What is the most beneficial diagnostic tool in veterinary dentistry?
- Mkt Apixia
- Nov 7
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 13

The system's diagnostic assistance boils down to three main advantages: Clarity, Flexibility, and Speed.
🔎 1. Unmatched Clarity for Hidden Disease
The number one rule in vet dentistry is: "No X-ray, No dentistry.” The EXL makes the invisible visible.
· Exceptional Image Quality: The system delivers crystal-clear, high-resolution radiographs of the entire tooth structure, from crown to apex. This allows the vet to confidently diagnose issues that are impossible to see during a physical exam because they are below the gumline.
o Periodontal Disease: Accurately measuring bone loss around the tooth root, which determines if a tooth can be saved.
o Abscesses and Root Infections: Identifying periapical lucency (dark spots at the root tip) that indicate infection.
o Feline Tooth Resorption (FORLs): Catching the painful erosion of tooth structure, often hidden beneath the gingiva.
o Trauma: Detecting jaw fractures or fractured roots retained after a previous extraction.
· Powerful Imaging Software: The included apixia software is essential for diagnosis. It allows the vet to:
o Magnify minute details.
o Adjust contrast and brightness to highlight subtle pathology in both bone and soft tissue.
o Measure lesions and root lengths for precise surgical planning.
o Create custom mount.
🧘 2. Ultimate Flexibility for Difficult Patients
Veterinary patients don't always cooperate, which is where the PSP (Phosphor Storage Plate) technology truly excels for diagnosis.
· Film-Like Comfort and Positioning: The plates are thin and flexible, making it far easier to position them correctly in small mouths (cats, small dogs) or awkward anatomical spots (the back molars, deep mouth corners) compared to rigid wired digital sensors. Better positioning means a better diagnostic image and fewer retakes.
· Variety of Sizes (0 to 5): The EXL scanner can process a range of plate sizes:
o Using the tiny size 0 plates for cats and toy breeds.
o Using the large size 4 or 5 plates to capture an entire jaw quadrant in a single shot for large dogs, ensuring all teeth and associated bone structures are assessed together.
⏱️ 3. Laser-Fast Image Processing
Diagnosis is only effective if it's timely, especially since the patient is under anesthesia.
· Near-Instant Results: The EXL is a "laser-fast" scanner, processing the exposed plates and displaying the digital image on the computer screen in around 10 seconds.
· Real-Time Decision Making: This speed allows the vet to confirm a diagnosis immediately, make real-time decisions about a surgical plan (e.g., confirming all root fragments are removed during an extraction), and proceed to the next step without wasting valuable anesthetic time waiting for images.
In short, the apixia EXL PSP Scanner takes the guesswork out of veterinary dental diagnosis, allowing the vet to see the entire picture—both above and below the gumline—quickly and clearly.

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