Cats and Cavities-Treating the Toothache

Cats and Cavities-Treating the Toothache
Take away the OUCH!! This is the most important reason to address your cat’s dental problems in a timely
manner. Most oral pain in cats is a result of long-standing infection, fractured teeth with exposed pulp, and the
presence of resorptive lesions or “cavities” in their teeth. Unfortunately, owners do not always recognize this pain
because many cats do not exhibit classic signs of discomfort, such as vocalizing, pawing at the mouth or
decreased appetite. If the tooth would “limp” like a broken leg, all dental disease would be taken care of
immediately.
Like unexpected car repairs, addressing dental problems go above and beyond routine care for pets, but cannot
be ignored due to inconvenience and expense. Untreated dental disease can lead to systemic problems in pets
and create unnecessary pain and suffering for them.
Q. What is causing my cat’s dental disease?
A. The three main problems are periodontal disease (infection in the tissues around the teeth leading to loss of
bone and dental attachments); fractured teeth; and resorbing teeth. We also see tumors and other disorders that
contribute to poor oral health.
Periodontal disease affects more than 80% of cats over the age of 3 years. It
starts with plaque accumulation on the teeth, which then turns into tartar.
The tartar traps oral bacteria at the gum line causing bad breath. The
trapped bacteria leads to painful infections, loosening of attachments, bone
loss and eventual tooth loss. Genetics play a big role in determining which
cats are affected and to what extent by periodontal disease. Risk factors such
as increasing age, changes in general health, plaque/tartar composition and
lack of home dental care increase the likelihood of periodontal disease.
Regular tooth brushing will help keep the plaque from starting this destructive
path. If you are unable to brush your pet’s teeth, expect to have more
frequent dental cleanings-many pets need to come in once a year.
Fractured teeth occur in cats due to trauma or advanced resorptive lesions. Most owners are not even aware of the
fractured teeth and they are only discovered at the time of an exam. These teeth can be very painful and are
vulnerable to infection and abscess formation. Due to the pain and possibility of further problems, “doing
nothing” is not a viable option. These teeth need to be treated by either extraction or root canal to protect the
future health of the mouth.
Resorbing teeth are teeth that the body is trying to destroy.
They are known as resorptive lesions or kitty cavities. We
do not know the cause of this painful condition. The tooth is
“eaten” away, exposing the nerve-containing pulp cavity. As
time progresses, the tooth may be completely resorbed,
leaving just gum tissue where a tooth used to reside. Cats
often develop this condition in multiple teeth over a long
period of time. An early sign of this problem is gum tissue
starting to move up onto the tooth surface. The only
treatment for this condition is extraction or crown
amputation if the roots of the tooth are completely altered.
More on other side…
4700 85TH AVENUE NORTH
BROOKLYN PARK, MN 55443
763-493-9080
763-493-3651 FAX
Q. What is involved with a dental prophylaxis and treatment?
A. In order for us to adequately treat most dental disease, anesthesia is required. Unlike humans who willingly
allow oral treatments while awake, our pets do not. General anesthesia is a commonly performed procedure but it
is always individually tailored to each patient to reduce the risks associated with it. While under anesthesia, your
pet’s teeth will be cleaned with an ultrasonic scaler, polished and then rinsed with a disinfectant solution and a
sealant applied. A complete oral evaluation will be done to detect any abnormal teeth or disease conditions
warranting further treatment. Findings are recorded on a dental chart to enable us to track disease over time.
Intra-oral x-rays may be taken to assess tooth health and degree of bone loss or the presence of pulp exposure in a
fractured tooth. Any diseased teeth will be extracted or treated depending on the extent of the problem. Pain
control is administered before, during and after any dental extractions and includes local dental anesthetic blocks
for targeted pain control.
To see all the steps of a dental prophylaxis and evaluation, please go to our website at
www.edinburghpets.com and go to Services and then the dental care photo gallery.
(www.edinburghpets.com/ourservices/dental-care)
BEFORE CLEANING
AFTER CLEANING
Q. How safe is anesthesia?
A. Anesthesia is an inherently risky procedure. However, this risk can be reduced significantly by proper
attention to the many factors involved with this process. We recommend pre-anesthetic laboratory testing to
determine any hidden underlying medical problems that may interfere with anesthesia. We place intravenous
catheters and give fluids to all our dental patients to ensure proper hydration and maintenance of blood pressure.
We have our patients on supplemental heating units to keep their body temperature near normal and allow for
quicker recovery. Certified veterinary technicians and assistants monitor your pet’s respirations, heart rate,
blood pressure, oxygen levels and EKG recording during the entire procedure so we may intervene in the case of
unexpected developments. Most pets will recover quickly and be almost completely back to normal by the time
they are discharged from the hospital.
Q. What can we do to prevent and treat periodontal disease?
A. The best defense for periodontal disease is a good offense. Annual or semi-annual professional dental
prophylaxis (cleaning) can help immensely. But preventing problems from forming in the first place is achieved
with frequent tooth brushing at home. Plaque forms within hours and is a constant irritant to tissues, thus it
necessitates daily brushing. Teaching kids to brush pets’ teeth can help to teach the importance of teeth
brushing for themselves as well as aid the pet. A preventative aid is a sealant called Oravet. Oravet is applied to
clean tooth surfaces and forms a barrier to prevent attachment of bacteria. Finally, there are special diets that aid
the body’s natural defenses to reduce plaque and tartar build-up. There are no known preventative treatments for
resorptive lesions.
4700 85TH AVENUE NORTH
BROOKLYN PARK, MN 55443
763-493-9080
763-493-3651 FAX