Infundibular Caries

The upper molars of horses have an infundibulum, a cone-shaped structure in the center of the tooth. This structure has enamel walls (the hardest substance in the tooth) and is filled with cement (the softest substance in the tooth). In many horses, the formation of this cement is incomplete, leading to small cavities where food can get stuck. This can cause further damage to the cement, resulting in infundibular caries. This weakens the tooth, potentially leading to it breaking or an infection of the tooth root. If detected early, an infundibular restoration can be performed to prevent further damage.