Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital’s Blog
Taking a Bite Out of Pet Dental X-Rays
We’ve all been to the dentist and held those bite wing plates in our mouth while they obtained x-rays. While a little uncomfortable for a moment, we put up with it because we know how important it is for our dentist to see what is going on under our gum line.
Many people don’t realize, however, that our pets dental care needs are no different than ours, and that includes the need to see what’s happening below the surface. Pet dental x-rays are an important part of a thorough oral examination, which is why Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital promotes them as part of a proactive pet care plan.
What Lies Beneath
Providing regular dental care for your pet is one of the most impactful things that you can do as a pet owner. Good dental care can literally add years to your dog or cat’s life.
Besides daily tooth brushing at home, routine oral examinations and cleanings under anesthesia are warranted for all pets. During a dental examination pet dental x-rays can tell us a lot about the portion of the mouth that we can’t see.
Dental radiographs allow us to:
- Accurately stage a pet’s periodontal disease
- Assess the structures such as the bone, tooth root, and periodontal ligament that are not outwardly visible
- Determine what options are available for a diseased or poorly positioned tooth
- Aid in planning and confirming proper tooth extraction
- Monitor progression of dental disease
They are truly a powerful tool when it comes to treating our pet patients. The more we know, the better we can do. Periodontal disease is the most common issue that we face in caring for animals, and dental x-rays give us a leg up in beating it.
Pet Dental X-Rays
Pet dental x-rays provide us with invaluable information when it comes to good care. They are safe and non-invasive and allow us to obtain the knowledge that we need efficiently.
Dental x-ray plates must be properly positioned in the mouth in order to be effective, and try as we might our patients do not heed our instructions to be still and not bite down on the fragile sensor. For this reason, x-rays and other dental work needs to be performed while the pet is under anesthesia.
When done by one of our skilled team members, dental films add very little time to our total procedure. Our digital films can provide excellent detail and can also be enlarged, inverted, or sent for another opinion, allowing us to optimize care. Many times dental x-rays help us to make good decisions, decreasing the need for additional procedures later.
If you have questions or concerns about your pet’s dental health, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. Your furry friend’s oral care is about so much more than fresh breath- it is about more happy, healthy years together.