Today's Veterinary Practice

MAY-JUN 2017

Today's Veterinary Practice provides comprehensive information to keep every small animal practitioner up to date on companion animal medicine and surgery as well as practice building and management.

Issue link: http://todaysveterinarypractice.epubxp.com/i/815220

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 47 of 113

44 IMAGING ESSENTIALS PEER REVIEWED Mandibular radiopacities are round or oval well- defined radiopacities observed along the caudal or mid- mandibular body ( Figure 9B ). In the absence of clinical signs or anatomic proximity to an endodontically diseased tooth, the finding can be considered incidental and is likely the result of sclerotic bone. 10 Periodontal Findings Calculus deposits, when thick, can be visible radiographically ( Figure 10 ) because of their mineralized nature. However, the amount of calculus accumulation visible clinically and radiographically should not be used as an indicator of the severity or extent of periodontal disease. Alveolar bone loss by definition is pathologic. Namely, if alveolar bone loss is present, a diagnosis of periodontitis is established. Of the 4 tissues that compose the attachment apparatus of teeth (the periodontium), alveolar bone is the only one that is directly visible on radiographs. In general, alveolar bone loss can follow a vertical or a horizontal pattern. Vertical bone loss is when the defect is perpendicular to the cementoenamel junction (CEJ; Figures 11A , 11B, and 11C ); horizontal bone loss is when the defect is parallel to the CEJ. A combined pattern can also occur. The pattern of bone loss is clinically relevant as it can affect therapeutic options. Buccal bone expansion is an alveolar bone loss pattern that seems to be unique to cats. Buccal bone expansion appears radiographically as bulbous and/or thickened alveolar bone with varying degrees of vertical bone loss, primarily on the buccal aspect of canine teeth ( Figure 11D ). More than one tooth can be affected. Furcation defects can occur at a very early stage of periodontitis because the furcation area is very close to the alveolar margin. Furcation involvement is used to describe bone loss that is observed at the furcation but does not appear to communicate all the way through ( Figure 11C ). In contrast, furcation exposure refers to through-and-through defects ( Figures 11A and 11C ). If furcation exposure is detected, the long-term periodontal prognosis is poor, and extraction is most often indicated, regardless of severity of periodontitis. Periodontal–endodontic lesions may be detectable radiographically if alveolar bone loss FIGURE 10. Calculus. Heavy calculus deposits are visible radiographically over the left maxillary fourth premolar tooth in an 8-year-old dog. FIGURE 9. Jaw lesions. FIGURE 9A shows an unerupted right mandibular first molar tooth with an associated dentigerous cyst in an 8-year-old dog. FIGURE 9B shows a caudal mandibular radiopacity just rostral to the mesial root of the right mandibular first molar tooth in a 6-year-old dog. A B FIGURE 8. Peg tooth. The radiograph shows an abnormally small and single-rooted left mandibular third premolar tooth in a 6-year-old cat.

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Today's Veterinary Practice - MAY-JUN 2017