What does the dentist mean when he says a horse “smiles?
A “smile” refers to a pattern that occurs on the incisors. The horse has 6 upper and 6 lower incisors. When viewed from the front the upper and lower incisors should touch and form a straight line between them. When the upper central incisors and lower outer incisors become long a “smile” forms instead of that straight line. The reverse is also true- if the outside upper incisors and the central lower incisors become long then the line between them becomes a “frown”. A third common incisor pattern is a “slant” which is when the line formed between the upper and lower incisors is diagonal instead of horizontal.
A “smile” refers to a pattern that occurs on the incisors. The horse has 6 upper and 6 lower incisors. When viewed from the front, the upper and lower incisors should touch and form a straight line between them. When the upper central incisors and lower outer incisors become long, a “smile” forms instead of that straight line. The reverse is also true- if the outside upper incisors and the central lower incisors become long, then the line between them becomes a “frown”. A third common incisor pattern is a “slant” which is when the line formed between the upper and lower incisors is diagonal instead of horizontal.
