X-ray Vision

How Dental Radiography has Promoted Our Level of Care

By: Michael Lamping, DVM

            The additional information obtained by radiography enables us to confirm diagnoses, measure the severity, and guide the treatment.  Additionally, we have diagnosed and treated otherwise undetected problems.

            In some instances the teeth appear normal above the gum-line, only to be abnormal below the gum-line.  I have also found teeth with fractured roots, extra-roots, hidden abscesses, and hidden (unerupted) teeth.  We have been so impressed by the benefits of the radiographs that we incorporated it as our standard of care.  Every pet receives radiographs with their dental cleaning.  The results speak for themselves.

            For instance, last week I found a hidden fractured root on a dog's lower jaw.  This fractured tooth caused chronic pain.  Once identified, the tooth had to be extracted.  The schnauzer benefited through pain relief evident within days afterward.  Hidden problems can be found in cats as well, for they can have hard to find enamel fractures.  The relief achieved for many of these cats restores their affectionate personality.  Another pet received a dental cleaning and radiographs almost as an afterthought to another pressing health concern.  Radiographs revealed a concealed painful root abscess whose severity could only be seen after extraction.

            With teeth, what you see isn't always what you get.  "X-ray vision" through dental radiographs has enabled us to better serve our patients through treatment that may have otherwise been left undone.  We are grateful to be able to provide this service.