He is an eight year old neutered male cat. He suffers from a chronic periodontal disease that causes resorption of his teeth. Tooth resorption is a progressive disease that results in the loss of the tooth structure starting with the outer enamel surface usually at or below the gum line. The lesions then spread to the dentin and then to the pulp canal, which contains the nerve and blood supply of the tooth. It is theorized, that the inflammation of the gums caused by the plaque may stimulate the production of cells called odontoclasts, which attack the enamel of the tooth.
The lesions most commonly affect the premolars and molars. The progression of this disease is very painful. Cats suffering from this disease may have difficulty eating, excessive drooling, hiding more, and reluctance of the face being touched. Dallas did not like his face touched and was more cranky than usual. Dallas’s owner scheduled him for a dental cleaning and evaluation. As part of the dental procedure, full mouth digital x-rays were taken and an extensive oral exam was performed.
It was discovered that Dallas had two resorptive lesions. Those teeth were extracted and we are happy to report that Dallas is back to his sweet loving self. Yearly dentals will help slow the progression of and can even prevent feline oral resorption lesions.