Print

Stained Tooth and Teeth in Cats

Any variation from normal tooth color is considered discoloration. However, the normal color of teeth varies, dependent on the shade, thickness, and translucency of the enamel covering the tooth.

Symptoms and Types

Intrinsic discoloration is characterized by secondary factors that are happening inside the tooth, discoloring the underlying dentin. Extrinsic discoloration, meanwhile, occurs when exogenous pigment accumulates on the surface of teeth. That is, the cause of the discoloration is from an external source, rather than from a physical condition. Common symptoms associated with both discoloration types include:

• Abnormal coloration of one or more teeth
• Fractured tooth
• Pitted enamel (the glossy covering of the tooth) with staining
• Rings or lines of discoloration around one or more teeth

Causes

Intrinsic discoloration

• Internal (trauma, injury)
• External resorption (destruction) of the tooth
• Localized red blood cell destruction in the tooth (trauma)
• Systemic infections
• Medications (tetracycline)
• Exposure to too much fluorine (ingestion of toothpaste containing fluoride)
• High levels of bilirubin in the blood (from bile, the liquid in the gallbladder that helps to dissolve food in the intestines)
• Amelogenesis imperfecta (a condition in which dental enamel does not calcify enough)
• Dentinogenesis imperfecta (a condition in which the dentin does not develop correctly)

Extrinsic discoloration

• Bacterial stains from plaque (mucin, debris, bacteria and a thin film of food) and calculus
• Foods
• Bleeding gums
• Dental restorative materials
• Medications
• Metal

Diagnosis

A complete blood profile will be conducted, including a chemical blood profile, a complete blood count, and a urinalysis. You will need to give a thorough history of your cat's health, onset of symptoms, and possible conditions that might have caused this condition, such as diet, injury, recent illnesses, etc. The history you provide may give your veterinarian clues to the origin of the dental condition.

An oral exam is part of a thorough physical exam. Your veterinarian will need to x-ray your cat's teeth in order to identify internal or external resorption, and whether restorative materials or bacterial stain from bacteria are entering the crown of the teeth. Your veterinarian may also use a strong fiber optic light that is focused on the teeth to determine vital from dead dental pulp (the nerves and blood vessels in the tooth). If the tooth (or teeth) need to be removed, your veterinarian will most likely need to subdue your cat with general anesthetize in order to extract it.