What Can a Dental X-Ray Show?

A dental X-ray can show structures that cannot be seen during a normal examination.

Your veterinarian may be able to identify:

• tooth root disease

• bone loss around teeth

• tooth resorption

• fractured teeth

• retained tooth roots

• infection around tooth roots

• abnormalities beneath the gumline

• teeth that have not erupted normally

This can change the treatment plan significantly.

A tooth that looks acceptable above the gumline may turn out to be severely diseased once its roots and surrounding bone are examined.

Why Is This Particularly Important in Cats?

Cats have a dental condition called tooth resorption, in which parts of the tooth are progressively destroyed.

Tooth resorption can be extremely painful.

The problem is that it isn't always obvious just by looking at the tooth.

You may see what looks like a relatively normal tooth, while the underlying structures are affected.

Dental X-rays allow the veterinary team to determine the extent and type of damage and decide what treatment is appropriate.

Can Cats Have Dental Disease Without Showing Signs?

Absolutely.

This is one of the most frustrating things about feline dental disease for owners.

Cats are exceptionally good at hiding signs of pain.

A cat with significant dental disease may still:

• eat normally

• play normally

• groom normally

• behave normally

• ask for treats

That doesn't necessarily mean their mouth is comfortable.

Some owners are surprised when their apparently healthy cat has significant dental disease discovered during a veterinary examination.

What Are the Signs of Dental Disease in Cats?

Some cats show obvious signs, while others show very little.

Possible signs include:

• bad breath

• red or bleeding gums

• tartar

• drooling

• pawing at the mouth

• dropping food

• chewing differently

• reluctance to eat hard food

• swallowing food without chewing

• weight loss

• becoming irritable when the face or mouth is touched

However, the absence of these signs does not rule out dental disease.

This is one reason regular veterinary examinations are important.

Why Can't My Cat Just Have a Dental Clean Without X-Rays?

A scale and polish cleans the surfaces of the teeth.

It doesn't tell your veterinarian everything that is happening underneath them.

Imagine looking at a house and seeing that the walls look fine.

You wouldn't necessarily know whether there was a problem with the foundations.

Dental X-rays provide a similar opportunity to examine the structures supporting the tooth.

For a cat undergoing a comprehensive dental procedure, this information can be critical to deciding which teeth should be treated or removed.

Why Might Dental X-Rays Mean My Cat Needs an Extraction?

This is where owners sometimes feel surprised.

Your veterinarian may initially tell you that your cat needs a dental clean.

Once your cat is anaesthetised and dental X-rays are taken, the veterinary team may discover that some teeth are unhealthy and need to be removed.

This doesn't necessarily mean the original examination was wrong.

It means that the full extent of the disease could not be determined while your cat was awake.

The X-rays have provided additional information.

Are Cat Dental X-Rays Worth the Cost?

For a comprehensive dental procedure, dental X-rays provide information that a visual examination alone cannot.

This can help your veterinarian:

• identify painful teeth

• avoid leaving diseased roots behind

• determine whether a tooth can be treated or should be removed

• assess the extent of bone loss

• identify tooth resorption

• plan extractions appropriately

The goal isn't simply to make your cat's teeth look cleaner.

The goal is to leave your cat with a healthy and comfortable mouth.

Why Does a Cat Dental Sometimes Cost More Than Expected?

The starting price of a dental procedure doesn't necessarily represent the final treatment cost.

A cat may require:

• general anaesthesia

• dental X-rays

• scale and polish

• tooth extractions

• surgical extraction techniques

• pain relief

• additional monitoring

• post-operative medication

Some cats have relatively mild dental disease and require little additional treatment.

Others have advanced disease or multiple teeth affected by tooth resorption and may need considerably more involved dental surgery.

Our Cat Dental Pricing

At Fortitude Valley Vet, our cat dental package currently starts from $490.

Our dental package is designed to provide a comprehensive veterinary dental rather than simply a cosmetic clean, with services including anaesthesia, monitoring, IV fluids, dental cleaning and full-mouth dental X-rays.

Additional treatment such as extractions or blood testing may be required depending on your cat's individual needs.

