Feline resorptive lesions are a common and painful dental problem in cats.
You may also hear them called FORLs or tooth resorption.
In simple terms, the cat’s body starts breaking down and dissolving its own tooth.
What Causes Feline Resorptive Lesions?
The frustrating answer is that we don’t fully understand why they happen.
They are very common in cats and can occur even when a cat has otherwise healthy-looking teeth.
They are not simply caused by poor dental care or the food you are feeding your cat.
What Does a Resorptive Lesion Look Like?
Sometimes we can see a small red area or defect where the tooth meets the gum.
Other times the tooth may look relatively normal.
The problem is that much of the tooth is underneath the gum, and this is often where the disease is occurring.
This is why dental X-rays are so important in cats.
Are They Painful?
Yes. They can be extremely painful.
Cats, however, are remarkably good at hiding dental pain.
Many cats with significant tooth resorption will continue eating normally, which can make owners think their teeth aren’t bothering them.
How Are They Treated?
Unfortunately, once a tooth starts to resorb, we cannot reverse the process or repair the tooth.
The painful part of the tooth needs to be removed.
Dental X-rays are essential because they show us what is happening to the roots underneath the gum and help us decide how that particular tooth should be treated.
Depending on the type of resorption, this may involve removing the entire tooth and its roots, or in selected cases, removing the crown while the resorbing roots are left in place.
Why Dental X-Rays Matter So Much in Cats
A cat can have significant dental disease that is almost impossible to appreciate simply by looking inside the mouth.
At Sandringham Veterinary Hospital, dental X-rays allow us to see what is happening underneath the gums and identify painful teeth that may otherwise be missed.
With feline resorptive lesions, what you can see above the gum is often only a small part of the problem.