Dental Disease in Cats

Dental disease is a common and often overlooked problem in cats.  While cavities represent the most common dental disease of humans, cats are more frequently bothered by tartar buildup on the teeth.  Tartar accumulation leads to irritation of the gums around the base of the teeth, ultimately leading to exposure of the roots.   Potential outcomes of this tooth root exposure include gum infections and tooth loss.

Contributing Factors

One of the main factors determining the amount of tartar buildup is the individual chemistry in the mouth.  Some cats need yearly cleanings; other cats need a cleaning only once every few years.

Diet plays more of a minor role in development of tartar accumulation than most people think.  Because dry food is not as sticky as canned food, it does not adhere to the teeth as much and thus, does not cause tartar buildup as rapidly.  However, eating dry food does not remove tartar from the teeth.  Once tartar forms, a professional cleaning is necessary. 

Other known contributing factors for feline dental disease are the feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus.  Severe disease of the teeth and gums can alert the veterinarian to test for these diseases.

Clinical Signs

In some cases, owners are unaware that their cat has dental disease.  The problem may be identified with a routine physical examination or during investigation of another problem.  In other situations, the probability of dental disease is apparent to the owner.  The cat may have very bad breath (halitosis), difficulty eating, or changes in temperament. 

Causes

Many different disorders can lead to dental disease in the cat.  In general, the veterinarian will try to determine whether the problem is limited to the oral cavity (primary dental disease) or has developed as a consequence of another disease (secondary dental disease).

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of dental disease is usually very straightforward.  In most cases, the true extent of the disease cannot be determined unless the cat is under anesthesia.  This facilitates a more complete examination of the oral cavity.

The Cleaning Process

Proper cleaning of the teeth requires complete cooperation of the patient so that plaque and tartar can be removed properly.  Anesthesia is required to thoroughly clean the teeth.  Many owners have a high degree of anxiety related to general anesthesia for their cats.  While there is always a degree of risk with any anesthetic, be aware that your cat’s health may ultimately be compromised by delaying proper dental care. 

To minimize risk, our hospital uses modern anesthetics that are deemed safe even for older cats.  Also, depending on your cat's age and general health status, blood may be drawn prior to anesthesia to evaluate blood cell counts and blood chemistry.

There are four steps in the cleaning process that will be used on your cat:

Scaling removes the tartar above and below the gum line.  This is done with hand instruments and                ultrasonic cleaning equipment.  The tartar, which is under the gums, must be removed for a dental cleaning to be complete.

Polishing smooths the surface of the teeth, making them resistant to additional plaque formation. 

Flushing removes dislodged tartar from the teeth and helps to remove the bacteria that accompany tartar. 

Prognosis

In the early stages of dental disease, the problems may be reversible.  At some point, however, even cleaning cannot restore the mouth to normal.  This is not a reason to avoid cleaning!

The prognosis is worsened if tartar is left on the teeth indefinitely.  Some of the consequences of delayed dental care are:

1)  Tartar will mechanically push the gums away from the roots of the teeth.  This allows the teeth to loosen in their sockets and infection to enter the root socket.  The teeth will loosen and fall out or have to be extracted. 

2)  Infection will accumulate in the mouth, resulting in gingivitis (gums), tonsillitis, and pharyngitis (sore throat).  Although antibiotics may temporarily suppress the infection, if the tartar is not removed from the teeth, infection will return quickly. 

3)  Infection within the mouth will be picked up by the blood stream and carried to other parts of the body.  Kidney and heart infections frequently begin in the mouth.

Prevention

Several preventive measures can be recommended to aid in oral hygiene for your cat.

1.  Seek regular veterinary care and have the teeth cleaned when advised.

2.  Try to maintain home dental care with brushing the teeth.  Special toothbrushes and flavored toothpastes are available.  We will be happy to show you how to do this and to recommend a schedule.

3.  A tartar control diet is available through our clinic.  It can be used as a maintenance diet or as a treat.  It will not clean the teeth but will prolong the interval between professional cleanings (under anesthesia).

If we are planning to clean your cat’s teeth, please follow these recommendations:

In order for us to clean your cat's teeth, we ask that you schedule the procedure a few days in advance.  It will be necessary to withhold food after 8:00PM the night before; water is ok until the morning.  Your cat should be admitted to the hospital early by 7:30 - 8:00 AM and will generally be ready for discharge in the late afternoon.  It will need to stay indoors that evening to insure that no accidents (falls, etc.) occur until recovery from anesthesia is complete.  If that is not possible, you may elect to have your cat spend the night in the hospital.  It should be fed and watered lightly that evening and returned to normal feeding the next morning, at which time it should be completely recovered from the anesthetic.