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Tooth resorption is when the body attacks teeth, causing them to be eaten away and resulting in pain and discomfort. The causes are unknown, but treatments are available, including root canal procedures and extractions. X-rays and exams can determine the extent of the damage. Cats can also experience tooth resorption, with treatment usually involving tooth extraction and dietary changes.
Tooth resorption is a process in which the body begins to attack one or more teeth, treating them as foreign bodies that need to be destroyed. The affected teeth will be eaten away, and the patient may experience pain, numbness, and discomfort, as well as notice changes in the shape and size of the teeth. The causes of tooth resorption are not fully understood and treatments are available, although sometimes involved teeth need to be extracted.
There are different forms of tooth resorption. External resorption begins with the outer layers of the teeth and tends to be more severe, while internal resorption works its way out of the tooth core and is less noticeable at first. People can also develop root resorption, in which only the root of the tooth is involved. Internal resorption and root resorption can be treated with root canal procedures, while external resorption usually results in an extraction.
Sometimes, this tooth damage can be linked to ongoing periodontal disease and inflammatory processes. Chronic inflammation can trigger peculiar immune reactions as the body adjusts to the inflammation and sometimes the body can start attacking its own tissues. In other cases, there may be no clear cause or warning sign for the resorption, with the patient simply spontaneously developing dental problems. Even people with healthy, well-maintained teeth can experience resorption.
In people with this dental disorder, X-rays of the teeth, as well as a physical exam, can be used to identify the resorption and determine how far it has progressed. This information will be helpful when the dentist is developing a treatment plan and discussing options with the patient. Getting treatment is important, as damage to the teeth can cause chronic pain and other problems for the patient if it is allowed to persist. It is also important for patients to know that even if their oral health has previously been excellent, they can still develop tooth resorption.
Humans aren’t the only animals that can experience spontaneous tooth resorption. Tooth resorption is also very common in cats. Many senior cats develop mouth lesions as their teeth break down as they age. An oral exam will often show redness and irritation symptomatic of inflammation around the sites of heavily eroded teeth. For cats, treatment is usually extraction of the involved teeth, and dietary changes may need to be made, such as switching to soft foods that the cat is more comfortable eating.
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