Feline Resorptive Tooth Lesions

Resorptive Tooth Lesions are a common finding on oral examination of many cats. This condition is an erosion of the enamel and dentin of the tooth, causing painful exposure of the delicate tissues (blood vessels, lymphatic vessels and nerves) within the tooth’s pulp cavity.

Despite years of ongoing research, no cause or trigger has yet been definitively identified. Unfortunately, they are extremely painful and can affect a cat's ability to eat.

Signs

Signs of oral pain include:
● Difficulty eating or decreased appetite
● Preference for soft foods
● Chewing on one side of the mouth
● Dropping food while eating
● Walking away from the bowl after seeming interested in eating
● Hiding or being less playful or active (sleeping more)
● Reacting to touching of the face or head (hissing, biting, running away)
● Or none of these

Cats are masters of hiding their pain and discomfort. As both a predator and prey animal, they have the instinct not to appear weak or in pain. They will often continue to eat, and may even do so in secret. This means detecting issues in your cats can be difficult and you should not feel guilty for missing these subtle signs.

Resorptive lesions start below the gum line and thus are not always visible on an oral exam. If they have progressed to be visible above the gum line, it likely means that most of the tooth roots below are compromised. This is why dental x-rays are so important in assessing cats’ teeth.

Treatment

A general anaesthetic is required for:
● A full dental and oral examination
● A thorough clean and polish
● Full mouth dental x-rays

This allows us to accurately identify and assess the severity of the lesions in the affected teeth, as well as carry out treatment any required. Most of the time, the diseased teeth require removal.

Aftercare will depend on the teeth removed, but always includes pain relief and sometimes antibiotics. Once cats have this dental health problem, we recommend dental checkups every 6 months to monitor the remaining teeth for signs of resorption.

EXAMPLES

In the image below the tooth closer to the top is normal, the tooth closer to the bottom has a resorptive lesion affection half of the tooth, with most of the affected root completely eaten away.

In the image below the arrows point to abnormal tissue where the tooth has been eaten away near the gum line. 

If you are concered about your cat's teeth or they are showing signs of oral pain, please call us at 9447 4644 to make and appointment to have your cat's teeth assessed by our veterinarian.