Retained Dental Caps in Horses: Symptoms and Treatment Options

Horses, like many other mammals, have two full sets of teeth over their lifetime—baby teeth and adult teeth.  

When it’s time for their deciduous (baby) teeth to be pushed out, sometimes the process is incomplete. This is called a retained dental cap in horses; the permanent tooth is growing in, yet the deciduous tooth remains. It can be loose or sit at an abnormal angle, causing mouth irritation.   

Horse owners who have young horses should be on the lookout for retained dental caps and learn to recognize the signs in case their horse needs help. 

What Is a Retained Dental Cap in Horses?

A retained dental cap occurs when a deciduous tooth fails to get fully pushed out by an erupting adult tooth. The roots of the deciduous tooth can retain some soft tissue connections so it cannot release from the gum. This is called a “cap” because the deciduous tooth often sits on top of the adult tooth while being pushed out.  

Dental caps are normal, but retained caps do not occur as often. Retained caps can be hard to recognize if your horse doesn’t show any symptoms. The caps can fall out before an owner knows there’s a problem, so not all retained caps end up being seen by a veterinarian.  

Horses with retained dental caps often have a genetic predisposition for the condition. Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Standardbreds, and Warmbloods are breeds commonly seen with retained dental caps, but they can occur in any breed of horse.   

Symptoms of Retained Dental Cap in Horses

Horses may or may not be symptomatic with a retained dental cap. Symptoms can be very subtle and may include: 

• Abnormal or unusual mouth movements when eating hay or grain 

• Mouthing the bit, or abnormal mouth movements when ridden with a bit 

• Eating food more slowly, dropping more food, or drooling when eating 

What Causes Retained Dental Cap in Horses?

Causes of retained caps are primarily genetic and may run in certain bloodlines of horses. The main causes include incomplete absorption of the deciduous tooth root and alignment issues of the teeth and jaw. 

Treatment of Retained Dental Cap in Horses

Contact your veterinarian if your horse is showing any signs of oral discomfort, whether during eating or riding.  

Your veterinarian can do a full dental exam under sedation, using a speculum to hold open the horse’s mouth. This allows them to see all the way to the back molars. If there are any dental caps, they can be evaluated and the vet will determine if they need to be removed.  

While your horse is under standing sedation, your veterinarian will grasp the cap with a pair of long-handled extraction forceps. Some gentle wiggling may be required, but often the cap will release with mild pressure.  

Once your horse is fully awake from the sedation (usually in 1–2 hours), they can return to their normal routine. No restrictions on feeding, exercise, or turnout are required.   

Recovery and Management of Retained Dental Cap in Horses

You can feed your horse a mash or a senior horse feed if they’re dropping food or having trouble chewing.  

Medications and anti-inflammatories are typically not needed for retained dental caps. Once the troublesome cap is shed on its own or removed by your veterinarian, no further follow-up is needed.  

Prevention of Retained Dental Cap in Horses

While it is impossible to completely prevent retained dental caps, steps can be taken to recognize the problem early:  

• Feed your horse good nutrition with adequate minerals. 

• Monitor your horse at feeding time and be familiar with their eating habits.  

• Perform routine dental care and book one or two exams per year with your veterinarian or equine dentist.