Why Dental X-rays Are a Game-Changer for Your Pet’s Health
On the surface, your pet’s teeth might look pretty good. They’re still eating. They’re still chewing. Maybe their breath’s a little pongy, but otherwise? All seems fine.
But here’s the truth: Most dental disease happens where we can’t see it — below the gumline. And that’s exactly why dental X-rays are one of the most important tools we use.
🦷 The outside doesn’t tell the whole story
Dental disease isn’t always obvious. A tooth can look clean and intact from above, but underneath?
There might be:
- A cracked or fractured root
- A deep tooth root abscess
- Bone loss from chronic gum disease
- Tooth resorption or root exposure
These conditions are painful, progressive, and often invisible without X-rays.
We’ve seen patients whose mouths looked relatively mild on exam — maybe a little tartar and gingivitis — but whose X-rays revealed serious problems hiding just out of sight.
And the heartbreaking part?
Pets rarely show obvious signs of pain.
They’ll still eat. They’ll still wag. They’ll still purr. That doesn’t mean they’re okay.
🛠️ What dental X-rays help us do
Just like when you visit the dentist, X-rays help us:
- Diagnose problems early, before teeth become loose or infected
- Plan treatments properly, so we don’t miss anything under the gumline
- Avoid unnecessary extractions — and make sure we remove the right teeth
- Check for retained roots or jaw changes after surgery
- Monitor long-term issues, like resorptive lesions or previous trauma
In fact, we require dental X-rays during every dental procedure at Rouse Hill Family Vets — because it’s the only way to do the job properly.
We wouldn’t let our own teeth be treated without them, and we won’t do that to your pets either.
📸 A real example: what we found under the surface
This is an actual dental X-ray from one of our patients. From the outside, this tooth looked concerning — but the X-ray confirmed severe bone loss around the roots, and infection that had been brewing deep inside the jaw.
Without X-rays, this pet would have gone home with pain, infection, and worsening dental disease.
With them? We could treat the problem at its root (literally) — and get them back to living pain-free.
🎯 What happens if we don’t X-ray?
Without X-rays, we’re only guessing.
And when it comes to your pet’s comfort, guessing just isn’t good enough.
We risk:
- Missing painful conditions entirely
- Leaving behind damaged roots or teeth
- Failing to explain why a pet is uncomfortable
- Delaying treatment until things get much worse (and more expensive)
🐾 We’re here to help — starting with a free dental check
Right now, we’re offering free dental checks until 30th September to help catch problems early — before they cause pain or permanent damage.
If your pet needs a dental procedure, we’ll walk you through:
- The process (including how we keep them safe and calm under anaesthetic)
- The X-rays and findings
- The treatment plan and aftercare, personalised for your pet
👉 Book your free dental check now
📞 Or give us a call on 02 9086 9130
💛 Why choose Rouse Hill Family Vets?
At RHFV, we take your pet’s comfort seriously.
That’s why:
- We’re a Fear Free Certified Practice — every visit is designed to reduce stress
- We’re a Gold Standard Cat-Friendly Clinic
- And we always treat your pets as if they were our own
Because what’s under the gumline matters.
And we’re here to make sure nothing painful goes unnoticed.
Warmly,
Dr Belinda
