ABSTRACT
There are numerous imaging options currently available to the veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment planning of oral and maxillofacial conditions. These include: skull radiographs, dental radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography (CT), and cone-beam CT (CBCT). Most veterinary clinics have x-ray capability and skull images offer a good overall view of the maxillofacial structures. CT may also be superior to dental radiographs at determining alveolar bone height. CBCT is a diagnostic imaging modality that is gaining favor due to its numerous positive attributes. Panoramic radiographs are quite common and useful in human dentistry. In addition, CBCT has proven superior in the diagnosis of most pathologic conditions. Dental radiographs are the current minimum standard of practice for dental treatment and oral surgery and should be available for intra- and postoperative imaging. Panoramic radiology is very valuable in human dentistry, but due to variation in skull size and shape of animal patients, it is not currently available in veterinary medicine.
