FELINE ODONTOCLASTIC RESORPTIVE LESIONS (ORLs)

ORLs are common and frustrating condition in small animal practice, resulting in loss of teeth caused by progressive resorption of dental hard tissues. Depending on the population of cats studied and investigative methods applied about 20 to 75% of domestic cats worldwide may have 1 or more ORLs.

In humans, pathologic tooth resorption is usually limited to 1 tooth and associated with a history of physical trauma but in domestic cats, resorption typically affects multiple permanent teeth at various sites in their mouth. ORLs in cats may be associated with metabolic or systemic disorders that your veterinarian should check for. The most commonly affected are the mandibular third premolars. This condition is an extremely painful condition, but cats tend to hide the pain. This is an instinctive defense mechanism that domestic cats have inherited from their wild ancestors. In the wild, a cat that showed signs of pain would be the one most targeted by predators. This means as a cat owner, you need to be very aware of your cat’s behaviour and look for subtle signs of ORLs such as following:

• A ‘jaw opening’ reflex (painful opening of the mouth) was significantly more frequent in cats with ORLs compared with cats without ORLs.
• Difficulty eating. Does your cat turn his or her head to the side, drop food out of the side of the mouth, or seem to chew very slowly and cautiously?
• Behavioural changes. Perhaps your cat has become less friendly and no longer wants to sleep with you at night.
• Bleeding and other oral symptoms. Since the ORLs often appear on the gum line or just below it, you won’t always see them until the condition is quite severe. When they are visible, they can look like a hole in the tooth or a dark, pink stain down the center of the tooth.

What we should do?

If ORLs are suspected, vet should check and advise for a dental x-rays and performed the necessary treatment plan accordingly to your cat. At the end, it may would end up with a dental cleaning, extracting some of the teeth damaged and feeding to your cat a modified diet specific to his/her condition.

This blog is written by ABVC’s vet Dr. David Arnau Perez 

Resources:

Reiter, AM. Dipl Tzl; F. Lyon, K. DVM; Nachreiner, RF., DVM, PhD. Evaluation of calciotropic hormones in cats with odontclastic resorptive lesions. Am J Vet Res. 2005 Aug; 66(8):1446-52.

Hille, A, DVM, MPH; Addleman, A, MPH; Feline Tooth Resorption. Banfield Applied Research & Knowledge Team.

Bellows, J, Dipl AVCD, ABVP. Tooth Resorption in Cats. VCA Dental Pet services