Dental disease affects over 70% of cats over age 3 and causes chronic oral pain — yet it remains one of the most undertreated conditions in companion animal medicine due to owner unawareness and cost barriers.
Cats experience dental pain with the same capacity as any mammal, but their stoicism means owners rarely detect it. Weight loss, preference for wet food, dropping food while eating, and reduced social interaction can all be signs of dental pain — but they are subtle and easily attributed to aging or preference changes. Dental disease that has progressed to exposed bone or root resorption causes continuous pain. The welfare gap in feline dentistry is substantial: most affected cats are never treated because neither owners nor veterinarians prioritize dental examination.