CommunityNews
Dental Disease in Cats
By Courtney Barnes, BSc, DVM; Malcolm Weir, DVM, MSc, MPH; Lorraine Hiscox, DVM, FAVD Dip. AVDC; Jan Bellows, DVM, Dipl. AVDC, ABVP
How common is dental disease in cats? A cat’ s tooth with a resorptive lesionDental disease is one of the most common medical conditions seen by veterinarians. More than half of all cats over the age of three have some form of dental disease.
WHAT ARE THE CLINICAL SIGNS OF DENTAL DISEASE?
Many cats do not display signs of dental disease that their owners can detect. To detect hidden disease, it is important that your cat has complete, oral examinations under general anesthetic, with intraoral X-rays( radiographs), beginning early in the cat’ s life.
If your cat does show signs, they may include pawing at the mouth, head shaking, or jaw chattering. The cat may chew with obvious discomfort, drop food from their mouth, swallow with difficulty, or drool excessively. The saliva may contain blood. Halitosis( bad breath) is also common.
“ DENTAL DISEASE AND ORAL PAIN MAY ACCOUNT FOR SOME CATS’ FINICKY APPETITES.”
Dental disease and oral pain may account for some cats’ finicky appetites. Many cats refuse dry food or swallow it whole( no chewing) and demonstrate a preference for moist or canned foods. Some cats have a decreased interest in food or may hesitantly approach their food bowl with reluctance to eat, which may lead to noticeable weight loss.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON DENTAL DISEASES IN CATS?
The most common dental diseases in cats are gingivitis( inflammation of the gums caused by the accumulation of plaque), periodontal disease( a progression from gingivitis), and tooth resorption( formerly called feline oral resorptive lesions or cervical neck lesions).
WHAT IS PERIODONTAL DISEASE?
Periodontal disease describes infection and associated inflammation of the periodontium( the tissues surrounding the tooth). Four tissues comprise the periodontium: the
gingiva( gums), the cementum( covering the root surface), the periodontal ligament( attaching the tooth root to the bone), and the bone surrounding the tooth.
Periodontal disease starts with gingivitis( inflammation of the gums). Gingivitis results from plaque( bacterial slime) that accumulates on tooth surfaces and contacts the gingiva. Plaque is a biofilm and home to many thousands of bacteria.
Some of this plaque is naturally removed during eating or by the cat’ s tongue. However, without daily brushing, plaque quickly builds and eventually mineralizes( over 36-48 hours), forming hard tartar( also called calculus). Tartar has a rough surface that plaque can stick to more readily. Untreated gingivitis may lead to further inflammation of other tissues of the periodontium. Progression of periodontal disease leads to loss of tooth support and eventual loss of the tooth.
There may be other consequences of periodontal disease due to the loss of bone, including oronasal fistula( a hole from the mouth into the nose), jaw fracture, and abscessation with draining tracts that develop in the mouth, on the face, or under the chin. Some studies indicate that the bacteria from severe oral disease, which gets into the bloodstream, may also be associated with pathological changes in major organs, such as the heart, liver, and kidney.
WHAT IS TOOTH RESORPTION?
Tooth resorption is the slow, progressive destruction of the tooth( crown and root), resulting in“ holes” in the affected teeth. Once sensitive parts of the tooth are exposed( dentin
and pulp), these lesions become intensely painful, and the only effective and humane treatment is to extract the tooth. While the cause of this disease is unknown, poor oral hygiene can play a role in the disease process( see the handout called“ Tooth Resorption in Cats” for further details).
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