Dental imaging

Michael Fehr

doi:10.22233/9781910443903.10

Dental imaging

British Small Animal Veterinary Association , e14 (2026); https://doi.org/10.22233/9781910443903.10

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Dental imaging

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Author: Michael Fehr
From: BSAVA Manual of Guinea Pigs
Item: Chapter 10, pp 103 - 110
DOI: 10.22233/9781910443903.10
Copyright: © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
Publication Date: January 2026

Dental imaging is an essential component of the full assessment of the dentition; diagnostic imaging of the teeth and the supporting bone is required for the diagnosis of dental disease. This chapter covers conventional skull and dental radiology and more advanced imaging methods, such as digital radiography and computed tomography. Techniques and positioning for standard views are thoroughly illustrated, and common findings are discussed.

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Figures

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10.1

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10.1 A direct digital radiography unit, showing the X-ray translucent table (arrowhead), plate (*) and X-ray emitter (arrowed).

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10.2

(a) Guinea pig positioned for a laterolateral radiographic dental view. The animal is in lateral recumbency with a foam wedge elevating the nose. (b) Laterolateral dental radiograph of a healthy guinea pig, showing dental enamel folds (*), periapical cheek teeth regions (arrowheads), incisor apices (white arrows) and summation of the occlusal planes (black arrow). © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

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10.2 (a) Guinea pig positioned for a laterolateral radiographic dental view. The animal is in lateral recumbency with a foam wedge elevating the nose. (b) Laterolateral dental radiograph of a healthy guinea pig, showing dental enamel folds (*), periapical cheek teeth regions (arrowheads), incisor apices (white arrows) and summation of the occlusal planes (black arrow).

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10.3

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10.3 Lateral radiograph of the skull of a healthy guinea pig, with reference lines superimposed. There is slight overgrowth of the mandibular incisors.

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10.4

(a) Guinea pig positioned for a lateral oblique radiographic dental view, with the head elevated on a foam wedge at an angle of 35 degrees. (b) Radiograph of the skull of a healthy 2-year-old boar, obtained with a left lateral oblique view with the skull angled at 35 degrees. The apices of the maxillary cheek teeth (arrowheads), dental enamel folds (*), occlusal plane (X) and apical regions of the mandibular cheek teeth (arrowed) are visible. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

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10.4 (a) Guinea pig positioned for a lateral oblique radiographic dental view, with the head elevated on a foam wedge at an angle of 35 degrees. (b) Radiograph of the skull of a healthy 2-year-old boar, obtained with a left lateral oblique view with the skull angled at 35 degrees. The apices of the maxillary cheek teeth (arrowheads), dental enamel folds (*), occlusal plane (X) and apical regions of the mandibular cheek teeth (arrowed) are visible.

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10.5

(a, b) Positioning for a dorsoventral view (Jekl et al., 2008). Complete symmetry is depicted by the white lines in (a). The dental cassette or digital sensor is placed beneath the head. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

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10.5 (a, b) Positioning for a dorsoventral view (Jekl et al., 2008). Complete symmetry is depicted by the white lines in (a). The dental cassette or digital sensor is placed beneath the head.

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10.6

(a, b) Guinea pig positioned for a rostrocaudal radiographic view. The animal is in dorsal recumbency with the head against a rectangular foam block to maintain its position. The red lines indicate the position of the central beam. (c, d) Radiographs obtained using the rostrocaudal view. (c) A healthy 2-year-old boar. The temporomandibular articulations (arrowheads), occlusal angle (arrowed) and mandibular cheek teeth (*) are visible. (d) A 5-year-old sow. Macrodont formation of the right mandibular incisor (401) (*), the right mandibular cheek teeth row (X), arthritis of the left temporomandibular joint (triangle), loss of the normal enamel folds of the left mandibular cheek teeth (arrowhead) and apical elongation with bone distension (arrowed) are visible. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

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10.6 (a, b) Guinea pig positioned for a rostrocaudal radiographic view. The animal is in dorsal recumbency with the head against a rectangular foam block to maintain its position. The red lines indicate the position of the central beam. (c, d) Radiographs obtained using the rostrocaudal view. (c) A healthy 2-year-old boar. The temporomandibular articulations (arrowheads), occlusal angle (arrowed) and mandibular cheek teeth (*) are visible. (d) A 5-year-old sow. Macrodont formation of the right mandibular incisor (401) (*), the right mandibular cheek teeth row (X), arthritis of the left temporomandibular joint (triangle), loss of the normal enamel folds of the left mandibular cheek teeth (arrowhead) and apical elongation with bone distension (arrowed) are visible.

