Picture an iceberg. You think of what you see above the water. Icebergs don’t float on top of the water, though. There is a gigantic base under the water that remains unseen. If you put on a scuba suit and went underwater, you would be amazed with what you see! The crown of the tooth (the part you see) is just the tip of the iceberg!
Hidden beneath the gums is a wealth of information about your pet’s health. It is possible to have a perfectly healthy “visible” mouth and discover problems beneath the gum. If it was possible to know all we need to know without x-rays, why then does your dentist do x-rays for you? Because they need to perform x-rays to be able to properly assess your oral health and treat correctly.
What are some things we can we see on x-rays that we cannot see without?
- Missing teeth (ones that are present but never erupted above the gum)
- Masses
- Cysts
- Resorptive Lesions
- Tooth root abscesses
- Pockets between bone and tooth
- Bone loss
- Fractured tooth roots
- Fused roots
Dental x-rays are the key to unlocking the mysteries of your pet’s oral health! If you have any questions about dental x-rays or dental health in general, please call us today. We are always happy to answer any questions you may have!
Written by: Jennifer Kendrick, Site Coordinator