Teeth extraction - Are x-rays necessary?

Hi everyone,

My 11-year-old cat's vet believes that she needs to have at least one tooth extracted because it's loose and the gums around it are very swollen. I'm very paranoid about anesthesia since she had a hard time recovering from it last time she had a dental cleaning almost 4 years ago (they used Telazol but said they typically use isoflurane for older/sick cats), so I've been asking around to find out the anesthesia protocols for different vets.

So far I've spoken to her current vet and one other. Both vets have their benefits and drawbacks with their anesthesia protocols, but my main question is this: Is it necessary to complete dental x-rays to determine which teeth need to be extracted? Her current vet doesn't have the capability to do dental x-rays, but they said they have a method to determine which teeth need to be extracted. Does anyone have any ideas about whether or not it would be effective without x-rays? I just don't want to put her through the procedure only to find out that she needs to do it again in 6 months.

I would appreciate any input! Thanks!

While my cats haven't had dental x-rays, I plan to insist on it in the future. The x-rays are better at detecting broken or weak teeth which may not be obvious during the procedure but may need to be removed as well. Basically the x-rays allow the vet to determine problem teeth early so they can be removed before they do much damage. A quote from the first link below:
"Intraoral radiographs often reveal moderate to severe periodontal disease with marked supportive bone loss. All stages of feline oral resorptive lesions can also be apparent clinically and radiographically."

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...=1&SourceID=13
http://www.lbah.com/dent.htm
http://www.lbah.com/dentsum.htm

Odo had a dental back in November. His teeth were almost as bad again within two months. I've now started brushing his teeth every night in preparation for the next dental (which I hope to schedule soon). I figure if I'm going to spend a bunch of money on a dental I need to protect my investment with preventative care (assuming he has any teeth left after this one!), so I purchased some C.E.T. toothpaste in beef and seafood flavors and I pin him each night. He's starting to get used to it. There are some other strategies to get your cat to like teethbrushing, but they require finding a toothpaste that they like--and Odo doesn't like any of them.

Haha, yeah. I don't think I'd have very good luck finding a toothpaste Bailey liked. She freaks out every single time I give her lactulose, even though she's been getting it for over a year. She's really good about me clipping her nails, but I guess her previous owner started doing that when she was a kitten. Bailey's pretty stuck in her ways

I talked to her current vet again earlier today. I really would prefer that she have x-rays done, but so far I've been happier with their responses regarding anesthesia protocol than with the other 2 vets I've spoken to. Out of the other 2, only one has the capability to do x-rays. The one that does said they only administer IV fluids if the cat's blood pressure is off prior to the procedure, they said they don't typically regulate body temperature during dental procedures, and they said only one person would be present during the cleaning (a vet tech). They said the vet would check her teeth after and do any necessary extractions, but I don't really like the idea of only having ONE person present during the procedure. When I asked if someone would be present to monitor her, they said, "The technician doing the cleaning does the monitoring." Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I don't like how that sounds. Plus, my understanding is that it is beneficial to administer IV fluids to regulate blood pressure and to have easy access to a vein in case something goes wrong and they need to administer any additional drugs. Her current vet's office said that her vet and a vet tech would be present throughout the entire procedure, and I'd feel better knowing that a 2nd person would be there to monitor her while the dental work was being done. They'll also administer IV fluids, regulate her body temperature, and monitor her blood pressure.

I don't know. This is a difficult decision. I wish that her current vet could just do x-rays!!! My decision would pretty much be made if they could. I really appreciate your input. I AM concerned about ending up having to put her through this again in a few months for the same reason you have. I'm also concerned about her well-being throughout the procedure too though. Is it even possible to find the perfect vet?

Originally Posted by JennyJen

Is it even possible to find the perfect vet?

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No its not they are human just like us and they practice animal medicine. Just like our human doc practice on us.

The best you can do is find a Vet that has a balance of fresh learning and experience. A feline only Vet would have more experience and specialized knowledge then a general vet who sees more dogs then cats.

AAFP has a search tool http://www.aafponline.org/findadoctor.php

I hope your babies tooth cleaning et al goes well.

Originally Posted by Mia mouse

No its not they are human just like us and they practice animal medicine. Just like our human doc practice on us.

The best you can do is find a Vet that has a balance of fresh learning and experience. A feline only Vet would have more experience and specialized knowledge then a general vet who sees more dogs then cats.

AAFP has a search tool http://www.aafponline.org/findadoctor.php

I hope your babies tooth cleaning et al goes well.

Click to expand...

I know there isn't a such thing as a perfect vet (or doctor- I've seen a ton of doctors and haven't liked one of them ), but it would be nice if there was.

I checked the AAFP site a few days ago, and the only feline only clinics are at least an hour away (Bailey already has a super hard time with the 10-minute ride to the vet she has now). There are a couple of "feline specialists" in my area. One of them was the vet I spoke with that I mentioned previously (who I discovered is actually a canine/feline specialist), and I haven't heard back from the other one. This is one of those (many) times I wish I didn't live in NH!