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10.7

(a) Guinea pig positioned for the isolated mandibular radiographic view. (b–d) Radiographs obtained using the isolated mandibular view. (b) A healthy 2-year-old boar. The enamel folding of the mandibular cheek teeth (arrowed) and the incisors (*) can be seen. (c) A 4-year-old neutered boar. Macrodont formation of the left first mandibular molar tooth (308) with loss of tooth structure (arrowhead), a fracture line (arrowed), elongation of the clinical crowns of the teeth on the left side (*) and a spur (X) are visible. (d) A 5-year-old sow. Macrodont formation of the left mandibular second cheek tooth (310) with an elongated reserve crown (arrowed) and loss of tooth structure (*) can be seen. The clinical crown of the left third mandibular cheek tooth (311) is elongated (arrowhead). © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

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10.7 (a) Guinea pig positioned for the isolated mandibular radiographic view. (b–d) Radiographs obtained using the isolated mandibular view. (b) A healthy 2-year-old boar. The enamel folding of the mandibular cheek teeth (arrowed) and the incisors (*) can be seen. (c) A 4-year-old neutered boar. Macrodont formation of the left first mandibular molar tooth (308) with loss of tooth structure (arrowhead), a fracture line (arrowed), elongation of the clinical crowns of the teeth on the left side (*) and a spur (X) are visible. (d) A 5-year-old sow. Macrodont formation of the left mandibular second cheek tooth (310) with an elongated reserve crown (arrowed) and loss of tooth structure (*) can be seen. The clinical crown of the left third mandibular cheek tooth (311) is elongated (arrowhead).

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10.8

(a) Guinea pig positioned for the isolated maxillary radiographic view. (b, c) Radiographs obtained using the isolated maxillary view. (b) A healthy 3-year-old boar. The enamel folding of the right and left maxillary cheek teeth (*) and mandibular cheek teeth (arrowheads) can be seen. (c) A 3-year-old boar. There is macrodont formation of the left maxillary second cheek tooth (210) with loss of the normal tooth structure (arrowhead). © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

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10.8 (a) Guinea pig positioned for the isolated maxillary radiographic view. (b, c) Radiographs obtained using the isolated maxillary view. (b) A healthy 3-year-old boar. The enamel folding of the right and left maxillary cheek teeth (*) and mandibular cheek teeth (arrowheads) can be seen. (c) A 3-year-old boar. There is macrodont formation of the left maxillary second cheek tooth (210) with loss of the normal tooth structure (arrowhead).

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10.9

(a) Radiograph of the skull of a 4-year-old sow, obtained with a left lateral oblique view. Macrodont formation of the left mandibular last molar (311) is visible, characterized by structural alteration (*), retrograde elongation (arrowed) and periodontal radiolucency (periodontitis) (arrowhead). (b) A 3-year-old boar with macrodont formation of the left mandibular second cheek tooth (310). © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

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10.9 (a) Radiograph of the skull of a 4-year-old sow, obtained with a left lateral oblique view. Macrodont formation of the left mandibular last molar (311) is visible, characterized by structural alteration (*), retrograde elongation (arrowed) and periodontal radiolucency (periodontitis) (arrowhead). (b) A 3-year-old boar with macrodont formation of the left mandibular second cheek tooth (310).

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10.10

Radiograph of a 3-year-old guinea pig, obtained with a right lateral view. The right maxillary incisor (101) shows macrodont formation (arrowed), an irregular surface and structural change (arrowhead). Sclerosis and protrusion of the palatal bone (*) are also visible. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

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10.10 Radiograph of a 3-year-old guinea pig, obtained with a right lateral view. The right maxillary incisor (101) shows macrodont formation (arrowed), an irregular surface and structural change (arrowhead). Sclerosis and protrusion of the palatal bone (*) are also visible.

