Brushing your cat’s teeth daily can go a long way toward avoiding these painful disorders

Red and swollen gums, bad breath, declining appetite and weight loss are among the conspicuous indications that your cat is suffering from a disorder centered in its mouth, most likely in its teeth and gums.  

Your cat may not appear to be in pain, but cats are good at concealing illness. They do not want to signal to a potential predator that they are weakened and vulnerable to attack.

However, the same sensory nerves humans have to experience dental pain are present in the feline as well. This means cats can feel significant discomfort if they have dental disease. In cats, it is not at all uncommon for dental problems and most cats will experience some form of dental disease in their life. Dental problems are one of the most common diseases seen in cats.

Not all cats will let you brush their teeth so don’t feel guilty if your pet does not cooperate.

In some cats we can reduce plaque and gingivitis with mouth drops of  special antiseptics.  Maxi-guard is a great mouth drop that has healthy Vitamin C and zinc in a special matrix that is 70% as effective as brushing.
                                                                                      
Feline Dentition
Cats are born toothless and they will grow two sets of teeth in their lifetime, much like their human family. The first set of teeth is made up of 26 deciduous teeth, otherwise known as milk teeth. They begin to come in when the kitten is approximately 4 weeks of age. By the time the kitten is 6 months old, the deciduous teeth will fall out and be replaced by 30 permanent teeth. These teeth are shaped and arranged to accommodate the carnivorous cat.

There are four types of teeth: incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. Each type differs in shape and size according to its principal predatory function. The incisors, located at the front of the mouth (six upper and six lower), perform the nipping function. Next are the canines (two upper and two lower) which grasp and puncture. Behind the canines are the premolars (six upper and four lower), used for gripping. The molars (two upper and two lower) are located in the back of the mouth and are used for grinding.

Inside each tooth is a chamber that contains tissue – made up of blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves – that communicates with the rest of the cat’s body. The pulp tissue in this chamber is surrounded by a bone-like tissue called dentin, which accounts for the bulk of the tooth’s structure. Covering the crown of the tooth is a layer of enamel, which protects the dentin.

Major Disorders
>Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions are the most common dental problem in cats, affecting approximately 70 percent of cats. Lesions originate in the dentin and can progress rapidly. It can cause irreparable damage to a tooth and its root.  These are often called feline cervical line lesions.

>Periodontal disease affect 50 percent of cats over age six. Layers of plaque accumulate and harden on the surface of the tooth. Bacterial poisons and enzymes from the plaque eventually prompt an inflammatory response in the gums. If left untreated, it leads to gingivitis. Advanced periodontal disease can quickly progress to an end-stage condition for which extraction is the only reasonable treatment option.

>Feline Gingivitis/stomatitis syndrome is relatively uncommon, occurring in one of 100 cats. Cats that have viral, nutritional, or hormonal conditions are the ones usually affected.

>Fractured teeth may happen due to trauma or, less commonly, through chewing. Leaving a tooth broken is painful for the cat and sets up a possible site for infection to occur.

Avoiding Problems
Owners can help stall or even prevent feline dental disease by learning how to care for their cat’s teeth early on, beginning in kittenhood. Daily brushing is a major defense in prevention. Also, feeding commercial cat foods with ingredients known to reduce plaque are beneficial. Part of your cat’s yearly exam includes the veterinarian examining the cat’s mouth for signs of disease. A dental cleaning may be recommended at this time.

What to Expect from an ABMC Dental Cleaning
Our veterinary staff welcomes you to watch your pet’s dental as it is done.  Your pet will be anesthetized and monitored while under sedation. The reason we anesthetize is because pets will not hold still as we clean and scale the teeth and we want them to be comfortable while we work on any extractions that may be necessary.  It is impossible to do a  real dental cleaning on a cat without anesthesia.

At the Animal & Bird Medical Center your cat’s anesthesia is monitored with and EKG, Blood pressure monitor, CO2 monitor, and Pulse Oximeter just like a child would be monitored in any hospital. We use gas anesthesia so that we can control how deep under anesthesia your pet is minute by minute.  We have a sophisticated computer that breathes for your pet – called positive pressure ventilation -  for additional safety.  We take no chances with our patients when it comes to anesthesia.

The first step of the dental is removing the heavy tarter from the teeth. This is done with an ultrasonic  cavitron  just like in a Dental Office.  Then the teeth are thoroughly examined for abscesses,  cervical line lesions and broken teeth.  Then each tooth is carefully cleaned with dental instruments.  The next step is polishing to take out microabrasions that trap bacteria.  Then your cat gets  a fluoride treatment and a very thorough rinsing so that none of the fluoride is swallowed.
Then your pet is carefully monitored during the post dental recovery. With our high tech anesthetics your cat can be ready to go home within  thirty minutes after the dental procedure.

Your pet is sent home with pain medication if extractions were necessary and all pets are sent home with an antibiotic because we want to prevent any bacterial infection from starting after we’ve cleaned along and under the gum line. If you choose not to stay and watch, your pet can be picked up later the same day from surgery.  You will see before and after pictures of your pet’s teeth, plus you will go home with a pet specific mouthwash to help slow down the progression of plaque and instructions on how to care for your pet’s mouth.  Call today for an estimated price on caring for your pet’s valuable teeth.