Treatment of maxillary cheek teeth apical infection caused by patent infundibula in six horses (2007–2013)

Six young horses presented with clinical signs of maxillary cheek teeth apical infection (bilateral in 2 horses) that included the presence of rostral maxillary swellings with discharging sinus tracts and were unexpectedly found to have no evidence of endodontic infection in 7 affected teeth. The apical infection of these teeth was attributed to infundibular dysplasia that allowed inoculation of the periapical tissue with contaminated oral contents. Treatment was by debridement and obturation of affected infundibula from their occlusal aspect using techniques normally used for endodontic therapy. Five out of 6 cases showed resolution of clinical signs over a mean follow‐up period of 19 months (range 6–48 months). These cases demonstrate that patency of the infundibular apex is a potential cause of cheek teeth apical infection in young horses, which can be successfully treated by debridement and subsequent infundibular restoration.