Diagnostic dental radiographs: A concise how-to

Mary Berg, RVT, RLATG, VTS (Dentistry), demonstrates her preferred method of obtaining these images.

[@egds64]

In thirteen minutes, this is the best x ray class I ever attended. Thank you Mary.

[@imixmuan9081]

DVM with thirty years in the field, ten as a tech and twenty as a vet or vet student. Best dental xray instruction I've ever seen and lordy, I've seen a few. I shot on film to start and boy it was easier than the digital ones. This will help my techs a lot.

[@gwengraham1665]

This was indescribably helpful!! I got a perfect full mouth today in record time after watching this.

[@Heidyhohoho]

Thank you, Mary. Unfortunately for me. we have our animals in lateral position and this makes it very confusing for me to shoot at the correct angle. We also have a faucet in the way which adds to my frustration. So, because an animal is on it's left side for example, the xray tube comes from the other direction. I don't know why we do that.(it is one of those: this is how we've always done it things) Hence, I struggle with 'diagnostic' images.

[@aledenra]

I am the only one in my hospital that takes dental x-rays in sternal/dorsal recumbency. Everyone else is used to doing it in lateral and they don't care to change. They eventually get diagnostic views, but I notice that they often need to do retakes and it takes them a lot longer. I am at the point where I can do a full set in roughly 10 minutes. Don't settle for an inadequate technique!

[@Heidyhohoho]

I am left with no choice. We are not given the time to reposition the animals, especially if it is a large dog. I just don't get why not. We are always in such a mad rush. We barely intubate and the immediately start taking xrays, blocking, extracting. All because the consensus is that if you can do it in sternal/dorsal, then you can do it in lateral left/right, so no need to take the time to reposition and mess with all the leads/monitoring equipment, etc. It is very frustrating, believe me.

[@aledenra]

I'm sorry. I get the frustration though. We have the same issues in my hospital. We overbook and more often than not the patient suffers. We don't have enough staff to monitor and recover appropriately. It's all about getting them down and up, then moving onto the next one. I hate it. I guess I'm fortunate in that my doctors know I'm passionate about dentistry and will let me do my own thing and go at my own pace. I just wish everyone else had the same outlook on standard of care. :/

[@Heidyhohoho]

your youtube is a great tool for me though; I've watched it several times. It has helped me a great deal, even if I have to try to convert it to the vertical plane.

[@lorenasisca]

Hi ! It is confusing to see x-rays taken in lateral position (in humans we do not use that technique). Is the x-ray machine any diferent than the "human" one? Is the size of the senzor smaller?

[@classyvdub]

Thank you Mary! What a wonderful tool this video is! 🐾

[@LisaWilhelm-k8h]

Hands down the best explanation I've ever seen. Thank you!

[@977vet]

Thank you so much.

[@vetken]

Very well done! Do you have any vids using a handheld x-ray generator?

[@christophergentile4179]

Great description and demo. I will put into practice all that I saw. Do you do workshops in jersey. I'd sign up in a second...Best wishes...Chris.

[@Winging-it-1000]

Thank you for this!

[@randypribbernow8456]

Fantastic video, definitely the best thing I have seen on dental xray!

[@xxtaylorsacksxx]

Thank you! Awesome video!!

[@henrycerny406]

Very helpful, Thank you

[@franceskay1695]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@TheVetzzang]

Wonderful lecture. very helpful~

[@sophieca6906]

Do regular vets have x rays like this? Or only vet dentists? I like my regular vet a lot, but I wonder if my regular vet has this type of x ray and also can diagnose the problems like vet dentists do. There is one dentist here, but it takes an hour to get there and they charge a lot (e.g., extraction per minute $340. I have no idea what that "per minute" means...) and lots of different charges under different names...plus she is not even certified as a dentist even though she works at a dentist office.

[@agaleharris2785]

A lot of general practice veterinarians have dental xray available now