Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Tooth resorption in Spanish domestic cats - early study results
By Whyte, Ana et al.·Published in Topics in companion animal medicine·2020·Department of Animal Pathology, Spain·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Tooth Resorption in Spanish Domestic Cats: Preliminary Data.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 59 adult cats in Spain was examined for tooth resorption, a condition where the body starts to break down and absorb the tooth structure. Out of these cats, 39 were found to have tooth resorption, with an average of three affected teeth per cat. The condition was most commonly seen in certain teeth, particularly the premolars and molars, and older cats were more likely to be affected. This information is important for veterinarians, especially those in dental practices, as it highlights the need for regular dental check-ups in older cats to catch tooth resorption early.
People also search for: cat tooth resorption symptoms · dental care for older cats · how to treat cat tooth problems
Abstract
The objective of this study was to collect preliminary data about tooth resorption (TR) from cats treated at the Odontology Service (September 2016-June 2018), part of a University Veterinary Hospital in Spain, with specific emphasis on TR distribution per tooth. Diagnosis was based on visual/tactile inspection and intraoral dental radiographs. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 59 adult cats (27 females, 32 males). TR occurred in 39/59 cats (66.1%; 95% CI: 54.0%-78.2%). The median number of lesioned teeth per TR-affected animal was 3. A highly significant but weak correlation was found for age and number of TR-affected teeth per individual (Spearman´s correlation ρ = 0.381, P = .003, power = 0.853; N = 59). No TR cases were detected in incisors (0/708, 0%) but TR occurred in canines (21/236, 8.9%; 95% CI: 5.4%-12.4%), premolars (78/590, 13.2%; 95% CI: 10.5%-15.9%), and molars (33/236, 14%; 95% CI: 9.7%-18.3%). A significant age influence on TR was found. The greatest TR occurrence corresponded to 307 (21/59; 35.6%; 95% CI: 23.4%-47.8%) followed by 409 (17/59; 28.8%; 95% CI: 17.2%-40.3%), 407 (16/59; 27.1%; 95% CI: 15.7%-38.4%), and 309 (16/59; 27.1%; 95% CI: 15.7%-38.4%). These teeth would be considered as TR-sentinels in the studied population. These findings are relevant for veterinarians working in dental clinics, where the TR prevalence may be high especially in older cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32115079/