Cat Dental Care

If dental disease is left untreated, it can lead to serious and uncomfortable issues not just in the mouth but the whole body. At Animal Medical Centre North, we offer regular dental cleaning and extractions when needed.

What is involved in a dental cleaning procedure?

An exam is performed to assess the degree of dental disease. If only cleaning is needed, we start with removing the bigger pieces of tartar with dental forceps, then an ultrasonic scaler to remove finer pieces. This process leaves grooves on the tooth surface, so we polish the teeth to a smooth surface. If there are teeth that need to be extracted, the veterinarian will remove them. We chart all the teeth and note any abnormalities.

What are the signs of dental problems in cats?

Cats with dental problems will show signs of unwillingness to eat, weight loss due to decreased eating, pawing at their face, increase salivation and/or a bad odour from the mouth.

Are some feline breeds more susceptible than others?

Any brachycephalic breeds (flat pushed in faces) like Persians and Himalayans are more prone to dental problems.

What is feline tooth resorption?

Tooth resorption is when the dentin of the tooth erodes, which can affect the crown of the tooth, root or both. Unfortunately, the damage can not be reversed, and the tooth affected needs to be removed (extracted). When the roots are so damaged that they can not be extracted, the crown must be amputated.