Radiography is not only about the current condition of teeth and bone. It also establishes a baseline for future changes. Because inadequate dental care may lead to other systemic disease, preventive care before larger problems arise can save owners time, money and possible heartbreak.
Reasons to take dental radiographs
An April 2004 article in DVM Magazine set out the reasons good dental images matter for optimal care:
- To support most treatment decisions
- To evaluate an area for root fragments where teeth are not clinically apparent
- To determine the cause of chronic nasal discharge
- To properly evaluate tooth vitality
- To determine the number of permanent teeth in a kitten or puppy before secondary teeth erupt
- For anatomical orientation and documentation before extraction
- For evaluation after extraction, to confirm all root fragments were removed
- For pre-operative evaluation of tumor margins, to help prepare and guide surgery
- For treatment planning when periodontal disease is present
- To evaluate feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (FORLs)
- To evaluate jaw fractures
- To evaluate oral and facial swellings
- To evaluate pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative endodontic treatment
What the UC Davis studies found
The same article cites two University of California, Davis studies in which 226 dogs and 115 cats presented for dental treatment received full-mouth radiographs before their oral examinations. Comparing both examinations showed the diagnostic value of radiography:
| Patients | What radiographs added |
|---|---|
| Dogs without clinical lesions | Incidental or clinically important findings in 69.5% of cases |
| Dogs with clinical lesions | Merely confirmed findings in 24.3% of cases, but yielded additional or clinically essential information in 72.6% |
| Cats without clinical lesions | Incidental or clinically important findings in 45.5% of cases |
| Cats with clinical lesions | Merely confirmed findings in 13.9% of cases, but yielded additional or clinically essential information in 86.1% |
Better patient care is the largest benefit to your practice. Responsible use of digital radiography can also deliver a higher financial return, giving both you and your clients better peace of mind.
Sources: Verstraete F. et al., Diagnostic value of full-mouth radiography in dogs, AJVR 1998; 59: 686-691. Verstraete F. et al., Diagnostic value of full-mouth radiography in cats, AJVR 1998; 59: 692-695.