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Tooth resorption in cats
What's actually happening
Cells called odontoclasts - normally involved in the natural loss of kitten teeth - reactivate and begin eroding the adult tooth. The lesion often starts where enamel meets gum, which is why early resorption hides under apparently normal-looking teeth. As the tooth breaks down, the sensitive inner dentin and nerve become exposed, and the crown can eventually snap off, leaving a root behind in the gum.
Signs to take seriously
Because so much of the damage happens under the gumline, Cornell notes that many lesions are discovered only during an anesthetized exam with dental radiographs - one of the practical reasons professional cleanings matter even for cats whose mouths look fine at home.
What treatment looks like
There is no filling, diet or supplement that stops resorption. When a lesion causes pain or extends into the crown, Cornell advises removing the tooth; where damage makes the whole tooth difficult to extract, the vet may amputate the crown - the part visible above the gumline - instead. When lesions are limited to the root and the cat shows no obvious discomfort, a vet may recommend careful monitoring with follow-up. If your vet suspects resorption during a cleaning, expect the treatment conversation to happen with the exam findings and X-rays in hand.
What you can do at home
You can't prevent resorption - its cause is unknown - so the honest advice is detection. Keep an eye out for the signs above when your cat is calm, and keep up regular veterinary exams: Cornell's dentistry section recommends a vet visually examine a cat's teeth every year, with X-rays if a lesion is suspected. Home care like brushing still matters for the plaque-and-gingivitis side of dental health, but no amount of brushing prevents resorptive lesions, and many only show on dental X-rays - home checks can't rule resorption out.
