Interpretation of Periodontitis, Tooth Resorption and Periapical Lucencies
The presentation highlights the critical role of dental radiographs in diagnosing issues like tooth resorption and periapical lucencies. Understanding and identifying these radiographic signs is crucial for determining the appropriate treatment plan for the patient. These interpretations should be precise, as they directly influence clinical decisions like whether to extract or attempt to save a tooth.

Periodontitis
Periodontitis is a common condition. Periodontitis leads to the progressive loss of the supporting structures of the teeth, and it is a major cause of tooth loss in animals. An essential takeaway from this part of the presentation is that objective criteria are needed to guide decisions on tooth extraction versus preservation. Historically, the decision was more straightforward - if a tooth was loose, it was generally extracted, and if it wasn’t, it could be kept. However this approach is considered outdated. Teeth can appear structurally sound (not loose) but still be in poor condition, requiring extraction. The condition of a tooth can be deceiving and radiographs are essential for making informed clinical decisions.