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Home / Equine Research Bank / Front Vet Sci / Diagnostic value of full-mouth radiography in horses.
Frontiers in veterinary science2022; 9; 971886; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.971886

Diagnostic value of full-mouth radiography in horses.

Abstract: In this observational study, oral examinations and full-mouth dental radiographs were performed on 248 horses presented for routine oral health care. The findings were assessed to determine how often disease was diagnosed by radiographs without having related findings on oral examination. In 50 horses (20%), there were radiographic signs of disease that would not have been predicted based upon the oral examination. 113 horses (46%) had oral examination findings that would have prompted dental radiography, according to the criteria of the study. Of these 113 horses, 24 (21%) had radiographic signs of disease that would have been missed if only targeted radiographs had been taken, rather than a full-mouth survey.
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Publication Date: 2022-10-05 PubMed ID: 36277061PubMed Central: PMC9581279DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.971886Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of full-mouth radiography, a dental imaging technique, in diagnosing oral disease in horses. The research discovered that 20% of the time, dental diseases found through radiographic imaging wouldn’t have been detected through oral examinations alone.

Study Design and Participants

  • The observational study involved 248 horses presented for routine oral health check-ups.
  • The horses underwent thorough oral examinations and full-mouth dental radiographic scans.

Key Findings

  • The study found that in 20% of cases (50 out of 248 horses), there were radiographic signs of disease that would not have been diagnosed based on the oral examination alone.
  • A significant 46% of the horses (113 out of 248) had findings during the oral examination that would have prompted the use of dental radiography, per the study’s criteria.
  • Of these 113 horses, 24% (21% of the total sample) had radiographic signs of oral disease that would have been missed if only targeted radiographs were used instead of a full-mouth survey.

Implications of the Findings

  • The findings suggest that full-mouth radiographs can be a valuable tool in diagnosing dental disease in horses, potentially identifying conditions overlooked during traditional oral examinations.
  • The research shows that even when oral examinations pick up potential issues, the absence of a comprehensive radiographic survey could result in missed diagnoses. This is highlighted by the 21% of horses that had radiographic signs of oral disease that would’ve been overlooked with targeted radiographs.
  • The results argue for the integration of full-mouth radiography in routine oral health examinations for horses as it increases the likelihood of disease detection, thus improving management and prognosis of equine dental health.

Limitations

  • As with all observational studies, the findings cannot establish cause and effect. Further research is needed to draw definite conclusions about the efficacy and advantages of full-mouth radiography in equine dental health.
  • The study looked at a sample of 248 horses, which, while substantial, might not be fully representative of the wider equine population. Future studies may involve a larger and more diverse sample.

Cite This Article

APA
Bishop IT. (2022). Diagnostic value of full-mouth radiography in horses. Front Vet Sci, 9, 971886. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.971886

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Pages: 971886

Researcher Affiliations

Bishop, Ian Tyler
  • Northern Equine Veterinary Services, Kirkfield, ON, Canada.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The reviewer RB declared a past co-authorship with the author to the handling editor.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Nugent Z, Jensen A, Owen N, Peffers AJ, Moothanchery M, Peffers MJ. Characterisation of equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis: A comparative study using microCT and radiography in age-matched controls. Equine Vet J 2025 Jul;57(4):1099-1109.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14453pubmed: 39825614google scholar: lookup
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