How radiographs can help with dental disease?

In modern dentistry, diagnosis of the head and dental pathologies should always be placed after complete and through oral examination. Identificaiton of the relevant dental structures and associated pahtologies with radiographs is possible in many cases. Radiographs are often taken to investigate dental pathologies with possible periapical infection, diastema associated periodontitis, supernumerary teeth, missing teeth, displaced teeth, unilateral nasal discharge, facial swelling or draining tracts etc. Despite the development and availability of other imaging modalities like computer tomografy, cone beam computer tomography, nuclear scintigragphy and MRI, radiographic examination has remaiden the most practical and most common imaging modality in equine dentistry. The development of direct and wireless systems has made it very achievable for veterinarians both in the clinics and in the field. To get good quality diagnostical images it is essential to know the right technique and the horse shoud be adeaquately sedated to avoid movement artifacts and ensure radiation safety. It is also important to recognize its limitations. The equine head has complex three dimensional anatomy and because radiograps gives two dimensional images, there are superimposition of head and tooth structures.