A cat with a painful mouth often keeps eating right up until the moment they cannot. Instead of crying out, many cats simply chew on one side, drop kibble, or groom less, so dental disease can progress for months before anyone at home notices.
Mountain View Animal Hospital & Holistic Pet Care offers complete dental care for cats as part of our cat vet services in Reno. Every professional cleaning takes place under general anesthesia with full-mouth dental X-rays, so our team can find and treat problems hiding below the gumline.
Common Dental Problems in Cats
Cats face a different set of dental problems than dogs. A 2025 study of 1,580 cats published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science found the most frequent reasons for tooth extraction were periodontitis at 33%, feline chronic gingivostomatitis at 32%, and tooth resorption at 15%.
Periodontal Disease
Plaque and tartar build up along the gumline, and bacteria slowly damage the gums and the bone that holds each tooth in place. Red gums and bad breath are early clues, though much of the damage sits below the surface.
Tooth Resorption
In tooth resorption, the body begins breaking down the structure of a tooth, often starting at or below the gumline. These lesions can be very painful, and many are visible only on dental X-rays.
Feline Chronic Gingivostomatitis
This condition causes severe inflammation of the gums and the back of the mouth. Affected cats may drool, paw at their face, or stop eating, and they often need a long-term treatment plan. Care for this condition is often staged over time, with regular rechecks to see how your cat responds.
Signs Your Cat May Need Dental Care
Cats tend to hide oral pain, so small changes in eating and grooming habits are worth paying attention to. Watch for bad breath, drooling, chewing on one side, dropping food, pawing at the mouth, or a sudden preference for soft food.
A messy or greasy coat can also point to a sore mouth, as grooming becomes uncomfortable. If you notice any of these changes, an oral exam is a good next step, and many problems are simpler to manage when caught early. We also check your cat’s teeth, gums, and mouth at every wellness exam, so routine visits give us a regular chance to spot trouble before it becomes painful.
What Happens During a Cat Dental Cleaning
A professional cleaning is part of a comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment, often called a COHAT. Our approach to pet dental cleaning follows the same thorough steps for every cat, and a typical visit includes the following.
- Pre-anesthetic evaluation: An exam and bloodwork to help plan safe anesthesia for your cat.
- Full-mouth X-rays: Digital images that reveal root problems, bone loss, and resorptive lesions.
- Scaling and polishing: Removal of plaque and tartar above and below the gumline, followed by a smooth polish.
- Charting and treatment: A record of each tooth’s condition, plus extractions or other care when needed.
- Recovery and home care: Monitoring as your cat wakes up and clear instructions for the days ahead.
Before the appointment, our dental preparation instructions walk you through what to do at home. If your cat needs extractions or more involved treatment, our team may recommend oral surgery and COHAT care.
Caring for Your Cat’s Teeth at Home
Home care helps extend the benefits of a professional cleaning. Daily tooth brushing with a toothpaste made for pets is the most effective habit, and many cats accept it when you start slowly with a few seconds at a time and plenty of praise. If brushing is not realistic for your cat, dental diets, treats, and water additives may help slow plaque buildup.
Home care works best as a partner to professional cleanings, not a replacement for them. Tartar below the gumline and painful conditions like tooth resorption still require an exam and X-rays to find. During each visit, our team can show you brushing techniques and suggest products suited to your cat’s age, health, and temperament.
Why Choose Our Hospital for Your Cat’s Dental Care
Some cats need care beyond a routine cleaning. Once a month, board-certified veterinary dentist Dr. Brook Niemiec and his team with Veterinary Dental Specialties perform advanced dental services at our hospital, so complex cases can often be treated close to home.
For cats with ongoing oral inflammation, our integrative services may also play a role. Options such as ozone therapy and acupuncture may support comfort and healing alongside conventional dental treatment, and we talk through every option with you before deciding on a plan.
Book Cat Dental Care at Mountain View Animal Hospital & Holistic Pet Care
Dental pain can quietly affect your cat’s appetite, mood, and overall health, and professional care may help your cat feel like themselves again. As an AAHA-accredited hospital with Fear Free practices and digital dental radiology, we are committed to safe, gentle dental care for every cat.
If your cat is due for a cleaning or you have noticed changes in how they eat, we would be glad to help. Please contact our team to schedule your cat’s dental exam.
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