Does My Cat Need a Dental?

By Dr Joe Inglis BVSc MRCVS ·

Your cat probably needs a dental if they have visible tartar, red gums, persistent bad breath, drooling, or are dropping food or chewing on one side. Many cats need one even without obvious signs, because cats are experts at hiding pain and common problems such as tooth resorption are often hidden below the gumline. The only way to know for sure is a dental check by a vet. This guide explains the signs to look for, what a dental involves, and what to expect on the day.

A tabby cat yawning, showing its teeth

What is a cat dental?

A "dental" is a dental procedure carried out under general anaesthetic to assess and treat your cat's teeth and gums. It's sometimes called a scale and polish (at Luna we offer two dental packages: the Luna Protect & Shine and Luna Fix & Shine), but a good dental is much more than a clean. It usually includes:

  • A full examination of every tooth, including probing around each one
  • Full-mouth dental X-rays to check the roots and bone, and to find hidden tooth resorption
  • Scaling above and below the gumline to remove plaque and tartar
  • Polishing to smooth the teeth
  • Treatment of any problems found, such as extracting painful resorbing or infected teeth
  • Pain relief and aftercare

Think of a dental as a health treatment, not a cosmetic one. Its purpose is to find and treat pain and infection, most of which can't be seen from the outside.

Signs your cat may need a dental

If your cat is relaxed and happy to be handled, gently lift their lip and look at their teeth and gums, especially the back teeth. Don't force it if they resist. Your cat may need a dental if you notice any of the following.

In the mouth

  • Tartar, a yellow or brown crust on the teeth
  • A red line along the gumline, or red, swollen gums
  • Red, sore-looking tissue at the back of the mouth, which can be a sign of stomatitis
  • Red gum growing into a tooth, a common sign of tooth resorption
  • Broken teeth, especially the canines (fangs)
  • Loose or missing teeth
  • Lumps, ulcers or growths on the gums
  • Retained baby teeth in a kitten over 6 months old

In your cat's behaviour

  • Persistent bad breath
  • Dropping food, chewing on one side or swallowing biscuits whole
  • Approaching food then hesitating, or preferring soft food
  • Pawing at the mouth or jaw chattering
  • Drooling, or saliva stained with blood
  • Grooming less, leading to a scruffy or greasy coat
  • Hiding, irritability or not wanting their face touched
  • Weight loss

For a more detailed examination of your cat's dental health, at Luna, we offer free in-person dental health assessments in our clinics, as well as our AI dental triage service online where our expert dental AI agent Bella can review photos of your cat's teeth and make recommendations for dental bookings.

Can a cat need a dental without showing signs?

Yes, and it's extremely common in cats. There are two reasons.

Most dental disease is hidden. Much of each tooth sits below the gumline. Periodontal disease and tooth resorption, a painful condition where the tooth is broken down from within, often start below the gum and can only be found with probing and dental X-rays.

Cats hide pain. Cats are instinctively very good at hiding pain, and most keep eating even with sore teeth. They adapt by swallowing food without chewing or favouring one side, and these changes are easy to miss. Owners often only notice how much discomfort their cat was in after treatment, when their cat becomes more active, affectionate or playful.

Periodontal disease is the most commonly diagnosed health problem in UK cats, recorded in 15.2% of cats seen by vets in a single year (VN Online, reporting the RVC study). The true number is likely to be higher, because many cases are never spotted. This is why regular dental checks matter, even for cats who seem fine.

How often do cats need a dental?

There's no fixed schedule, as every cat is different. How often your cat needs a dental depends on:

  • Age. Dental disease and tooth resorption become more common as cats get older, so older cats usually need more frequent care.
  • Individual tendency. Some cats build up tartar and develop gum disease much faster than others, and some are prone to repeated resorptive lesions.
  • Home care. Cats whose teeth are brushed or who eat a dental diet may need professional treatment less often.
  • Previous dental disease. Cats who have had tooth resorption, periodontal disease or stomatitis need closer monitoring.

As a guide, every cat should have a dental check at least once a year, and many benefit from a check every 6 months. Your vet will then recommend when a dental procedure is needed, based on what they see.

What happens at a dental check?

A dental assessment is an appointment with a Luna dental nurse and includes:

  • A chat about your cat's history, including any changes in eating, grooming, behaviour or breath
  • A general health check, as your cat's overall health affects anaesthetic planning
  • A gentle look inside the mouth, checking the teeth, gums, tongue and back of the mouth for tartar, gum disease, resorptive lesions, stomatitis, broken teeth and growths
  • Dental photography to help demonstrate and identify specific areas of concern
  • An explanation of what we find, and whether a dental procedure is recommended
  • A treatment plan, including what the procedure is likely to involve

A conscious check can only show what's visible above the gumline, and many cats won't allow a long look inside their mouth. It helps decide whether a dental is needed, but the full picture only becomes clear under anaesthetic, with probing and X-rays. Your vet will explain this, and talk you through the possibility that more treatment may be needed once everything can be seen.

What happens on the day of a dental?

