Painful Tooth Resorption Common in Cats

Tooth resorption occurs when odontoclasts, cells that normally dissolve and absorb the roots of baby teeth as the adult teeth erupt, instead attack adult teeth.

No one knows for sure why the odontoclasts attack adult teeth, but certain risk factors are recognized. Prostock-studio/Shutterstock

Q: The veterinarian says my cat has tooth resorption, so I made an appointment for her to have dental X-rays and probably tooth extraction. What can you tell me about this condition?

A: Tooth resorption, previously called feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions or neck lesions because they’re often seen on the neck of the tooth where the visible crown meets the root, occurs in 25 percent to 75 percent of adult cats, making it their most common dental disease.