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10.11

(a) A 3-year-old sow with macrodont formation of the right mandibular incisor (401) (arrowhead). (b) A 4-year-old boar with macrodont formation of the right mandibular incisor (401) (arrowhead). (c) Radiograph of a 4-year-old boar, obtained with an isolated mandibular view. The right mandibular incisor (401) shows macrodont formation (*) and is split lengthways with loss of normal tooth structure (arrowhead). The right mandibular last molar tooth (411) shows apical elongation with bone distension (arrowed). © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

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10.11 (a) A 3-year-old sow with macrodont formation of the right mandibular incisor (401) (arrowhead). (b) A 4-year-old boar with macrodont formation of the right mandibular incisor (401) (arrowhead). (c) Radiograph of a 4-year-old boar, obtained with an isolated mandibular view. The right mandibular incisor (401) shows macrodont formation (*) and is split lengthways with loss of normal tooth structure (arrowhead). The right mandibular last molar tooth (411) shows apical elongation with bone distension (arrowed).

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10.12

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10.12 A conscious guinea pig positioned in a box ready for CT examination.

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10.13

(a) Three-dimensional CT reconstruction of the skull of a 2-year-old neutered boar, showing macrodont formation of the right mandibular first molar tooth (408), cortical deformities and bone perforation exposure of the tooth apex (arrowed). (b) Three-dimensional CT reconstruction of the skull of a 2-year-old boar, showing macrodont formation of the left mandibular second cheek tooth (310) with perforation of the ventral mandible and exposure of the apices of the cheek teeth (310, 311) (arrowed). © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

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10.13 (a) Three-dimensional CT reconstruction of the skull of a 2-year-old neutered boar, showing macrodont formation of the right mandibular first molar tooth (408), cortical deformities and bone perforation exposure of the tooth apex (arrowed). (b) Three-dimensional CT reconstruction of the skull of a 2-year-old boar, showing macrodont formation of the left mandibular second cheek tooth (310) with perforation of the ventral mandible and exposure of the apices of the cheek teeth (310, 311) (arrowed).

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10.14

Transverse plane image of the skull of a 2-year-old neutered boar, showing macrodont formation and fracture of the right mandibular first molar tooth (408) and lingual spur formation. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

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10.14 Transverse plane image of the skull of a 2-year-old neutered boar, showing macrodont formation and fracture of the right mandibular first molar tooth (408) and lingual spur formation.

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10.15

(a) Sagittal plane image of the skull of a 5-year-old sow, showing elongation of the left mandibular first and second molars (308 and 309) (arrowhead) and periapical bone lysis of the left mandibular incisor (301) (arrowed). (b) Sagittal plane image of the skull of a 2-year-old neutered boar, showing macrodont formation of the right mandibular first molar (408) with a fracture line (arrowed). The tympanic bulla (arrowhead) can also be seen. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

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10.15 (a) Sagittal plane image of the skull of a 5-year-old sow, showing elongation of the left mandibular first and second molars (308 and 309) (arrowhead) and periapical bone lysis of the left mandibular incisor (301) (arrowed). (b) Sagittal plane image of the skull of a 2-year-old neutered boar, showing macrodont formation of the right mandibular first molar (408) with a fracture line (arrowed). The tympanic bulla (arrowhead) can also be seen.

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10.16

Dorsal plane image of the skull of a 2-year-old neutered boar, showing macrodont formation of the right mandibular first molar (408) with a fracture line (arrowed), bony proliferation (arrowhead) and the ‘zigzag’ appearance of the structure of the cheek teeth. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

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10.16 Dorsal plane image of the skull of a 2-year-old neutered boar, showing macrodont formation of the right mandibular first molar (408) with a fracture line (arrowed), bony proliferation (arrowhead) and the ‘zigzag’ appearance of the structure of the cheek teeth.

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10.17

Dorsal plane image of the skull of a 4-year-old neutered boar, showing alveolitis of the right mandibular incisor (401) with bone lysis (arrowhead) and loss of tooth structure (arrowed). © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

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10.17 Dorsal plane image of the skull of a 4-year-old neutered boar, showing alveolitis of the right mandibular incisor (401) with bone lysis (arrowhead) and loss of tooth structure (arrowed).