Dental Radiographs (x-rays)
We have recommended you have radiographs taken of your horse’s teeth today. Xrays are indicated when we need to determine the bone, soft tissue and tooth
structure beyond what we can see on clinical examination. They help us to
determine what treatment plan is indicated given your horse’s situation.
Unfortunately, North Wind Equine , LLC does not currently have access to a
radiograph machine. So, we ask you to request your veterinarian perform this
procedure. To keep the images consistent, which will help us to diagnose your
horse, please give this form to your veterinarian.
For Incisor Images:
Sedate the horse as needed to prevent chewing and place an incisor speculum (can
improvise with a pvc pipe wrapped with elasticon to protect the bars) to protect the
cassette or digital sensor. Place the cassette in the mouth (sometimes placing the
corner into the mouth will maximize the use of the plate).
Since the plate is not parallel to the long axis of the incisors, use a bisecting angle
technique. Direct the beam perpendicular to the bisecting angle between the target
tooth and the plate (see Fig 1). In some cases, further obliquing the angle is
warranted as it exaggerates the view of the roots. In geriatric patients, the incline of
the incisors decreases. This requires changing the beam angle so becomes almost
perpendicular to the plate.
Fig 1: Bisecting angle:
The black line is the cassette and the red lines
indicate the plane of the incisors.
The blue lines represent the angle that bisects
the planes of the incisors and the cassette.
The double-ended yellow arrows indicate the
beam perpendicular to the bisecting angle.
For Canine Images:
Sedate the horse as needed to prevent chewing and place a speculum that leaves the
incisors/canines unobstructed. Place the plate or cassette intraorally (sometimes
placing the corner into the mouth creates the best images). Please take one image
per canine: it is nearly impossible to get diagnostic images of both canines in one
view.
The maxillary canine is best imaged by centering the beam on the canine from the
lateral aspect (perpendicular to the long axis of the head) and at a 45° angle to the
plate Mandibular canines can be imaged as the incisors, however obliquing the angle
will highlight the root structure
Red arrows = beam angle
Green line = cassette (intra-oral)
Angle the 8 x 10 in cassette
at a 45° for intra-oral
placement to maximize the
image.
Maxillary Cheek Teeth:
Extraoral images can be obtained by placing the plate next to the target arcade and
utilizing a dorsoventral-lateral oblique with an open mouth to decrease
superimposition of the mandibular and contralateral cheek teeth.
Use a block of wood, a piece of pvc or an aluminum or Stubbs speculum (with
replacement non-metalic straps) to open the mouth. Place the (10 x 12 inch)
cassette next to the target arcade (if using a speculum, can use the strap to help hold
the cassette), centered over the suspect area. Keep the cassette slightly ventral to
accommodate the oblique image.
The beam angle should be about 30° dorsal to the lateral view and dorsal to the
apices of the near cheek teeth. In the cranial-caudal plane, aiming at the tooth in
question will give the best view to assess the periodontal ligament of that tooth.
White line = cassette
Red arrow = beam angle