Kitten Oral Issues
When kittens are born they already have adult or permanent tooth buds formed within the bone of both jaws. They are almost dormant, and only develop very slowly. They will erupt when the jaws are developed enough to provide room for a full set of adult teeth. During this “quiet” time many things can disrupt full development including infection, trauma, systemic diseases, and hormonal abnormalities. Defects may not even be suspected until the permanent teeth begin to erupt. This is a critical time to check for problems, as many can be minimized by pre-emptive actions. Discolored spots on the enamel, areas where it appears to be missing altogether and grey or purple teeth signal the need for a thorough evaluation.
Bone growth of the jaws can also be interrupted or abnormal resulting in a “crooked bite.” If corrections are not made quickly, further development of the problems can lead to painful, non-functioning occlusion, and even oral and respiratory disease. Rarely, soft tissue growth abnormalities can lead to improper development of the oral structures. These can show up as stomatitis later when the natural cleaning mechanisms in the mouth don’t function properly.
Some of the problems are breed related and due to the mouth shape, such as in Persians or the very long-faced Oriental breeds. Other common problems know no boundaries and can affect either gender, any breed, and any age group. An example of this kind of oral disease would be tooth resorption, formerly known as Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions, or “FORL’s.” Your veterinarian might even call them neck lesions or “kitty cavities.”
During the first 6 months of your kitten’s life it needs frequent oral examinations to ensure developmental problems are caught soon enough to be minimized. Your veterinarian will be looking at the mouth shape, jaw length, gum and other soft tissue characteristics, and the tooth surface, position, and shape. They will also check for missing teeth, teeth out of place, and teeth causing trauma to other teeth or soft tissues. Early intervention in many developmental dental problems in kittens may save your pet pain and you money in the long run. Have their teeth checked at every physical examination.