PatricksMom Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 My vet's office just added dental x-rays to their list of services. Patrick's never had them before so I'm wondering if he really needs them? He's 12, he gets his teeth cleaned every year, last year was the first year he had to have 2 teeth removed. If it matters, they do need to be cleaned but they're not bothering him. Quote Beth, Petey (8 September 2018- ), and Faith (22 March 2019). Godspeed Patrick (28 April 1999 - 5 August 2012), Murphy (23 June 2004 - 27 July 2013), Leo (1 May 2009 - 27 January 2020), and Henry (10 August 2010 - 7 August 2020), you were loved more than you can know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LakeshoreGreys Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 Our vet doesn't give us a choice - it's automatically part of a dental and they charge accordingly. Quote Sara formerly on Greytalk as Mommyof3Gone, but still part of our family and always in our hearts:Bruiser Isa Comander To 6/23/91-11/20/03 Sandy NSK Special Up 10/19/89-6/13/04 Beau Bdk's Boo Boo 1/1/93-12/15/06 Cooney Lars Dbltakedean 11/1/93-1/23/07Buddy 2/9/1997-11/16/09 Joe Elkhart Joe 11/7/99-12/2/10 Alex Streakin Diablo 4/17/02-4/1/11 Brother Hylife Brother 9/26/97-2/28/12 Comanche Gil's Comanche 6/7/2005-11/7/2015 Molly 4/8/2011-4/13/2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 It's a great service to offer. It's hard to determine the health of a tooth without radiographs. The rads will also find gingival pockets that might not be found while performing the prophy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BrianRke Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 This is good to know. I've actually never thought about it before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kudzu Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 My senior guy had them when his dental was done at the doggie dentist. My girl just had her dental done by a GP vet & the charges do not list rads. Didn't even think to ask for any as she wasn't having any apparent problems except tartar build up. In the case of my senior the rads were all fine & his teeth were in much worse condition. Getting rads is a good idea & can understand while a vet with the capability would want to include it. However, if it pushes the price up so much that people may shy away from a needed dental due to financial constraints then it is also understandable why some may not. Not sure in the long run which is the best approach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kydie Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 My grey has only ever had his teeth cleaned once,, and x-rays where part of the deal,, was glad, as now the vet has a base to go by if he ever needs a dental again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Swifthounds Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 The one problem with dental x-rays done by a GP vet is that the interpretation isn't as good as the diagnostic tool, which is often less than helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fasave Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 Absolutely! One of my biggest regrets is that I didn't know this was possible when I adopted a 6 year-old with horrible teeth. He lost 18 with his first dental with a GP vet and no x-rays. I'm guessing he should have lost many more. By 8 years of age he was diagnosed with IBD/PLE/PLN. Can't help thinking the teeth played a part in the disease and even with daily brushing with a battery powered tooth brush, we couldn't keep ahead of the decay. If I had known to take x-rays and worked with a vet dentist, I'm guessing he would have lost most if not all on that first dental. I will always wonder if he would have been healthier later in life if I had only taken him to a specialist initially. When my new guy came to me as a foster, he fell down the deck stairs during the first snow fall taking a face plant on a piece of flagstone and breaking a bottom canine. So, seeing I broken him, I decided he had to keep him. First thing I did was make an appointment with a vet dentist and have the tooth removed. He had to have been a crate chewer because all his front teeth are worn down to little nubs. They did a full set of x-rays and found one more molar that needed to be removed. Luckily, the vet told me everything else looked great and if I keep up with the brushing there is a good possibility that he won't need any further dentals. Moving forward, I will always use a dentist for any pup with obvious dental issues and x-rays will be mandatory. Daily brushing are also part of my guys lives and always will be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatricksMom Posted June 24, 2011 Author Share Posted June 24, 2011 Thanks, it sounds like we'll do them. I was just wondering because they do add $200 to the dental, although with my vet they're optional so hopefully that's not discouraging people from doing the dental at all. Most of the cost of the dental with Patrick is the blood work and his special anethesia protocal. Quote Beth, Petey (8 September 2018- ), and Faith (22 March 2019). Godspeed Patrick (28 April 1999 - 5 August 2012), Murphy (23 June 2004 - 27 July 2013), Leo (1 May 2009 - 27 January 2020), and Henry (10 August 2010 - 7 August 2020), you were loved more than you can know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest d0ggiem0mma Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 My IG had a dental in December w/o x-rays. Now only 6 months later, his 2 front teeth are loose and need to come out. Dental x-rays would have shown extensive bone loss in December and would have prevented him from needing a 2nd dental so soon... but the cost difference would have been $300 more to go to the other clinic that offers x-rays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 The one problem with dental x-rays done by a GP vet is that the interpretation isn't as good as the diagnostic tool, which is often less than helpful. Just how did you become so knowledgeable--your knowledge seems endless--it's scary--really! Actually, there are many qualified vets that can evaluate a dental rad without actually being boarded. If your vet offers dental radiographs I personally would recommend them. JMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Swifthounds Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 The one problem with dental x-rays done by a GP vet is that the interpretation isn't as good as the diagnostic tool, which is often less than helpful. Just how did you become so knowledgeable--your knowledge seems endless--it's scary--really! Actually, there are many qualified vets that can evaluate a dental rad without actually being boarded. If your vet offers dental radiographs I personally would recommend them. JMO I don't know why you find knowledge and difference of opinion so offensive, but that's a personal issue. Some of us prefer our vets board certified. Others are less concerned with experience and qualifications. To each his/her own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kydie Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 I live in a small town,,, finding a vet dentist would be No option here,, even at our stand by "big" animal hospital 2 hours away,,,, Our small town vet has taken care of our dogs 35 years,, and done a greyt job,,,and you don't have to mortage your house to care for your pets I trust him,, and for most people,,, that is 1/2 the battle,the only complaint I have ever heard about him,, there is not enough of him to go around,, when the grey came,, he has a small end of his tooth broken off,,, the vet,,,, "we can find a vet dentist somewhere and have a root canal done on that if it comes to that" WHAT,, you must be kidding? "No" he said,, "I have to give you options" The tooth is fine and I assure you I will NOT be looking for a vet dentist,, EVER,, Just me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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