures. These findings underline the need for species-specific diagnostic criteria and further research into modifiable risk factors.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2026.1706621","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,17]],"date-time":"2026-02-17T14:15:16Z","timestamp":1771337716000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Equine dental destructive disorders: an epidemiological survey in northern Germany"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"M. P. P.","family":"H\u00e4ussling","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"L\u00fcsche Veterinary Clinic","place":["Bakum, Germany"]},{"name":"Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen","place":["Giessen, Germany"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"T.","family":"Steinberg","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"L\u00fcsche Veterinary Clinic","place":["Bakum, Germany"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"K.","family":"B\u00fcttner","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Unit for Biomathematics and Data Processing, Justus- Liebig-University Giessen","place":["Giessen, Germany"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"C.","family":"Hannig","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Policlinic of Operative Dentistry, Periodontology and Pediatric Dentistry, Technische Universit\u00e4t\/University of Technology Dresden","place":["Dresden, Germany"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M.","family":"Hannig","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinic of Operative Dentistry, Periodontology and Preventive Dentistry, University Hospital, Saarland University","place":["Homburg, Germany"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"L.","family":"Lemke","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinic of Operative Dentistry, Periodontology and Preventive Dentistry, University Hospital, Saarland University","place":["Homburg, Germany"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"O.","family":"Zierau","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Biology, Environmental Monitoring & Endocrinology, Technical University Dresden","place":["Dresden, Germany"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"C.","family":"Staszyk","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen","place":["Giessen, Germany"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"621","DOI":"10.1111\/eve.12497","article-title":"Equine peripheral and infundibular dental caries: a review and proposals for their investigation","volume":"29","author":"Borkent","year":"2017","journal-title":"Equine Vet Educ"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"161","DOI":"10.1111\/eve.13252","article-title":"Equine peripheral cemental defects and dental caries: four case reports","volume":"33","author":"Lundstr\u00f6m","year":"2020","journal-title":"Equine Vet Educ"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"310","DOI":"10.1111\/j.2042-3306.2009.00024.x","article-title":"Post mortem survey of peripheral dental caries in 510 Swedish horses","volume":"42","author":"Gere","year":"2010","journal-title":"Equine Vet J"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"617","DOI":"10.1111\/evj.13084","article-title":"Peripheral caries and disease of the periodontium in Western Australian horses: an epidemiological, anatomical and histopathological assessment","volume":"51","author":"Jackson","year":"2019","journal-title":"Equine Vet J"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"480","DOI":"10.1111\/evj.12610","article-title":"An epidemiological survey on the prevalence of equine peripheral dental caries in the United Kingdom and possible risk factors for its development","volume":"49","author":"Borkent","year":"2017","journal-title":"Equine Vet J"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.23.01.0036","article-title":"Recent advances in the treatment and prevention of equine peripheral caries","volume":"261","author":"Jackson","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"375","DOI":"10.15653\/TPG-150822","article-title":"Clinical anatomy of the horse: teeth and dentition","volume":"43","author":"Staszyk","year":"2015","journal-title":"Tier\u00e4rztl Prax Ausg Grosstiere Nutztiere"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"474","DOI":"10.1111\/eve.12317","article-title":"Equine dental and periodontal anatomy: a tutorial review","volume":"27","author":"Staszyk","year":"2015","journal-title":"Equine Vet Educ"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tvjl.2015.07.029","article-title":"Infundibula of equine maxillary cheek teeth. 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