Dentistry

Periodontal disease

You can see from the above photographs the importance of dental radiographs.  It is said that 60-70% of all dogs over 5 years old have periodontal disease but you can only diagnose about 10% of those cases without dental x-rays.  In a case like this, all you can see are red gums but with an x-ray, you can see the bone loss and the periapical abcess which, in people is quite painful and in this case, an extraction or root canal is necessary.

Why Radiology?
 To see pathology hiding below the gingiva or inside the tooth 
 Evaluate an area where the teeth appear to be missing 
 To document the obvious - supporting treatment decisions 
 For client communication 
 Medical/legal documentation 
 Postoperative confirmation of proper extraction 
 Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative endodontics 
 Follow progression of pulpal pathology and/or periodontal disease 
 For prepurchase exams on show dogs to see if the proper number of teeth exist