Feline Dentistry

Question 1

What are four conditions of the oral cavity that are more common in cats than any other species?

Answer 1

Feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS)
Tooth resorption
Alveolar osteitis
Feline Oral Pain Syndrome

Question 2

What is defined as “inflammation of the mucous lining of any of the structures in the mouth”

Answer 2

Stomatitis

Question 3

Stomatitis, in clinical use, should be reserved to describe what?

Answer 3

Widespread oral inflammation beyond gingivitis and periodontitis

Question 4

When stomatitis extends into the mucosal tissues it is known as what?

Answer 4

Mucositis

Question 5

When stomatitis extends into the tissues of the lateral palatine folds it is called what?

Answer 5

Caudal stomatitis

Question 6

Do gingivitis and periodontitis constitute stomatitis?

Answer 6

No

Unless that are part of a broader inflammation involving the mucosal tissues in the mouth

Question 7

What does type 1 stomatitis involve?

Answer 7

Alveolar and labial/buccal mucosistis/stomatitis

Question 8

What does type 2 stomatitis involve?

Answer 8

Caudal mucositis/stomatitis (with or without alveolar and labial/buccal mucositis/stomatitis)

Question 9

Which type of stomatitis is more manageable than the other?

Answer 9

Type 1

Question 10

Treatment of feline chronic gingivostomatitis may involve what?

Answer 10

whole-mouth extraction

Question 11

Diagnostics for feline chronic gingivostomatitis should include what

Answer 11

Testing for calicivirus, FeLV, FIV
blood chemistry
CBC

Question 12

Most cats with classic stomatitis have elevated what in their blood chemistry?

Answer 12

Hyperproteinemia

Hyperglobulinemia

Question 13

What is one of the earlies signs of feline chronic gingivostomatitis?

Answer 13

Gingival bleeding

Question 14

What is one of the difficult diagnostic challenges to determine if it is truly feline chronic gingivostomatitis?

Answer 14

Whether it is an allergic reaction to an additive in commercial pet foods

Question 15

Why is there currently no approved evaluation standards, treatments, or outcome for feline chronic gingivostomatitis?

Answer 15

Because this is a syndrome rather than one disease

Question 16

What have been the mainstay of medical management of feline chronic gingivostomatitis?

Answer 16

Corticosteroids

Question 17

What is an alternative to full mouth extractions to treat feline chronic gingivostomatitis?

Answer 17

Omega interferon

Question 18

The most recent research suggests that how many cats are clinically affected by tooth resorption?

Answer 18

A little less than one-half

Question 19

What are the effects of tooth resorption?

Answer 19

Resorption of the tooth

Proliferation of the gingiva or pulp to cover resulting lesions

Question 20

What are the signs of tooth resorption

Answer 20

Those of pain

Question 21

What causes tooth resorption?

Answer 21

Nutritional problems aggravated by unknown genetic factors

Question 22

What are necessary to diagnose and treat tooth resorption accurately?

Answer 22

Dental radiographs

Question 23

Who developed a system of classifying tooth resorption stages?

Answer 23

The American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC)

Question 24

What is considered stage 1 tooth resorption?

Answer 24

Mild dental hard tissue loss

cementum or cementum and enamel

Question 25

What is considered stage 2 tooth resorption?

Answer 25

Moderate dental hard tissue loss

Cementum or cementum and enamel with loss of dentin that does not extend to the pulp cavity

Question 26

What is considered stage 3 tooth resorption?

Answer 26

Deep dental hard tissue loss; most of the tooth retains its integrity
(cementum or cementum and enamel loss of dentin that extends to the pulp cavity)

Question 27

What is considered stage 4 tooth resorption?

Answer 27

Extensive dental hard tissue loss; most of the tooth has lost its integrity

Question 28

What is considered stage 5 tooth resorption?

Answer 28

Remnants of dental hard tissue are visible only as irregular radiopacities, and gingival covering is complete

Question 29

How is each stage of tooth resorption treated?

Answer 29

Extracting teeth with stage 2 and 4 lesions
Stage 1 lesions do not usually cause pain
Stage 5 lesions do not require treatment unless there is gingival inflammation

Question 30

How is tooth resorption prevented?

Answer 30

Little is known about prevention

Reduction of Vitamin D may help

Question 31

What organization has placed upper limits of vitamin D in foods, although cat food companies do not have to follow their standards?

Answer 31

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)

Question 32

By which process does a cat often express canine periodontal disease or tooth resorption?

Answer 32

Alveolar or buccal bone expansion or alveolar osteitis

Question 33

Alveolar Osteitis is commonly associated with what?

Answer 33

Advanced periodontal disease

Question 34

How are early cases of alveolar osteitis treated?

Answer 34

Periodontal debridement and the placement of a perioceutic (Doxirobe or Arestin)

Question 35

How are advanced cases of Alveolar Osteitis treated?

Answer 35

Extraction

Question 36

What is a pain disorder of cats with behavioral signs of oral discomfort?

Answer 36

Feline orofacial pain syndrome

Question 37

In what breed of cat does Feline orofacial pain syndrome mainly occur?

Answer 37

Burmese cats

Question 38

What causes Feline orofacial pain syndrome?

Answer 38

Damage to the nerves of the peripheral nervous system

Question 39

What are the clinical signs of Feline orofacial pain syndrome?

Answer 39

Sporadic one-sided discomfort, followed by pain-free intervals
Mouth movements trigger discomfort

Question 40

How is Feline orofacial pain syndrome treated?

Answer 40

It can be resistant to traditional pain medications but does respond to anticonvulsants with an analgesic effect

Question 41

What are other differential diagnoses for Feline orofacial pain syndrome?

Answer 41

Retained root fragments
Small intestinal lymphoma
IBD