Source: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/the-importance-of-dental-x-rays-in-dogs
Why Dental X-Rays Are So Important for Your Pet
When your veterinarian recommends dental X-rays during your pet’s dental cleaning, you might wonder: Are they really necessary?
It’s a great question — and the answer is yes. Dental X-rays (also called radiographs) are one of the most important tools your veterinary team uses to protect your pet’s comfort, health, and quality of life.
When it comes to dental care, what you can’t see truly matters most.
Canine mandibular molar; the red arrow points to where the underlying bone has receded from the tooth, exposing more of the roots. You can see from the neighboring teeth where the bone level should be.
What We Can’t See Matters Most
Your pet’s teeth may look perfectly healthy on the outside. But just like with people, the majority of dental problems happen below the gum line, where they can’t be seen during a simple visual exam.
Dental radiographs allow your veterinarian to see:
- Bone loss around teeth
- Periodontal (gum) disease
- Infections at the root
- Tooth root abscesses
- Fractured or damaged roots
- Other hidden abnormalities
Without X-rays, these issues can go unnoticed — even during a thorough cleaning. The following X-rays give us some good examples.
Canine maxillary incisors: the red arrow marks where the crown of the innermost incisor on the dog’s left side was broken off. The soft tissue of the gumline is not as easily visible here, and upon visual examination of the mouth this could have just looked like a missing tooth.
Dental Disease Can Be Painful (Even If Your Pet Seems Fine)
Pets are incredibly good at hiding pain. Many dogs and cats continue eating and acting normally, even when they have significant dental disease.
However, untreated dental problems can cause:
- Chronic discomfort
- Infection
- Difficulty chewing
- Bad breath
- Damage to the surrounding bone
For example, the following x-rays show how retained baby teeth can affect the health of the surrounding teeth.
Left: Canine maxillary premolar; the red arrows mark a retained deciduous (baby) tooth, and the dotted line to the left of it marks the level of the bone holding it in. You can visualize how little of the tooth is actually attached, and the bone loss has extended to the neighboring tooth which had to be extracted.
Right: After extraction of these two teeth; the level of the bone is more easily visualized. Unfortunately the premolar on the other side hasn’t escaped unscathed; the red arrow marks where the root has been resorbed. That tooth was also extracted.
Canine maxillary premolar; the same retained deciduous tooth on the opposite side of the mouth. The surrounding bone is not as severely affected on this side, and the tooth was extracted while the neighboring teeth were able to be saved. (Also: note the rotated premolar to the right of it!)
Dental X-rays help your veterinarian identify exactly where a problem exists so it can be treated properly, often relieving pain your pet has been living with.
Right: This x-ray shows the same feline mandibular premolars on another patient for comparison; the bone is level and covers the entirety of the root. On the right you can see where one tooth has been extracted.
Feline mandibular premolar; the red arrow marks a Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesion (FORL), which generally occurs toward the crown of a cat’s tooth. Shown on the right is the same view after the tooth was extracted.
Why X-Rays Are Recommended Before Every Dental Cleaning
Most veterinarians recommend full-mouth dental radiographs before every dental procedure (typically once a year for most pets).
Here’s why:
- Dental disease can progress quickly.
- New problems can develop even if previous X-rays were normal.
- Cleaning teeth without X-rays may miss serious underlying issues.
A cleaning alone only addresses what’s visible above the gum line. Radiographs ensure that your pet’s dental care is complete, not just cosmetic.
Feline maxillary canine; the red arrow marks severe inflammation of the bone where a canine tooth used to be. Note that the neighboring incisors are missing. This patient had severe periodontal disease at the time this image was taken.
How Are Dental X-Rays Taken?
Dental X-rays use a very small amount of radiation to capture detailed images of your pet’s teeth and jaw below the surface.
Take a look at these X-rays of a dog’s teeth before and after getting a root canal. The dark stripes in the center of the teeth are the pulp cavities, which are cleaned and filled with a material that shows up white on x-rays.
Before: pulpitis in canine mandibular canines; inflammation of the pulp cavity can cause it to widen. In these views, you can see how much the pulp cavity expands in width from the green arrows to the red arrows.
Unlike humans, pets must be under general anesthesia for dental X-rays and cleanings. This is important because:
- It keeps your pet completely still for accurate imaging.
- It prevents stress and discomfort.
- It allows for a thorough and safe cleaning under the gum line.
Before anesthesia, your veterinarian performs pre-anesthetic bloodwork to ensure your pet is healthy enough for the procedure. Anesthesia is carefully tailored to your pet’s age, size, and medical history, and they are continuously monitored throughout the entire process.
Your veterinary team’s priority is always safety and comfort.
Protecting Your Pet’s Long-Term Health
Dental disease doesn’t just affect the mouth. Severe infections can impact overall health and quality of life.
By including dental X-rays as part of your pet’s annual dental procedure, you are:
- Catching problems early
- Preventing unnecessary pain
- Supporting long-term health
- Giving your pet a happier, more comfortable life
