Cat Dental Disease in Brisbane: Tooth Resorption, Stomatitis & Cost Guide

Symptoms of Dental Disease in Cats

Cat dental symptoms are often subtler than dogs' and easy to mistake for normal ageing. Watch for:

• Bad breath

• Drooling, sometimes with a small amount of blood

• Reduced grooming, or a scruffy, unkempt coat

• Preferring soft food or swallowing kibble whole without chewing

• Approaching the food bowl eagerly but then pulling away or eating less than usual

• Pawing at the mouth or face

• Visible redness or swelling of the gums

• A change in general demeanour — quieter, more withdrawn, or irritable when the face is touched

What Causes Dental Disease in Cats

Cat dental disease shows up differently to dogs, and the two most significant conditions are:

• Tooth resorption — the tooth's own structure gradually breaks down, often starting at the gumline and progressing into the root. It's extremely common in cats, frequently painful, and usually cannot be reversed once it starts, only managed by extracting the affected tooth.

• Stomatitis — a more widespread, severe inflammation of the gums and mouth tissue, believed to involve an exaggerated immune response to plaque bacteria. It causes significant chronic pain and often needs more intensive treatment than a standard clean.

• Periodontal disease and tartar build-up also occur in cats, following the same plaque-to-tartar-to-gum-inflammation pathway seen in dogs, though resorption and stomatitis are the conditions more unique to cats.

How Dental Disease Is Diagnosed in Cats

Because tooth resorption often starts below the gumline and stomatitis can look different from cat to cat, a visual check while your cat is awake only catches part of the picture. A full diagnosis involves:

• A hands-on oral exam during a check-up — though many cats won't tolerate a thorough look while conscious

• A pre-anaesthetic health check before any dental procedure

• Full-mouth dental X-rays under general anaesthetic — essential for finding resorption, since affected teeth can look normal on the surface

• Assessment of the extent of gum and mouth tissue involvement, particularly for suspected stomatitis

Treatment for Cat Dental Disease

• Scale and polish — for tartar and gingivitis without resorption or stomatitis

• Extractions — the standard treatment for teeth affected by resorption, since the damage isn't reversible

• More extensive extractions, sometimes of most or all teeth — for cats with stomatitis, which often resolves once the source of ongoing inflammation is removed

• Pain relief, and where indicated, anti-inflammatory or immune-modulating medication for stomatitis cases

At South Brisbane Vet, we'll always call you to discuss and confirm cost before proceeding with any extractions.

What We Commonly Find in Practice

In my experience, cats are remarkably good at hiding oral pain — a cat with significant tooth resorption will often still be eating and behaving completely normally, which is part of why this disease is so under-diagnosed. It's also common to find resorption on X-ray in a tooth that looked entirely healthy on visual exam, which is exactly why we don't rely on a look in the mouth alone. And in older cats especially, I regularly see chronic mouth pain get put down to 'fussy eating' or just getting older, when a dental assessment reveals a genuinely painful and treatable problem underneath.

Cost of Cat Dental Treatment in Brisbane

At South Brisbane Vet, a standard cat dental scale and polish starts from $490, which includes a pre-anaesthetic health check, general anaesthetic and monitoring, IV fluids, full-mouth dental X-rays, and pain relief. Extractions, if needed, are quoted separately once we can see exactly what's involved under anaesthetic.

Not sure whether your cat needs a dental yet? We offer a free Nurse Dental Check year-round.

Full pricing details:

View our dental pricing page

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Preventing Dental Problems in Cats

• Tooth brushing where your cat will tolerate it, ideally introduced gradually from a young age

• Veterinary dental diets formulated to reduce plaque

• Dental treats or water additives designed for cats

• Regular dental checks — resorption and stomatitis can't be prevented by home care alone, so early detection matters more than for dogs

• Annual (or more frequent, for older cats) veterinary check-ups that include a dental assessment

When to See a Vet

Book a dental check if you notice drooling, bad breath, reduced grooming, a change in eating habits, or any change in your cat's usual behaviour or demeanour. Because cats mask pain so well, we recommend a dental check as a standard part of every annual visit rather than waiting for obvious symptoms — particularly for cats aged seven and over.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How much does a cat dental cost in Brisbane?

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At South Brisbane Vet, a standard cat dental scale and polish starts from $490, including anaesthetic, monitoring, IV fluids and full-mouth X-rays. The final cost depends on findings and whether extractions are needed, which we'll always confirm with you first.

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What is tooth resorption in cats?

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Tooth resorption is a common and often painful condition where a cat's own tooth structure gradually breaks down, usually starting near the gumline. It can't be reversed, and affected teeth generally need to be extracted.

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What is stomatitis in cats?

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Stomatitis is severe, widespread inflammation of the gums and mouth, believed to be linked to an exaggerated immune reaction to plaque bacteria. It causes significant chronic pain and often requires more extensive treatment, sometimes including removal of most or all teeth.

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Can cats have dental disease without any obvious symptoms?

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Yes — this is very common. Cats are highly effective at masking pain, and conditions like tooth resorption can be present with no visible change in eating or behaviour. Regular dental checks are the main way to catch it early.

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Do cats need to be put under anaesthetic for a dental clean or check?

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A thorough dental assessment, including X-rays, requires general anaesthetic — most cats won't tolerate a detailed oral exam while awake, and resorption in particular is often invisible without X-rays.

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Key Takeaways

• Cats hide dental pain even more effectively than dogs — normal eating doesn't rule out significant disease

• Tooth resorption and stomatitis are the two conditions most distinctive to cats, and both need dental X-rays to diagnose properly

• Resorption can't be reversed — affected teeth are generally extracted

• Chronic mouth pain in older cats is sometimes mistaken for fussy eating or normal ageing

• A standard dental at South Brisbane Vet starts from $490, with extractions always confirmed with you before proceeding

Related Articles

• Dog Dental Disease Brisbane: Symptoms, Treatment & Cost Guide — South Brisbane Vet

• Dog & Cat Dental Pricing — South Brisbane Vet

• Is Anaesthesia-Free Dental Cleaning Safe? 

• Why Veterinary Dentals Cost So Much in Australia — DrNicVet.com.au 

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South Brisbane Vet proudly cares for cats from South Brisbane, West End, Highgate Hill, Dutton Park, East Brisbane, Stones Corner, Annerley, Kangaroo Point, Paddington, Woolloongabba and South Bank.

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Many of our clients choose us because they want a team that understands feline-specific dental disease, transparent pricing, and compassionate care close to home.

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Reviewed by Dr Nic Cher, BVMS

Principal Veterinarian |  South Brisbane Vet

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Dr Nic Cher is a Brisbane veterinarian with 14 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.