Cat Dental Cavities

According to researchers at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, anywhere from 20 to 60 percent of domesticated house cats have cavities. The risk increases with age as more than 75 percent of cats ages five and older have tooth decay, researchers indicate. The decay can occur on any tooth, but is most common on the lower molars.

  1. Symptoms

    • A cat with a cavity often refuses to eat. The pain level caused by biting is often greater than the animal's hunger pangs. Oftentimes, the cat will demonstrate indicative behavior by pawing at its mouth. The cat may produce excessive amounts of saliva in an effort to lubricate the area naturally, trying to relieve its pain. In extreme cases, the cat's jaw might spasm.

    Causes

    • Similar to human cavities, cat cavities are generally preceded by the presence of excessive tartar buildup and often a full-blown case of feline gingivitis. However, cat cavities differ from those experienced by their owners. While human cavities are the result of enamel decay from the outside of the tooth to the inside of the tooth, cavities in cats occur in the exact opposite manner. The decay begins inside the tooth -- most specifically within the root itself -- causing the actual resorption or breakdown of the tooth tissue.

    What The Vet Calls It And Why

    • Dental veterinarians refer to a cat cavity as an FORL or feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesion. A cat cavity is most commonly found at what is known as the tooth's "neck." This is where the body or root of the tooth meets the head or crown of the tooth. In general, tooth material is a bit thinner in this region where the tooth meets the gum line, or in veterinary terms, the gingival margin.

    Types

    • Veterinary dentists use a five-stage classification system to identify the level of resorption a tooth has. In stage one, there is a minimal loss of hard dental tissue. In advancing to stage two, the tooth is beginning to experience the loss of dentin, which is the layer just below the enamel. By stage three, dentin destruction has extended into the pulp cavity but the tooth remains intact. This changes by stage four in which the tooth has lost all integrity. By stage five, the invading gingival tissue covers where tooth material was.

    Detection

    • Because cats are proficient at masking pain as a natural instinct to avoid appearing vulnerable, many owners do not discover their cat has a cavity until a veterinarian examines the feline's mouth. As with humans, X-rays or radiographs of the cat's full mouth give veterinary dentists a complete picture of potential decay.

    Treatment

    • In the early stages of decay, veterinary dentists use a fluoride varnish with dentin-bonding ingredients in an effort to protect the tooth from further decay. In some stage two cases, the damaged dentin is removed first and replaced with composite restoration. Stage three cases require tooth pulp removal. In most cases, teeth in the stage four and stage five categories are extracted.

    Prevention

    • Once a cat is diagnosed with an FORL and specific treatment of the affected tooth is completed, effort is made to protect other teeth. Because teeth in a cat's mouth are very close to each other, the infection can easily spread. Veterinary dentists apply a sealant to teeth in direct contact with damaged teeth. Brush your cat's teeth and remove plaque buildup to reduce the risk of tooth decay and loss.