Diminished Inclination and TMJ Dysfunction

DIMINISHED INCLINATION and why it needs to be the first thing you check for if your horse has TMJ dysfunction.

This is a before and after from some top notch work from equine dentist Suzzi Peeler today.

We’ve been looking for a diminished inclination example to add to our online course The Equine Dental Connection and today was the day!

This guy was kept up to date on dentals, but unfortunately as sharp points were taken down, the normal angles of the molars were not restored by the practitioner.

This means the normal angulation of the upper molars was getting flattened out over time - and actually for this guy they had gotten inverted to become angled the opposite way.

When this natural angle gets flattened, the TMJ is no longer able to rest in its neutral position and the joint gets… angry.

The jaw muscles tighten up to guard it, and as you can see in the before video he was clenching his teeth so hard I couldn’t slide his bottom jaw at all, the whole head just tilts together when I try.

He wasn’t blocked by sharp points - this was guarding from pain due to TMJ dysfunction from diminished inclination of his molar arcade! You can see in the after video how one balance with a focus on restoring normal angles allows this horse to relax his jaw and he happily allows me to slide the mandible from side to side.

Diminished inclination is essentially a man made problem - so my advice is always to find yourself a dentist who is prioritizing TMJ range of motion and jaw mechanics and function with their balancing. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!

Removing sharp points is important but there’s more to it than just that.

And remember that incisors need to be addressed too. Hooks are common but they ARE NOT normal, no matter what anyone tries to tell you.

Want to learn more?

Take our online course here (now approved for NBCAAM continuing education credits!)

UPDATE: FREE RESOURCE You can also check out this webinar Suzzi and I did with Wendy Murdoch to learn more!

Horse with diminished inclination before dental balance

Jaw is tense and clenched due to TMJ pain from diminished inclination. Mandible “rests” in a retracted position as a result.

horse with diminished inclination after one dental balance focused on restoring normal angulation of molar arcade

Following dental balance, TMJ is able to find normal resting position and jaw muscles relax and stop clenching. Mandible is able to slide down and forward like it should!