BACK TO BASICS: THE CHANGING FACE OF EQUINE DENTAL CARE
angle to this plane, their images will be slightly blurred (Fig. 5). Slight rostro-caudal or caudo-rostral adjustment of the central beam will be necessary to obtain a good long- axis image of these teeth.
● The straight lateral (laterolateral) view is ob- tained with the central beam centered on the occlusal aspect of the cheek teeth, at the level of the rostral end of the facial crest. The right-left marker should indicate the side of the head that is closest to the imaging plate/ sensor. The technique should be chosen that gives good detail of the paradental alveolar bone and sinus anatomy (Fig. 6).
Fig. 6. The right lateral view. The sensor is on the right side of the horse’s head, so the right (R) marker is used to identify the directionality. The technique used maximizes the detail of the sinus anatomy.
● The oblique lateral views should be obtained with the mouth held wide open with a bite block or dental speculum. Using the Ameri- can College of Veterinary Radiology labeling convention,1 these views are the Lt30D-RtVO, Rt30D-LtVO, Lt45V-RtDO, and Rt45V-LtDO views. It is important to have the mouth wide
Fig. 7. Lt30V-RtDO extraoral view of the canine teeth. The right maxillary canine tooth is projected ventral to the left maxillary canine tooth.
Fig. 8. Lt30D-RtVO open-mouth view. The apices of the right maxillary cheek teeth are isolated in this view. This view also isolates the crowns of the right mandibular cheek teeth.
