3 year-old Sophie has THREE tooth extractions.

[Karen & Smokey(GA)]

Took Sophie in this am for what I thought would be a routine dental.

Vet called me after she got put under to tell me she has re-absorbtive lesions
and needs three extractions.

Sophie will be three years old in February.

At her check up a couple of weeks ago, vet said her tartar and gingivitis were
very bad, especially for her age.

What does this mean for the future ?

Are we headed to stomatitis ?

And our $300 dental will now be around double that ... sigh .

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Some cats just have poor genetics and have dental problems very early in life.

 

[Jess & Earl]

Hi Karen

My cat Dillon has lost of all his teeth (but his canines) to FORLs. After three dentals in three years during which 1-2 teeth were extracted, I took him to a dentist and left it up to her if she would take his remaining teeth out or not. He had six 'cheek teeth' (all the teeth but the canines and those wee ones in between the canines) and they all had some level of suspicion for lesions, and his gums were terrible and his mouth stunk, so she took them out. Yes it was expensive but not as expensive as a yearly dental with an extraction or two each time. BTW, she also had to dig out a few bits of tooth that the regular vet had left behind Teeth with these lesions are literally falling apart and it is possible to leave shreds of tooth behind which can cause pain. I assume your little one had x-rays afterwards too, to make sure everything was taken out?

A veterinary dentist recently joined the practice where I work, and given the messes that I've seen her clean up, I'm increasingly concerned about the level of dental care. We don't claim that an MD can do teeth either, so if it's possible location-wise and financially, you may want to take Sophie to a dentist next time to see if there is anything else to be done. http://www.avdc-dms.org/dms/list/diplom ... N=34417349 I felt comfortable handing my cat over to this vet and saying "take whatever teeth you want" but I don't know that I'd do that with a vet who hadn't had advanced training.

Did your vet mention stomatitis? This is not the cause of FORLs.

 

[Lisa dvm]

and given the messes that I've seen her clean up, I'm increasingly concerned about the level of dental care.

Ditto.

A couple of good questions that a lay person can ask a non-boarded vet are:

1) Do you have the equipment to take detailed oral radiographs (x-rays)?

2) Do you ever do root canals?

The reason for the first question is obvious.

The second question gives you an idea of their level of interest/skill/commitment to the practice of dentistry.

In some instances (especially with dogs) it is better to do a root canal on a canine tooth rather than remove it.

 

[Karen & Smokey(GA)]

Thank you all.

I did ask if X-rays were taken, and was told "No, they were not needed because we
got all the roots."

I was the one who brought up the question if FORLs lead to or are concurrent with
stomatitis. Since I have heard so much about it here.

Your suggestion to seek out a veterinary dentist is a good one.

I'll do that in 6 months, when we get back from wintering in Yuma.

Sophie is doing well this morning. Eating, grooming, being a general pest.

 

[Jess & Earl]

I did ask if X-rays were taken, and was told "No, they were not needed because we got all the roots."

Doh! Bad sign! How does she know if she got all the roots? Should we make a wager as to what's been left behind? My cat had a multiple teeny root bits left, I was absolutely mortified when the dentist told me what she'd found. All the vets who had treated him before were sure of the roots being out too.

Seeking out a dentist when you're back home is a great idea, for the next go-round. Hopefully there is one in your area--there are far fewer dentists than there should be.

BTW, when I wrote 'messes' the dentist had to clean up, I meant the results of previous dentals by regular vets She's also done some great work on patients who have been hit by cars or fallen from heights, to give them back a non-painful, working mouth. I've been very impressed by her results and her knowledge.

 

[Karen & Smokey(GA)]

I did ask if X-rays were taken, and was told "No, they were not needed because we got all the roots."

Doh! Bad sign! How does she know if she got all the roots? Should we make a wager as to what's been left behind? My cat had a multiple teeny root bits left, I was absolutely mortified when the dentist told me what she'd found. All the vets who had treated him before were sure of the roots being out too.

Seeking out a dentist when you're back home is a great idea, for the next go-round. Hopefully there is one in your area--there are far fewer dentists than there should be.

BTW, when I wrote 'messes' the dentist had to clean up, I meant the results of previous dentals by regular vets She's also done some great work on patients who have been hit by cars or fallen from heights, to give them back a non-painful, working mouth. I've been very impressed by her results and her knowledge.

Yes, Jess...I understand everything you say. Which is why I'm going to seek a dentist for
Sophie in 6 months, not the usual 1-year to her next scheduled check up.

I live in the greater Seattle area. Quite a few cats only vets here....so probably a dentist, too.

Sophie is doing great today. More of a pest than ever. Eating well, etc.

 

[Jess & Earl]

Yes, Jess...I understand everything you say. Which is why I'm going to seek a dentist for
Sophie in 6 months, not the usual 1-year to her next scheduled check up.

I hope I didn't sound badgering -- I didn't mean to. I don't know that she needs to have another dental in 6 mo; I meant that she might have her next dental with a dentist. You could just have a consult, I guess, and see if the dentist thinks it's worth another anesthesia to check her out or to wait longer. Best of luck.