The normal equine tooth erupts (moves out of the socket) throughout the life of the horse. In order for this to happen, the attachment between tooth and bony socket must be repeatedly broken down and re-established, with the tooth fixed in its new position.

In EOTRH, this process of release and reattachment is dysfunctional. Either excessive breakdown of the attachment (resorption) or excessive reattachment (cementum production or hypercementosis) occurs. Cementum is the "grout" that lines the tooth and adheres it within the bony socket.

EOTRH was first defined as a syndrome in 2004. It's causes are poorly understood but there is some thought that it may be brought on by increasing torsional forces as the teeth meet in an increasingly angular way with age.

EOTRH is a disease of the front teeth, the incisors and the canine teeth. It is a very painful condition and usually causes difficulty eating, resistance to bitting, and sometimes salivation, gum recession, and draining tracts or ulcers on the gums overlying the tooth roots. There is a fine line between what is considered normal aging changes versus EOTRH.

Diagnosis requires clinical exam by a vet with dentistry knowledge. Radiographs are diagnostic for the condition. They show the clubbing of the tooth roots and/or resorption of the root or socket as is visible in the accompanying image.

Treatment involves removal of the affected teeth, starting with the worst ones. Whether teeth are removed depends on radiographic appearance and the degree of pain the horse seems to be experiencing. Removal of affected teeth may prevent "spread" to adjacent teeth.