Veterinary Dental Radiology - An Overview

Introduction

Dental care is necessary to promote optimal health and quality of life (1,2), but the most visible part of the tooth, the crown, is only a small portion of the dental anatomy, with the majority of dental morphology and potential disease situated - and therefore hidden-subgingivally.

Early detection of disease has been shown to simplify treatment, improve overall patient outcomes for common diseases (3,4) and prevent the need for more expensive, invasive care resulting from missed diagnoses or late-stage oral health issues and associated systemic disease (5,6). Dental radiography is therefore an essential tool for both the diagnosis and treatment of dental disease and to maintain whole body health. Radiology can also demonstrate disease to the client, encouraging an understanding for the need of an appropriate treatment plan.

To be a valuable tool dental radiology depends on optimal image quality obtained by good technique, i.e. proper exposure and positioning. Understanding the geometric influences of the X-ray beam will ensure the best possible results, and following basic radiographic principles will reduce health risks as far as possible. [...]

Key Points

• Dental radiography is an essential tool for the diagnosis and treatment of both dental disease and whole body health.

• Radiation doses are low in dental radiography but no exposure can be considered risk free; by following basic guidelines the risk can be minimized.

• Digital dental radiography is now widely available and offers many advantages to the clinician.

• Technical errors can occur at any stage in dental radiology and can be due to various factors; good technique should minimize errors.