Here at My Pet Nutritionist, we consult with dogs and cats with a huge variety of health concerns, from digestive problems to dental problems, and everything in between! One of the dental concerns we see, affects both cats and dogs – tooth resorption. It is estimated that around 60% of cats (pure-bred cats seem to suffer the most), and 40% of dogs will be affected by Tooth Resorption by the time they turn 6 years old!
There are various layers to the tooth, starting from the outer surface to the very inside of the tooth, the layers are:
- Enamel: a thin, white, hard layer which protects the sensitive insides of the tooth
- Dentin: a tick, softer layer of tissues beneath the enamel, containing microscopic tubules which lead to the nerves in the tooth.
- Pulp chamber: the powerhouse of the tooth. The pulp creates dentin, and also provides the dentin with nutrients to keep it healthy. This chamber is commonly known as the ‘root canal’ as it extends to the root of the tooth.
- Cementum: a hard surface anchoring the tooth to the gum.
The gum also has multiple layers. Starting from the outer surface visible to the eye to the inside of the gum, the layers are:
- Gingival Margin: this part keeps the teeth securely in place.
- Gingival Sulcus: attaches the gum to the tooth.
- Cemento Enamel Junction: the area where the tooth meets the gum.
- Periodontal Ligament: attaches the tooth to the jaw.
Pets with Tooth Resorption suffer from erosion of their dentin, which ultimately becomes destroyed. This process cannot be reversed! Gradually, more and more of the tooth is affected, becoming destroyed, and appearing to absorb into the gum.
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There are many types of Tooth Resorption in both cats, and dogs.
Types in cats
- Type 1: Normal density is maintained, and Periodontal Ligament is unchanged. Resorption is in the Cemento Enamel Junction. Destruction occurs toward the root, or in a side to side direction.
- Type 2: Narrowing at the Periodontal Ligament area, and the tooth root becomes as dense as the surrounding bone.
- Type 3: a combination of Types 1 and 2 – teeth also become multicoloured.
Types in Dogs
- External Replacement Resorption: most common form in dogs. The ligament space and root of the tooth change dramatically.
- External Inflammatory Resorption: the tooth roots are very inflamed.
- External Cervical Root Surface Resorption: lesions are present around the Cemento enamel junction.
- External Surface Resorption: the very edges of the tooth root may show on x-rays to be slightly uneven. No other clinical symptoms show.
- Internal Inflammatory Resorption: oval shaped swellings grow in the root of the tooth. Often caused by dental disease.
- Internal Surface Resorption: oval shaped swellings form further up the tooth root. May be caused by trauma, but are extremely rare.
- Internal Replacement Resorption: incredibly rare in pets. Progressive condition. Tunnel-like areas form as a result of tooth root fractures.
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Symptoms and Causes
Outward symptoms are rarely noticeable in most cases of tooth resorption, making diagnosis often difficult. As pet owners, we need to be really vigilant when it comes to oral health. Regular teeth cleaning is important; and as part of your regular husbandry regime, practicing touching your dog or cat’s tooth may be more important than you may think! One of the few signs that your pet may be suffering with tooth resorption, is pain when the tooth is touched. Other signs include:
- Increase in drooling
- Head shaking
- Reduction of appetite (due to pain when eating)
- Gingivitis/bleeding from the mouth
- Face rubbing
- Gagging
- Frequent sneezing
In progressed cases, tooth fractures are possible – this is largely down to potential damage to the crown of the tooth due to loss of structural tissues.
As a result of tooth resorption, your pet may suffer with oral infections – this is due to lesions forming on the tooth crown making the inner tooth accessible by bad bacteria.
Very little is known about causes of tooth resorption. While many studies have been carried out, no specific cause has been pinpointed. During these studies, it was found that cells known as ‘odontoclasts’ are responsible for breaking down the hard tooth tissues.
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Diagnosis
The process of diagnosis is usually simple when a dog shows signs of tooth resorption. Firstly , your veterinarian will discuss your dog’s symptoms, and run a physical examination of your dog’s mouth/teeth. Some veterinarians will run an additional examination under general anaesthetic to be able to get a more thorough look/feel of your dog’s teeth and gums.
