Oral exams are done to identify painful problems, including broken teeth, periodontal disease, infections and abscesses, loose teeth or even oral tumors. If the pet is dropping food from his mouth or isn’t eating, it’s often due to discomfort.
A dental exam begins with a comprehensive oral examination of the pet to evaluate the structures of his face, head and neck. Then, intraoral structures are examined, including teeth and soft tissues.
Full mouth radiographs (x-rays) are also obtained. This is extremely important, as disease can easily be missed without examining beneath the gum margin (the border of the gingiva surrounding, but unattached to, the substance of the teeth). Multiple studies have shown significant diagnostic benefits in obtaining dental radiographs. Without x-rays, the specialist can only see approximately half the tooth structure !
