When it comes to your pet’s dental health, what you see on the surface doesn’t tell the whole story. Many of the most serious dental issues lie hidden beneath the gumline. That’s why pet dental X-rays are an essential part of any thorough dental cleaning and treatment plan.
At Carefree Dentistry & Oral Surgery for Animals, we use high-quality dental radiographs before and during cleanings to make sure no problem is missed—and no tooth is extracted unnecessarily.
What Are Pet Dental X-Rays?
Pet dental X-rays (also known as dental radiographs) are intraoral images taken while your pet is under general anesthesia. These images allow your veterinarian to view the roots, surrounding bone, and structures that can’t be seen during a routine oral exam.
Dental X-rays help identify:
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Root abscesses
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Tooth fractures
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Bone loss from periodontal disease
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Retained or unerupted teeth
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Tooth resorption (especially in cats)
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Remaining roots after prior extractions
For more information on veterinary dental imaging, visit the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC).
Why Perform Dental X-Rays Before a Cleaning?
Although it may seem logical to take X-rays after cleaning, performing pet dental X-rays before or during the procedure—while your pet is already anesthetized—offers the most accurate diagnostic value. Here’s why:
️ 1. Treatment Planning
Radiographs give your vet a complete roadmap of your pet’s oral health. They can see which teeth are healthy, which may need extraction, and which could be saved with advanced treatments like a root canal.
2. Detecting Hidden Dental Disease
More than 60% of a tooth lies below the gumline. Even if a tooth looks normal, it could be hiding serious disease in its roots or surrounding bone. Without imaging, these issues can go completely unnoticed.
3. Avoiding Unnecessary Extractions
Not all teeth that look damaged on the surface actually need to be removed. Dental X-rays help determine if a tooth is structurally sound and salvageable with procedures like root canals.
4. Monitoring Changes Over Time
Baseline X-rays help track your pet’s dental health year after year. Comparing new images with past ones helps assess disease progression and adjust treatment plans accordingly.
Dental Pain in Pets Is Often Hidden
One of the most important reasons to take dental X-rays before a cleaning is to uncover sources of pain your pet might be hiding. Dogs and cats are notoriously stoic, often continuing to eat and behave normally even with painful oral infections or broken teeth.
With pet dental X-rays, your veterinarian can detect and treat painful conditions before they worsen—ensuring your pet’s comfort and wellbeing.
Are Pet Dental X-Rays Safe?
Yes! Pet dental radiographs use low-dose radiation and are completely safe. Since pets must stay perfectly still during imaging, general anesthesia is required to protect both the patient and the quality of the X-rays.
Anesthesia also allows a complete and pain-free dental evaluation and cleaning—considered the gold standard in veterinary dentistry.
The Bottom Line: Don’t Skip the X-Rays
A professional dental cleaning without radiographs is like trying to fix a problem blindfolded. You may remove tartar, but without seeing below the gumline, serious disease can be missed.
If your regular veterinary clinic doesn’t offer dental imaging, consider a referral to a practice that does—or better yet, a board-certified veterinary dental specialist.
Serving Phoenix and the surrounding areas, our team at Carefree Dentistry & Oral Surgery for Animals is here to help your pet get the care they need.
Visit www.animaldentalaz.com to schedule your pet’s dental consultation today.