While home maintenance can assist in keeping pets’ teeth clean and healthy, professional dental care is needed to maintain the oral health of your pet. Veterinary dental specialists perform many of the same dental procedures that people undergo, including root canals and orthodontics.
Dental x-rays (also called radiographs) can be a crucial part of a dental evaluation. More than half of each tooth sits below the gumline and cannot be evaluated without imaging. Even a tooth whose visible portion appears clean and healthy can have disease internally, or may be causing degeneration of the jawbone and tissues.
Oral Health Symptoms: What to Look For
A common misconception is that dogs and cats simply have bad breath. Bad breath is not normal! While minty fresh isn’t necessary, anything more than a mild odor should be investigated.
Bad breath is usually caused by bacteria and their secretions that live on the teeth and under the gumline in the form of plaque and tartar. Left unmanaged, these bacteria and the body’s associated immune response can cause breakdown of the tissues around the tooth. This disease occurs under the gums and cannot be seen on exam alone.
You may observe other signs of dental disease. Swelling in the face near the cheek or under the eye may indicate a tooth root abscess. Redness in the gums or sores in the mouth can indicate inflammatory disease in cats. Your pup or kitty might also show discomfort when eating or start showing a preference for softer foods. These are clear signs that dental radiographs and care are needed.
It’s important to note that many animals hide signs of dental pain and may not show obvious symptoms. Additionally, symptoms often only occur after substantial disease is present.
When Dental X-Rays Are Needed
Dental care and dental x-rays reduce the risk of developing severe dental disease and should be performed when you or your veterinarian start to observe visible plaque and tartar.
The age at which this becomes necessary varies greatly. For some pets particularly prone to dental issues, problems may begin as early as two years of age, while some pets may be five before concerns arise.
Most dental problems can only be detected through a thorough anesthetized oral evaluation and dental x-rays. The sooner the evaluation is performed, the more likely teeth can be treated, and extractions and tissue damage can be avoided. Ideally, dental x-rays should be performed on an annual basis. Your veterinarian might recommend repeating x-rays every six months if a problem area has been identified and requires follow-up evaluation.
In addition to identifying chronic dental problems, dental x-rays may be needed to evaluate developmental issues in a young animal, particularly if there are concerns about alignment of the teeth that may cause difficulty eating or damage the soft tissues in the mouth. Any trauma to the head also warrants dental x-rays to evaluate for broken teeth or fractures of the jaw bones.
How Are Dental X-Rays Performed?
Dental radiographs are taken similarly in pets and people, so you may be somewhat familiar from your own dentistry experiences.
A receptor plate is placed between the pet’s teeth to receive radiation to form the image, while the machine that generates the x-rays is positioned outside the mouth. Tiny amounts of x-rays are directed through the pet’s mouth and onto the plate. Today, most veterinarians use digital x-ray systems, so the image is instantly generated on a computer after passing through the pet’s mouth.
Of course, we can’t ask our pets to sit still and hold the plate between their teeth. To create a quality image and ensure the safety of the animals, veterinary professionals and equipment involved, pets must be under anesthesia while obtaining dental x-rays.
Dental x-rays are very targeted at the tissues involved and require only a tiny amount of radiation exposure. This level of radiation is not dangerous to your pet.
If you have any concerns about your pet’s teeth or dental health, consult with your veterinarian. Oral care is one of the best things you can do to support the long-term comfort and health of your canine and feline friends.