Feline Dental Resorptive Lesions

A relatively common condition in cats that most pet owners do not recognize is resorptive lesions. These lesions can be difficult to see because they often start along or below the gumline (gingival margin) and are hidden by the gingiva. Starting at the external surface of the tooth, these lesions slowly work their way into the deeper structures of the tooth, eventually entering into the pulp cavity and causing loss of vitality and fracture of affected teeth. Many research studies have been performed to test different treatments for these lesions. Up to this time, the only treatment found to be effective is extraction of the tooth to remove the source of pain and potential infection.