It is common knowledge that humans need to have regular dental visits, but not everyone knows that cats also need to see a dentist as well. Believe it or not, to keep your cat in its best health possible, it should be taken to a cat dentist at least every 1 to 2 years. Most veterinarians provide this service and some actually specialize in treating dental problems for a wide variety of different animals. These are some of the dental conditions that a cat dentist commonly treats.

Fractures

A cat's teeth can become fractured in a number of ways. This may happen due to trauma caused by a fall or other accident, during fighting with another cat or animal, or by chewing foods or other substances that are too hard. Leaving the fractured tooth untreated may lead to horrible pain and suffering for the cat, as well as, setting up an infection that could spread throughout the cat's body and cause it to die. If you think your cat may have a fractured tooth, it is very important to take it to a cat dentist so the fractured tooth can be extracted.

Periodontal Disease

Once a cat has reached 5 to 6 years of age, it is very likely to develop periodontal disease. This occurs when layer after layer of plaque accumulates on the surface of the cat's teeth. Over time, the bacteria from the plaque can cause severe damage to the gums. If left untreated, this leads to severely inflamed gums which can result in rotting teeth, bleeding gums and the cat will have terrible difficulty trying to eat. A cat should always be taken for a visit with a cat dentist before the age of 6 years old. In some cases, the plaque can be scraped away. However, it is not uncommon for a cat to need several extractions to allow the gums to heal.

Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions

This is another severe condition that begins due to an excessive amount of plaque on the cat's teeth. Lesions develop in the bone tissue of the cat's teeth below the enamel. If the cat's immune system does not respond to this properly, the tissue is permanently destroyed, the lesions grow rapidly and this causes damage to the teeth and the roots that cannot be repaired. In most cases, teeth that have been affected by feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions must always be extracted.

With regular check-ups for routine cleaning and plaque removal by a cat dentist, it is possible to prevent these more severe conditions from occurring to your cat. However, if your cat is older or you suspect he may be developing any of these conditions, it is important to have him checked by a cat dentist right away.

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