Complications of Oral and Salivary Gland Surgery

Most equine oral surgical procedures are dentistry-related and almost all have the potential to cause serious short- or long-term complications. Numerous oral procedures involve risk of damage to the buccal branches of the facial nerve. One consequence of permanent damage to the dorsal branch of this nerve is the inability to flare the nostril which can severely diminish athletic performance and facial nerve damage should be avoided at all costs. This chapter presents the definition, risk factors, pathogenesis, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and expected outcome for the complications associated with oral and salivary gland surgery. The complications include complications associated with local nerve blocks, complications associated with incisor dentistry, complications associated with 1st premolar “wolf tooth” (Triadan 05) extraction, and complications associated with cheek teeth dentistry.