If you visit the dental practitioner for your twice-yearly checkup, they will direct patients to the dentist’s X-ray area, taking photos of your entire mouth. Don’t be afraid, as this is often a crucial aspect of checking your dental health. On the other hand, Pets are not so lucky, and not every veterinary facility offers full-mouth dental radiographs.
Dental X-rays are images of your pet’s teeth and the oral cavity made under anesthesia using a tiny X-ray machine and a film or a tiny digital sensor placed inside the mouth. A majority of dental X-rays are digital, which allows the vet to view the image on the computer. Digital X-rays offer a better quality image and more details than film and take a shorter time for processing.
A clear picture is essential to determine the diagnosis. This requires your pet’s calm and secure position. Pets should be placed under general anesthesia to undergo dental X-rays and cleaned to ensure the best results.
Periodontal Diseases
Veterinarians can’t detect the full extent of your pet’s periodontal problems without using dental X-rays. Remember that 60 percent of each tooth lies beneath the gum line, giving plenty of space for infections, diseases, or damage. You can identify the following periodontal issues using full-mouth dental X-rays and a thorough oral examination while your pet is under sedation.
Resorptive Lesions
Resorptive lesions are a common feline dental condition that may be a problem for canines. Dental X-rays, an extensive oral examination, or the “chatter” examination are commonly utilized to identify painful erosions of enamel.
Since their sensitive pulp is exposed, cats display an excellent chatter response. While many resorptive lesions appear as pink spots on the teeth, other lesions cause damage to the tooth beneath the gum line, making it difficult to diagnose without X-rays. Consult your veterinarian about dog wellness plans.
Tooth Abscesses
An abscess of the tooth’s root contaminated by bacteria could occur if your pet does not receive regular preventative care to keep their gums and teeth healthy. As tartar accumulates and the bacteria in it infiltrate the oral cavity, moving past the gumline and attacking the tooth root. A painful abscess can result from an infection pocket, possibly affecting the teeth, jawbone, and gum tissues.
The treatment may be complicated If the infection has been spread to the jawbone since skeletal disorders are more difficult to treat. Veterinarians can assess the extent of the abscess and the disease that surrounds it using dental X-rays. This allows them to prescribe treatments. Consult a veterinarian for dog veterinary dentistry details.
Fractured Teeth
In the case of masking their discomfort, dogs are experts at this, even when they suffer from a broken tooth. It is possible to think that a tooth fracture would be obvious, but your pet could rip off the cap of the tooth, leaving the roots in place and permitting gum tissue to develop over the injury without even making noises. The vet may not be able to find the tooth that has been damaged and its roots, which could cause infections if we do not use dental X-rays.
Oral Tumors
The truth is that oral tumors in canines and cats are common and can cause damage to the dental tissue and gums, and jawbone. Certain oral cancers multiply and are challenging to treat, cutting through bone and gum bone, while other tumors are slower-growing and are less challenging to treat.
Suppose your pet is suffering from an abnormality in the oral cavity. In that case, your vet will suggest a biopsy to identify the cause and wide mouth dental X-rays that reveal any bone-related abnormalities and the totality of damage caused by the tumor. Look up “Pet checkups near me” for the best results.
