Dental Care
Dental care is extremely important for cats. Not only does dental disease affect the mouth, it can also affect other systems in the body as well. Unfortunately, dental disease is quite common and can be a source of pain and discomfort for the cat.
What is involved in a dental cleaning procedure?
A dental cleaning procedure must be done under a general anesthetic. The cat is anesthetized, and each tooth is checked for problems. The teeth are cleaned using an ultrasonic dental scaler and then polished with prophy paste, which smoothes out impurities on the surface of the tooth and makes the teeth nice and shiny!
What are signs of dental problems in cats?
Some signs may include drooling, irritated or red gums, bad breath or difficulty chewing food. Most of the time, however, the cat does not show any external signs of dental disease. That’s why routine veterinary examinations are so important.
Are some breeds more susceptible than others?
Unfortunately, all cat breeds are susceptible to dental disease.
What is feline tooth resorption?
Unfortunately, this is a relatively common condition in cats. The cause of Feline Tooth Resorption is not fully understood yet. In this condition, the dentin (which is the part of the tooth that protects and is found under the enamel) erodes to the point of no return. This condition causes the tooth to chip or break, the gums will be red and inflamed and the cat will have pain in the roots of the tooth. Most cats with this condition have more than one tooth affected in the mouth.
