Feline tooth resorption is one of the most painful and most underdiagnosed dental conditions in companion animals, requiring advanced diagnostic approaches for adequate welfare protection.
The suffering burden from undetected tooth resorption in the cat population is enormous. With prevalence above 50% in adult cats and a clinical presentation that does not reliably include appetite loss or obvious pain behaviors, the condition is chronically undertreated. Every cat dental procedure without radiography is an opportunity to identify and treat these lesions missed. Welfare advocacy in this area focuses on normalizing dental radiography as a standard expectation — not an optional upgrade — in feline dentistry, and on owner education to understand that their cat may be in significant pain without showing obvious signs.