Next, they will take X-rays of your dog’s teeth. The X-rays will enable them to tell if your dog does have tooth resorption, and how severe the individual’s case is.
Conventional Treatment
Once your cat or dog has received their diagnoses of Tooth Resorption, treatment must be prompt due to this condition being particularly painful.
The treatment offered by your veterinarian will depend on the type of resorption your pet has, and also the severity. Some pets may be referred to a veterinary dentist for treatment.
In the event that the condition has progressed rapidly, or too far for the tooth to remain stable, the affected unstable tooth/teeth will be removed. This is a surgical procedure carried out under anaesthetic. In some cases, only part of a tooth is removed, if the veterinary dentist, or veterinary surgeon feels this is in the pet’s best interest.
If your pet’s condition is not so advanced, and their teeth are still stable in the gum, treatment mostly involves frequent oral health check ups to check if any intervention is needed yet.
Another treatment offered in select cases whereby the tooth is saveable, is root canal treatment. Again, this is a procedure carried out under anaesthetic. During root canal treatment, pulp is removed from the root canal, which is then cleaned, and filled with dental material. The aim of this treatment is to slow the progression of tooth resorption. As this surgery is often best carried out by a veterinary dental specialist, it can be the more expensive option. It is also important to note, that progression can still occur following root canal surgery, so your pet may still require complete tooth extraction in these teeth in the future.
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A Natural Approach to Tooth Resorption
As always, our approach is often supported by veterinary care, so we tend to look at this as a complementary approach as opposed to alternative.
Here are some of our considerations:
- Keep on top of oral cleanliness: dental health, and oral cleanliness is of utmost importance in our pets. Carrying out regular oral health checks at home, means you are able to pinpoint any potential areas of concern, including any pain, gingivitis, or other dental conditions like periodontal disease which can lead to other health conditions. Keeping the teeth and gums clean by regular brushing also helps to reduce the potential for bacterial infections in those with tooth resorption. You can learn more about keeping teeth clean in our blog here.
- Feed fresh: while not directly related to tooth resorption, feeding a fresh diet keeps your dog’s gut health, which in turn keeps the immune system strong, and able to fight any potential infection that may occur in teeth. Fresh food is also better for general dental health as it doesn’t get stuck in gums or inside teeth like processed foods.
- Avoid unsuitable chews: chews that are too hard can cause quicker deterioration of teeth undergoing tooth resorption. The most common cause of tooth fractures in terms of chews, are full antlers, often given to dogs as a recreational chew. Some mammalian weight bearing bones, and all cooked bones can also have a similar effect on teeth. Those with tooth resorption are at an even higher risk of fractures due to the decreased integrity of the dental structure.
- Consider a mineral test: while there is no known, or proven cause of tooth resorption, a mineral test can tell you what may be lacking in your pet’s diet, and therefore pinpoint any mineral deficiencies that could be contributing to dental weakness. To get the best picture of your dog’s mineral status, we advise both a hair mineral test, and blood sample test.
- Gut Health: the gut is very much linked to almost every aspect of health in both us and our pets, connected via a network of ‘pathways’. Oral health is one of these many connections. Keeping the gut healthy, ensures your pet has a greater chance of overall health, including oral health – our supplement, Gut Guardian is designed for all-round gut health in both dogs and cats. It contains a high quality mixture of mucilage herbs for gut healing, clean soil based probiotics to help the gut flourish, and also boasts calming chamomile, and methylated B vitamins.
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If your pet has any signs of dental pain or weakness, or you notice their teeth seem to be ‘disappearing’, it is imperative that they see a veterinarian as soon as possible! Dental pain is extremely debilitating and can lead to not only a poor quality of life for the pet, but also some potentially life threatening health conditions. If you feel you could benefit from 1-2-1 support for your cat or dog, consider booking in with one of our team!
Team MPN x
