Aging By Teeth – 06 – 12 years (Young Adult Horses)

Reviewing these images is a long process if you go through the whole set. The idea is to notice all the differences and variability seen within each age. Then, as the age becomes greater, notice the increased variability. Also, note that some horses’ left and right sides are different, yielding a different age. The difference is caused by the horse’s tongue movement, jaw movement or both. The image data is the evidence I give for the horse’s age.

I call this group between 6 and 12 years the “Young Adult Horses.”

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⬇︎ Click or tap on any image to fully open it. Swipe or click the arrow to move through the gallery. ⬇︎

6-year-olds

• Cups are evident on the occlusal surface of all lower incisors by 5 years of age.
• The cups start to disappear on the lower central incisors (301 and 401) during their 6th year.
• “Central cups are gone at 6.”

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7-year-olds

• Cups are evident on the occlusal surface of all lower incisors by 5 years of age.
• The cups start to disappear on the lower middle incisors (302 and 402) during their 7th year.
• “Middle cups are gone at 7.”

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8-year-olds

• Cups are evident on the occlusal surface of all lower incisors by 5 years of age.
• The cups start to disappear on the corner middle incisors (303 and 403) during their 8th year.
• “Corner cups are gone at 9” or “All cups gone at 9.”

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9-year-olds

Same as 8 year old

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10-year-olds

• “Galvayne’s groove” is an indentation (or groove) that occurs on the upper corner incisors (103 and 203).
• It is located on the labial surface and parallels the front and back edge of the tooth.
• Between 10 and 20 years, it will progressively extend the length of the tooth.
• Between 21 and 30 years, it will progressively disappear, starting at the gum line until it is gone by 30.
• It is first seen as a slight indentation at the gum line appearing as the tooth gets to the 10th year of eruption.

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11-year-olds

• “Galvayne’s groove” is an indentation (or groove) that occurs on the upper corner incisors (103 and 203).
• It is located on the labial surface and parallels the front and back edge of the tooth.
• Between 10 and 20 years it will progressively extend the length of the tooth.
• Between 21 and 30 years it will progressively disappear starting at the gum line until it is gone by 30.
• The groove at the gum line elongates slightly along the length of the tooth in the 11th year of eruption.

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12-year-olds

• “Galvayne’s groove” is an indentation (or groove) that occurs on the upper corner incisors (103 and 203).
• It is located on the labial surface and parallels the front and back edge of the tooth.
• Between 10 and 20 years it will progressively extend the length of the tooth.
• Between 21 and 30 years it will progressively disappear starting at the gum line until it is gone by 30.
• The groove at the gum line elongates slightly more along the length of the tooth approximately ¼ the length of the tooth in the 12th year of eruption.

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