It's been suggested by several Vets that switching to 'dental care' dry food might be helpful in preventing the build up of calculus/plaque on feline's molars and premolars. This study suggests a 'dental hygiene chew' might be efficacious in keeping those particular feline teeth clean. But I wonder if it really would be that helpful. It's been available for some time in keeping dog's teeth clean as well. There are all sorts of dog 'chewing/cleaning' chews, rawhide cleaning aids available. Yet it's been my experience with both dogs and cats that these rarely prevent in older age animals buildup of plaque. There has to be regular maintenance.
My understanding of this that in order for cat's teeth to be kept clean of calculus to prevent gingivitis, regular back molar brushing and yearly below the gum line cleaning must be done. It does too depend on the particular feline's genetic inheritance as well. I've known several feline's whose teeth were excellent all of their lives, and others whose teeth were terrible after they were a year old. So there has to be both a propensity toward calculus and plaque inherent in the feline as well as poor health and diet in order for this to occur. Often wonder if the prevalence of dry convenience food for felines is what causes the buildup in the first place.
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