Changes

Signs on visual inspection which are consistent with RLs:

Signs on visual inspection which are consistent with RLs:

* Focal hyperplastic gingival tissue covering the tooth defect. This gingival covering is usually, but not always, inflamed.  <font color="red">(picTR2)</font color>

* Focal hyperplastic gingival tissue covering the tooth defect. This gingival covering is usually, but not always, inflamed.  (image 2)

* Red spot on crown of the tooth as seen in the images  <font color="red">TR3 and TR4</font color>

* Red spot on crown of the tooth as seen in the images  (images 3 and 4)

* Missing/fractured teeth; site may have inflamed covering gingiva and/or bony swelling. <font color="red">TR5</font color>

* Missing/fractured teeth; site may have inflamed covering gingiva and/or bony swelling. (image 5)

* Root fragments  

* Root fragments  

===[[Intra-Oral Radiography - Small Animal|Intra-Oral Radiography]]===

===[[Intra-Oral Radiography - Small Animal|Intra-Oral Radiography]]===

A definitive diagnosis can only be made after an examination and intra-oral radiography with the cat [[Oral Examination Under General Anaesthesia|under general anaesthesia]]. The lesion can be felt as a concavity using a sharp explorer probe. <font color="red">Pic TR6</font color>. Lesions are often only detected once the calculus has been removed.

A definitive diagnosis can only be made after an examination and intra-oral radiography with the cat [[Oral Examination Under General Anaesthesia|under general anaesthesia]]. The lesion can be felt as a concavity using a sharp explorer probe. (image 6) Lesions are often only detected once the calculus has been removed.

Visualisation is aided by drying the teeth using the air stream from a dental air-water syringe. With normal teeth, the marginal gingiva will lift away from the tooth when the air is directed at the base of the [[Enamel Organ#Crown|crown]], but with RLs, the soft tissue seems “stuck” to the underlying tooth. General anaesthesia is imperative as examination of these lesions in a conscious cat is painful.  

Visualisation is aided by drying the teeth using the air stream from a dental air-water syringe. With normal teeth, the marginal gingiva will lift away from the tooth when the air is directed at the base of the [[Enamel Organ#Crown|crown]], but with RLs, the soft tissue seems “stuck” to the underlying tooth. General anaesthesia is imperative as examination of these lesions in a conscious cat is painful.  

Radiography will identify lesions that are localized to the root surfaces within the [[Enamel Organ#Alveolar Bone|alveolar bone]], which cannot be detected by clinical methods. Radiography is also required to confirm the diagnosis and to assess the extent and type of the lesion. Radiographs often reveal a lesion that is more advanced than originally suspected from the clinical examination. <font color="red">PicTR7</font color>

Radiography will identify lesions that are localized to the root surfaces within the [[Enamel Organ#Alveolar Bone|alveolar bone]], which cannot be detected by clinical methods. Radiography is also required to confirm the diagnosis and to assess the extent and type of the lesion. Radiographs often reveal a lesion that is more advanced than originally suspected from the clinical examination. (image 7)

[[Radiographic Interpretation of Tooth Resorption - Small Animal|Radiographic Features of RLs]]: <br>

[[Radiographic Interpretation of Tooth Resorption - Small Animal|Radiographic Features of RLs]]: <br>

===Classifying the Lesions===

===Classifying the Lesions===

Classification of tooth resorption : <font color="red">(American Veterinary Dental College classification) pictures</font color>

Classification of tooth resorption :  

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==Treatment==

==Treatment==