Why is dental radiography necessary for every veterinary dental procedure?

Studies show that 40–60% of dental pathology in dogs and cats is not visible on oral examination alone. Tooth root abscesses, resorptive lesions, bone loss and retained roots are all diagnosed only with radiographs. Performing a dental scale and polish without radiographs misses a significant proportion of clinically relevant disease.

What is the difference between a handheld and wall-mounted veterinary dental X-ray unit?

Handheld units (such as the IDEN-X series) are battery-powered, require no installation, and can be used in any operatory or at multiple clinic locations. Wall-mounted units are fixed to a dedicated dental station and provide more consistent positioning. Handheld units are ideal for clinics adding dental imaging without a dedicated suite; wall-mounted units suit high-volume dental practices.

Can veterinary dental X-ray units use the same sensors as human dental units?

In many cases, yes — standard #0, #1, #2 and #4 intraoral sensor sizes are compatible between human and veterinary dental X-ray systems. However, veterinary dental imaging software should be used to ensure correct species-specific DICOM tagging and species-appropriate image processing presets.