Radiographic Interpretation of Periodontal Disease - Small Animal

Interpreting Periodontal Disease

Dental radiographs assist in the assessment of periodontitis by providing information regarding alveolar bone loss. They complement, not replace, the clinical examination. The clinical examination is essential for evaluating the soft tissue changes such as inflammation, gingival recession, and periodontal pocket formation. Clinical examination will provide evidence of mild bone loss, such as a Grade I furcation exposure, prior to changes being apparent on a dental radiograph. The dental radiograph is a two-dimensional image, and the morphology of an infrabony defect will be determined on clinical examination rather than on radiographic evaluation.

Widening of the Periodonal Ligament|periodontal ligament space, decreased alveolar bone density, and bone loss are all radiographic changes associated with periodontitis.

Terms used to describe the alveolar bone loss associated with periodontitis include:

• Alveolar margin bone loss
• Furcation bone loss
• Horizontal bone loss
• Vertical bone loss
• Combination of horizontal and vertical bone loss
  
  

Dental radiographs made for the evaluation of early alveolar bone loss should not be overexposed because this may result in “burn-out” of the alveolar marginal and interdental marginal bone. Dental radiographs should be made at the correct exposure or slightly under-exposed to provide the best detail when evaluating for early bone loss.

Alveolar bone loss may be mild, moderate, or severe, the significance of the bone loss will depend on the amount of attachment loss and the teeth involved. Furcation bone loss is bone loss that occurs in the area where multirooted teeth divide. Approximately 30% to 40% of the furcation bone must be lost before it will be evident on a radiograph. A Grade 3 furcation exposure is complete loss of bone in the furcation area, and this may be identified readily on most two-rooted teeth but may be more difficult to determine on the three-rooted maxillary molar teeth.

Crowded and malpositioned teeth make it more difficult to diagnose alveolar margin and furcation bone loss from a radiograph. Interdental alveolar bone loss and furcation bone loss, especially when mild, are often easier to identify radiographically than alveolar bone loss superimposed over the tooth roots.

Severe periodontitis may result in secondary complications such as external root resorption and endodontic disease or weakening of the mandible with potential for fracture.