Tooth Resorption in Spanish Domestic Cats: Preliminary Data

Abstract

The objective of this study was to collect preliminary data about tooth resorption (TR) from cats treated at the Odontology Service (September 2016-June 2018), part of a University Veterinary Hospital in Spain, with specific emphasis on TR distribution per tooth. Diagnosis was based on visual/tactile inspection and intraoral dental radiographs. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 59 adult cats (27 females, 32 males). TR occurred in 39/59 cats (66.1%; 95% CI: 54.0%-78.2%). The median number of lesioned teeth per TR-affected animal was 3. A highly significant but weak correlation was found for age and number of TR-affected teeth per individual (Spearman´s correlation ρ = 0.381, P = .003, power = 0.853; N = 59). No TR cases were detected in incisors (0/708, 0%) but TR occurred in canines (21/236, 8.9%; 95% CI: 5.4%-12.4%), premolars (78/590, 13.2%; 95% CI: 10.5%-15.9%), and molars (33/236, 14%; 95% CI: 9.7%-18.3%). A significant age influence on TR was found. The greatest TR occurrence corresponded to 307 (21/59; 35.6%; 95% CI: 23.4%-47.8%) followed by 409 (17/59; 28.8%; 95% CI: 17.2%-40.3%), 407 (16/59; 27.1%; 95% CI: 15.7%-38.4%), and 309 (16/59; 27.1%; 95% CI: 15.7%-38.4%). These teeth would be considered as TR-sentinels in the studied population. These findings are relevant for veterinarians working in dental clinics, where the TR prevalence may be high especially in older cats.