Cavities in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment

A cavity (in cats, known as tooth resorption) is a painful condition in which one or more teeth are broken down and reabsorbed by the body. It’s very common, with 20-60% of all cats developing the condition in their lifetime.

Today, we’ll discuss what causes feline cavities, what to look for, and why it’s so important to treat this condition.

Other Names: Tooth resorption, (FORL): Feline oral resorptive lesion or Feline odontoclastic resorptive lesion

Common Symptoms: Drooling, difficulty chewing, dropping food when eating, eating on one side of the mouth, "chattering" the jaw when eating or chewing, running away from the food bowl, severe redness or swelling along the gumline

Diagnosis: Visual appearance during an exam, appearance on dental x-rays, found while probing during a dental procedure

Requires Ongoing Medication: No

Vaccine Available: No

Treatment Options: If root of affected tooth is fully intact, the whole tooth requires removal. If the root has been resorbed into bone, only the crown of the tooth may need removal (which is called a crown amputation). Pain medication.

Home Remedies: Unlike human cavities, there is no true prevention for feline tooth resorption, however brushing at home at least 3 or more times per week helps to promote better dental health.

What Are Cavities in Cats?

Cats don’t get cavities—at least, not the same kind of cavities that humans get from eating too much sugar. While human cavities are caused by bacteria and tooth decay, in cat cavities the affected teeth erode for reasons not entirely understood.

This problem in cats is called a FORL (feline odontoclastic resorptive lesion) or feline tooth resorption.

While it’s technically not the same thing as a cavity, sometimes the terms are used interchangeably, for simplicity’s sake. Additional names include feline caries or cervical/neck lesions.

Tooth resorption means that one or more affected teeth start to break down. On dental x-rays, they appear to be eroding or disintegrating. Lesions may affect the root (the part of the tooth below the gumline), the crown (the part of the tooth above the gumline), or both.

Any tooth may be affected, but the molars and premolars (cheek teeth) are most commonly affected, especially the premolars of the mandible (lower jaw).

There Are Two Types of Forls, Each With Different Treatments

Feline cavities or resorptive lesions are grouped into two categories: Type 1 and Type 2.

• With Type 1 lesions, the tooth is being resorbed, but the tooth root is still distinguishable from the surrounding jaw bone.
• Type 2 lesions, on the other hand, mean the resorbed areas are replaced by bone. So, it’s difficult or impossible to differentiate the tooth root from the jaw bone.

This distinction is important because the type of FORL will determine the type of treatment that is needed.

What Do Cat Cavities Look Like?

It may be challenging to examine a cat’s mouth at home, especially if they have a painful tooth. Also, visible changes to the tooth are often subtle, especially in the early stages.

For these reasons, many pet parents are clued into the presence of a FORL or cavity because of their cat’s behavior, rather than by visualizing the lesion itself.

Common symptoms of feline tooth resorption include:

• Changes in eating habits, such as:
  • Decreased appetite.
  • Dropping food.
  • Swallowing food whole rather than chewing it.
  • Chewing on just one side of the mouth.
  • A sudden desire for canned/soft food or avoidance of kibbles/dry food.
• Jaw “chattering.” This is when the lower jaw trembles, especially when the painful part of the mouth is touched.
• Drooling.
• Pawing at the mouth.
• Bad breath (halitosis).
• Weight loss, if ability to eat is impacted.
• Redness, bleeding, or swelling anywhere along the gumline.
• Missing teeth.
• A strip of red-pink tissue growing over the tooth’s crown—the body’s way of covering up a defect from tooth resorption.
• Behavior changes such as lethargy, grumpiness, or hiding more often.

Some of these symptoms may indicate other dental problems or health issues, rather than tooth resorption. Either way, it’s important to schedule a vet visit.

Important: Many cats show NO symptoms! Sadly, because of their instinct to hide pain, many kitties suffer in silence. That’s one of the reasons why regular checkups and dental care are so important.

Do Cavities Hurt Cats?

Yes, tooth resorption can be very painful, although it may depend on which part of the tooth is affected.

Lesions affecting just the root may or may not cause significant discomfort. However, if a lesion erodes the crown (above the gumline), the tooth becomes extremely sensitive and very painful.

What Causes Cavities in Cats?

The causes of resorptive lesions are not well understood. Some theories (including nutritional/dietary factors) have been explored, but none have been definitively proven.

One thing that may be within a pet parent’s control is their cat’s routine dental care. Unfortunately, having a healthy mouth won’t prevent FORLs in cats who are prone to them. However, since significant oral/dental disease has been associated with FORLs due to inflammation, it’s a good idea to be proactive about your kitty’s oral health.

How Are Cavities in Cats Treated?

Treatment always involves a dental procedure (full evaluation, cleaning, and treatment for any issues such as tooth resorption under general anesthesia) at a veterinary practice. However, the specific protocol depends on which type of FORL is present.

Dental x-rays are performed on the day of the procedure, to determine which type of FORL is present. Radiographs may also uncover tooth resorption in cats who have no symptoms.

• For Type 1 lesions, the whole tooth must be extracted (removed). This is because any part of the tooth left behind may continue resorbing, resulting in inflammation or pain.
• For Type 2 lesions, a crown amputation (removing the crown of the tooth while leaving the root in place) is preferred. Fortunately, with this type of lesion, the root isn’t painful once it’s integrated into the jaw bone. The crown of the tooth can still be painful, so removing the crown eliminates discomfort while avoiding unnecessary root extraction.

Conclusion

Feline tooth resorption, often referred to as cavities, is a painful condition that affects a lot of cats. Fortunately, routine dental care can help detect and treat these lesions early, for improved quality of life and overall health.