Type II Tooth Resorption in a Cat With Partial Extraction vs. Crown Amputation -

When considering treatment for Type II tooth resorption radiographic and visual examination of teeth need to be considered. This cat presented with recent history of refusing hard food that it had eaten its entire life. The images taken were in the awake patient and depict obvious tooth resorption in the left mandibular molar (309) and the right maxillary 3rd premolar (107).

Conditions where crown amputation of Type II tooth resorption are not possible based upon radiographs are periapical lucencies or osteomyelitis, both are very uncommon in cats. If these are not present crown amputation is possible. Following flap creation, exposure and amputation of the crown to the level of the marginal bone visual examination is needed to determine if more tissue needs to be removed.

The mandibular canines below both had grossly visible regions of diseased tissue within the tooth that corresponded somewhat to the radiographic lucencies in each tooth. Even with a nerve block on board, touching that tissue resulted in jaw chattering. All of that tissue had to be removed with a bur to the level of visually normal tooth and bone.

The maxillary canines show considerable apical resorption.

Often despite considerable resorption as seen above the canines can be removed in their entirety as in the case of the left maxillary canine. Lucencies seen radiographically in the bone adjacent to these canines represented diseased tissue as well which was removed and the bone contoured prior to closure.