Dental disease in hill sheep: an abattoir survey

Heads from 478 aged sheep of a predominantly hill breed population were examined in detail for evidence of dental disease, using both soft and hard tissue measurements around incisor and cheek teeth. Almost 60 per cent of this population (all over 2 1/2 years of age and with a mean age between 7 and 8 years) had either loose or missing teeth. Malalignment of cheek teeth and/or incisors was also common. Pocketing was seen in 87 per cent of the population, and was significantly correlated with tooth looseness. There was also a significant relationship between incisor and specific cheek tooth pocket depths. Whilst local alveolar bone loss was found, it was not a reflection of more general skeletal deterioration. The survey confirms the high incidence of broken mouth in the national flock and shows that wherever incisor problems occur there is a likelihood that cheek tooth disease is also present, a relationship not readily appreciated clinically.