Most cats go home the same day. A typical day looks like this:

  • The night before. You'll usually be asked not to feed your cat from the evening before, though water is normally fine. If your cat goes outdoors, keep them in overnight so they can't find food elsewhere. Follow your vet's specific instructions.
  • Admission. You bring your cat in, in a secure carrier, in the morning. The team checks your cat over, confirms the plan with you and makes sure they have your contact number.
  • Pre-anaesthetic checks. Your cat is examined again, and blood tests may be done if needed, particularly for older cats.
  • Anaesthetic. Your cat is given a sedative premedication and pain relief, then put under general anaesthetic. A tube is placed in the windpipe to protect the airway, and breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels and temperature are monitored throughout.
  • The procedure. Every tooth is examined, probed, X-rayed and charted, then cleaned above and below the gumline and polished. Any diseased teeth are treated. If the findings are very different from what was expected, the vet may phone you to discuss the plan.
  • Recovery. Your cat wakes up in a warm, quiet area and is monitored closely until they are ready to go home.
  • Discharge. You'll get a clear explanation of what was found and treated, pain relief to take home, and aftercare instructions.

Is a dental anaesthetic safe?

Worrying about anaesthesia is completely natural, and it's one of the most common reasons owners put off a dental. Modern veterinary anaesthesia is very safe, and the risk of serious complications for healthy cats is very low.

Risk is kept as low as possible by:

  • Pre-anaesthetic checks, including a health examination and blood tests where needed
  • A tailored anaesthetic plan, based on your cat's age, weight and health
  • Protecting the airway with a tube, so water and debris can't be inhaled
  • Continuous monitoring of heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, oxygen and temperature
  • Keeping your cat warm, which is especially important for small patients, and supported with fluids where needed
  • Careful recovery, with your cat monitored until fully awake

What about older cats? Age isn't a disease. Many older cats have anaesthetics safely, especially when conditions such as kidney disease or an overactive thyroid are identified and managed beforehand. Older cats are also the most likely to have painful dental disease and tooth resorption. For most, the risks of leaving painful teeth untreated are greater than the risks of a carefully managed anaesthetic.

If you're concerned, talk it through with your vet. They can explain the specific risks for your cat and the steps they'll take to manage them.

Why can't my cat have a dental without anaesthetic?

Anaesthetic-free dental cleaning is not suitable for cats. Very few cats would tolerate it, and veterinary dental specialists advise against it, because:

  • It only cleans the visible surfaces. It can't clean below the gumline, where dental disease actually happens.
  • It can't diagnose disease. Without X-rays and probing, tooth resorption, bone loss and root problems are missed.
  • It can't treat what's found. Painful resorbing or infected teeth can't be removed.
  • It can be painful and very stressful for your cat, and risks injury to their small, delicate mouth.
  • It gives false reassurance. Teeth can look clean while painful disease continues underneath.

A dental under general anaesthetic is the only way to examine, clean and treat your cat's mouth properly and painlessly.

What happens if I don't treat my cat's teeth?

Dental disease doesn't get better on its own. Without treatment, it usually progresses, and can lead to:

  • Ongoing pain, which cats often hide
  • Infection and abscesses, sometimes causing facial swelling
  • Progressive tooth resorption, which becomes more painful as it reaches the sensitive centre of the tooth
  • Loss of the bone and ligament that hold the teeth in place, which can't be regained
  • Loose and lost teeth
  • Reduced eating and weight loss, as eating becomes uncomfortable
  • Poor grooming, leading to a matted or greasy coat
  • Wider health effects, as ongoing infection and inflammation in the mouth is not good for your cat's overall health

Treating dental disease early is usually simpler and quicker, and means more teeth can be saved. Delaying often means more extractions, a longer anaesthetic and a longer recovery.

Recovery and keeping teeth healthy afterwards

Most cats recover quickly from a dental. On the evening of the procedure your cat may be a little sleepy, and a small, soft meal is usually recommended. Keep them indoors overnight. Most are back to normal within a day or two.

If your cat has had extractions, you'll usually be advised to:

  • Feed soft or wet food for a short period while the gums heal
  • Give pain relief exactly as prescribed
  • Attend a post-operative check so healing can be assessed

Cats cope remarkably well after extractions, and most go back to eating normally, including dry food, even if they have lost several teeth.

After a dental, your cat's mouth is clean, which makes it the perfect time to start good home care:

  • Brush daily, if your cat will accept it, with a soft finger brush and cat toothpaste, once your vet says the gums have healed
  • Use evidence-based dental products, such as Luna Plaque Protect dental supplement
  • Book regular dental checks, every 6 to 12 months

Good home care slows the return of plaque and tartar, and can greatly reduce how often your cat needs a dental in future. Tooth resorption can't currently be prevented, so regular checks remain important even with excellent home care.

How Luna can help

Luna the Dental Vets is a UK veterinary practice group dedicated entirely to dentistry for dogs and cats. If you're not sure whether your cat needs a dental, an online dental health check with Bella followed by a free in-person dental health assessment appointment is the best place to start.

When your cat visits Luna, you can expect:

  • A dental health assessment to assess your cat's mouth and give you a clear recommendation
  • Full-mouth dental X-rays as standard with every dental procedure
  • Detailed charting of every tooth, so you know exactly what was found and treated
  • Careful anaesthesia and monitoring, with pain relief tailored to your cat
  • Clear communication, before, during and after the procedure
  • Practical aftercare and home-care advice
  • Bespoke care packages through the Luna Dental Health Club

We have clinics in Bristol, Reading and Eastleigh, with Surbiton opening soon, and we welcome both direct bookings from owners and referrals from your regular vet.

Book a free dental check