Dental Radiography (xrays) in veterinary medicine

Dental radiographs are one of the most important diagnostic tools available to a veterinary dentist. They allow the internal anatomy of the teeth, the roots and the bone that surrounds the roots to be examined.

Intra-oral radiographs are made using small radiographic films or digital sensors placed inside the patient’s mouth, and provide superior quality for examination of individual teeth or sections of the jaws compared with standard-sized veterinary radiographs. Because veterinary patients will not cooperate when a radiograph or sensor is placed in the mouth, taking dental radiographs requires that the patient is anesthetized.

Your veterinarian will make a recommendation whether or not to take radiographs of all the teeth (“full-mouth radiographs”), based on the reason for presentation of the patient and the results of initial visual examination of the mouth. It is common for a patient that presents for one specific problem to have additional oral problems – these may only become apparent if full-mouth radiographs are made. Full-mouth radiographs also establish a base-line for future comparison.

The radiation risk to the patient from taking dental radiographs is minimal. Here at Brandywine, we use state of the art digital imaging techniques, which significantly reduces radiation exposure for the patient and veterinary staff. Brandywine Hospital for Pets currently utilizes the NOMAD Pro 2 handheld x-ray unit, a Sopix x-ray sensor, and the Sopro software program for digital radiography of both canine and feline patients.