Tooth Dislocation or Sudden Loss in Cats

A dislocated tooth can be classified as either a luxation or avulsion. A tooth luxation is a tooth that has only been partially dislocated, moving vertically or laterally on the dental plane. Whereas, a tooth avulsion describes a tooth that has been completely dislocated from the dental socket. There are a number of subcategories for tooth luxation and avulsion, which must be properly diagnosed by a veterinary professional to deduce proper treatment.

If your cat has suffered trauma or injury to the mouth, she could experience tooth dislocation or sudden loss of a tooth. When a feline experiences head trauma, a tooth can be knocked out of place or removed completely upon impact. A dislocated tooth or sudden loss of a tooth is an urgent condition. Infection, nerve damage, and lesions can quickly arise from tooth related trauma, therefore, veterinary attention is a must.

Tooth dislocation or sudden loss of a tooth can be easily noted at times, especially if you are a present witness. However, some forms of tooth dislocation are difficult to spot and could go unnoticed until some of the following symptoms appear:

• Bleeding 
• Facial swelling
• Swelling of the gums
• Tooth discoloration
• Excessive drooling
• Pain 
• Inability to chew or eat properly, leading to anorexia
• A visibly altered tooth appearing abnormal in position or size
• The tooth appears mobile indicating damage to the root
• Malocclusion (misalignment of the teeth or jaw)  

Types

• Concussion: A tooth that has undergone damage to the supporting structures including the roots, nerves and connective tissues, without visible displacement. 
• Avulsion: A tooth that has been completely displaced from the dental socket. 
• Extrusive luxation: A tooth that remains partially attached, but displaced outward from the dental socket. 
• Intrusive luxation: A tooth that has been partially dislocated and pushed deep into the dental socket, appearing visually shorter. 
• Lateral luxation: A tooth that is partially dislocated and easily moves from side to side on a lateral plane. 
• Subluxation: A non-displaced tooth with damage to the underlying structures, causing it to be abnormally loose. 

Tooth dislocation or sudden loss of a tooth is not a common occurrence for felines. Rough play, biting down on a hard object, cat fights, falls, and hit-by-car incidences can all result in tooth damage, although it takes a fair amount of force to cause this problem. The most commonly dislocated or tooth to be lost in felines is the upper fourth premolar and the canine tooth, as these teeth are located in the front of the mouth. If your cat suffers from poor dental health, tooth dislocation or sudden loss can become a more common occurrence as dental disease weakens the dental structure. 

Diagnosis of a tooth dislocation or sudden loss in cats can initially be done through a physical examination. A physical examination will indicate what type of tooth luxation your cat is experiencing and any evident of dental disease, such as gingivitis. The veterinarian will need to know when you first noticed the problem, what type of symptoms your cat has been experiencing and if you witnessed any recent injury your cat might have obtained to cause the dental trauma. The veterinarian will most likely want to take an x-ray. An x-ray will visualize which dental structures have been injured and any secondary injuries to the jaw that were not visible by the naked eye.

If you witness the sudden loss of your cat’s tooth, locate the tooth and contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. 

A veterinary dentist can surgically fixate the dislocated tooth back into place using splints. However, if the blood or nerve supply has been damaged, this tooth could become a continuous problem for your cat. Infection of a once dislocated tooth is not uncommon and you may expect your cat to undergo a root canal at a later date, which is why many veterinarians advise to remove the tooth completely. 

If your cat’s tooth was splinted, recovery time is about four to six weeks. At home, you will be advised to keep your cat on a soft food diet, rinsing the mouth with antiseptic solution after every meal to prevent infection. The mouth is full of bacteria, so the veterinarian will likely send you home with antibiotics to further prevent infection as well as pain medication. After the four to six weeks of recovery time, the splints will be removed and additional x-rays will be taken to ensure the tooth has, in fact, reattached. If your cat's tooth was completely removed, the recovery time will be significantly shorter.