We have just purchased a digital dental x-ray unit. Having this unit allows us within a matter of seconds to accurately image any tooth in an anaesthetised animal and identify any teeth which require extraction. It has become normal practice in human dentistry to x-ray teeth before extractions are performed, and we feel we should be doing this also. This is of particular importance in cats where often the damaged and painful part of the tooth can be below the gumline and the only warning may be a redness of the gums (gingivitis).