By Mandi Dick

 To see anything below the gingiva (gum line) or within the tooth.  To examine an area of missing teeth  After surgery to confirm extraction  Before, during, and after dental surgeries that may need fresh data  Prepurchase exams on show animals

 2/3 of a dog or cat’s teeth are underneath the gums and not viewable  Without radiographs, the cause of a problem can be missed 75% of the time  Radiographs determine whether teeth are abnormal, malpositioned, missing, nonvital (dead), or vital (alive)

 If a tooth is discolored, missing without explanation, or moving  If a tooth is fractured  If gingiva bleeds with or without being poked  If a feline ondontoclastic resorptive lesion is present  If prior to extraction, for orientation and documentation purposes

 Periodontal Disease  Oral Tumors  Missing Teeth  Fractured Teeth  Feline Odontoclastic resorptive lesions

 All Breeds are effected by dental problems  Depending on the radiographic information, a number of treatments can be made for teeth and the gingiva to preserve and heal  Many problems are discovered during routine dental cleaning, so get your pets teeth cleaned!

 One of the most common ailments of small animals  Animals that come in for routine teeth cleaning may have mobile teeth  The decision to extract, perform flap surgery or treat with medicine is based on radiographs that need to be taken  The degree of bone loss can be measured with a radiograph

Significant bone loss around the lower premolar and molar teeth. Some of these would be extracted while others would be saved.

Oral tumors account for 6% of all tumors in dogs and 10% of all tumors in cats. Of these, 50% of oral dog tumors and 10% of oral cat tumors are benign

 Easy to overlook hidden problems caused by a missing tooth because there are no signs to observe  Have they fallen out or are they still below the gingiva (gum line).  Any teeth below the gingiva MUST be removed, it can cause many more problems down the line for a pet.

This radiograph reveals an abnormal unerupted mandibular first premolar associated with radiolucent cystic lesions. Resorption of the mesial root of the mandibular second premolar, caused by the expanding cyst, is also present. Mandible of a 3- year-old castrated male bearded collie. All that was seen before the X-ray was that the first premolar on the mandible was missing.

 Front aspect of the first molar tooth on the left side fracture goes through the whole tooth and roots were beginning to absess.

 FORLs usually present as very painful areas of granulated tissue into the surface of the tooth.  May be suspected with gingivitis in the middle of multi-rooted teeth.

All Pets Dental. The Why, When, and How of Small Animal Dental Radiography. DVM360. Just Ask an Expert. / / My Pet Dentist. Animal Dentistry and Oral Surgery Specialists, LLC. Pet Care Veterinary Hospital. Broken Molar Found on Dental Cleaning. molar-found-on-dental-cleaning/ molar-found-on-dental-cleaning/ The Pet Dentist at Tampa Bay. Oral Tumors. Veterinary Dental Services. Feline Tooth Resoption.