Dental resorption issues during dental - What to do?

I'm cross-posting from the Lantus Board, hoping someone here may know more.

Kitty had a dental today to follow up on a "lytic" moth-eaten area of his jaw. For the moment, Kitty is okay. I'll be able to pick him up in a couple of hours.

The vet asked me to come to the office to look at x-rays taken during the dental cleaning.

The remaining three front teeth (a broken canine was removed last year), plus a few other teeth on both sides, have root resorption in various stages. The vet says that this is not uncommon. He felt it would not be right to pull these teeth at this time, because the roots are not available to pull.

There are areas where the gum has...receded? Been damaged? I'm not sure. But it's the roots that are the real problem.

This is what accounts for the "lytic," moth-eaten appearance that was originally picked up by the radiologist last fall.

The plan is to send these x-rays to a board-certified dental vet. We'll get another opinion on how to proceed. I have NO idea what to expect.

The vet doesn't think Kitty is in pain from this. But my heart tells me otherwise. For many, many months, it seems Kitty just moves around trying to find a place to be comfortable.

Anyone with experience with this, please chime in.

 

I really can't answer your question since I haven't seen the cat's teeth or x-rays. However, I do not understand the statement: "..because the roots are not available to pull. ." To pull major teeth the vet usually cuts the gun to make a flap and peels away the gum. He then grinds away some of the bone around the roots and elevates the roots out. He then sutures the flap over the resulting hole. Usually, to avoid repetitive anesthesia, the vet will pull bad teeth at the time of the cleaning. Sometimes, the vet experience is that pulling can wait till the next dental.

 

Your vet is wrong, it is very painful, and I have no idea why he thinks its not. You do need a dental specialist and xrays, because it sounds like the jaw bone is fragile and could break when the teeth are pulled.

All the decaying roots and teeth, and teeth with resorptive lesions need to get pulled.

This is a link that explains Resorptive Lesions. Merlyn was prone to them.
http://www.petsmile.org/owners/dental_d ... forls.html

Crossing all paws for Kitty!

 

This site provides info on which typw FLRLs are painful and which are not.
http://www.veterinarydental.com/veterinarians/forls.php

The following describe when extraction of roots is unnecessary since it is really already absorbed.
http://www.dogandcatdentist.com/FORLs.pdf

 

Here are the medical notes, which I requested when I picked him up. They made me wince. I can't imagine not giving him pain meds, even if they DO contemplate the insulin treatment.

I told them I was not comfortable not having pain relief, so I have bupe to get through Friday, when the vet will be back and we'll talk.

 

This vet took x-rays. How do I know if they're the quality discussed in those two links? I reviewed the x-rays with him, and they look similar to the pictures in the links.

As for pain, I think Kitty has been sensitive a long time, but he loves to have his jaw rubbed, and he eats with gusto (soft).