We also publish our dental pricing so you can understand the starting cost before booking.

See our current dog and cat dental pricing: Fortitude Valley Vet dental pricing

​

​

What Happens During a Cat Dental?

A typical dental procedure involves several stages.

1. Your cat is assessed

Your veterinarian examines your cat and discusses their health, age and any concerns you have noticed.

2. Anaesthesia is administered

A thorough dental examination and X-rays cannot be performed safely and properly while a cat is awake.

3. The mouth is examined

The veterinarian assesses the teeth and gums and creates a dental chart.

4. Dental X-rays are taken

The X-rays allow the veterinary team to assess the structures below the gumline.

5. Teeth are cleaned

Plaque and calculus are removed from the teeth, including areas below the gumline.

6. Diseased teeth are treated

If teeth are severely affected, extraction or another appropriate treatment may be recommended.

7. The teeth are polished

Polishing helps smooth the tooth surface following scaling.

8. Your cat recovers

Your veterinary team monitors your cat during recovery and provides appropriate pain relief and post-operative care.

​

​

Can I Prevent Dental Disease in My Cat?

You can reduce the risk and help slow the progression of dental disease with appropriate home care.

Depending on your cat, this may include:

• regular tooth brushing

• veterinary dental diets

• appropriate dental products

• regular veterinary examinations

• addressing dental problems early

However, once significant dental disease has developed, brushing cannot reverse damage to the tooth or supporting structures.

From Dr Nic's Consult Room

Cats are probably some of the best patients at hiding dental pain.

I've had owners tell me, "But she's eating completely normally," after we've found significant dental disease.

That's why I don't use eating normally as evidence that a cat's mouth is healthy.

Cats can continue eating despite painful teeth. They may simply adapt the way they eat or swallow their food differently.

For me, one of the most valuable parts of a feline dental is being able to see what is happening below the gumline, rather than judging the health of the teeth purely by what we can see.

​

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all cats need dental X-rays?

Dental X-rays are an important part of comprehensive feline dental assessment because significant disease can occur below the gumline. Your veterinarian can advise what imaging is appropriate for your cat.

Can a cat have dental disease without bad breath?

Yes. Bad breath can be a sign of dental disease, but its absence does not mean that your cat's teeth are healthy.

Why do cats get tooth resorption?

The exact cause of feline tooth resorption is not completely understood. It is a common and often painful dental condition in cats that requires veterinary assessment.

Can you see tooth resorption without an X-ray?

Not always. Some forms of tooth resorption can be difficult or impossible to fully assess from the visible tooth alone, which is why dental radiography is so important.

Will my cat need teeth removed if dental X-rays show disease?

Possibly, but not every abnormal tooth necessarily requires extraction. Treatment depends on the type and severity of disease and the individual tooth.

Will my cat be able to eat after having teeth removed?

Most cats adapt very well after dental extractions. In many cases, removing painful diseased teeth can improve a cat's comfort and quality of life.

​

Related Cat Dental Articles

• How Much Does Cat Dental Cleaning Cost in Brisbane?

• Why Is Cat Dental So Expensive?

• Why Does My Cat Have Bad Breath?

• Cat Tooth Resorption: What Every Cat Owner Should Know

• Does My Cat Need a Dental?

• Is Anaesthesia Safe for Cat Dental Cleaning?

• What Happens During a Cat Dental?

​

Worried About Your Cat's Teeth?

If your cat has bad breath, tartar, red gums, drooling, difficulty eating or changes in the way they chew, a veterinary dental assessment can determine whether dental disease may be present.

Remember that cats can have significant dental disease without showing obvious signs at home.

Early assessment can help identify problems before they become more advanced and painful.

​

​

Reviewed by Dr Nic Cher, BVMS
Principal Veterinarian | Fortitude Valley Vet

Dr Nic Cher is a Brisbane veterinarian with over 15 years of experience caring for dogs and cats. He has a special interest in preventive healthcare, pet dentistry, pet longevity and helping owners make informed, evidence-based decisions to keep their pets healthier for longer.

​