How often does my cat need dental checkups at the veterinarian?

Every time you bring your cat to the veterinarian for a well visit, we'll always look at their teeth and we grade them on a score of one to four, so we can follow the progress. One is the best they can be, four is the worst. So we'll always examine them, examine their teeth with an oral exam, and write a comment on there. So we'll follow that along as we go.

We’ll check the teeth every time you come in, as we do that as part of the physical exam. And every cat is different in how often they need proper cleaning. We recommend teeth brushing at home or maybe even feeding a specific dental food based on the health of the mouth. The doctor will then make the recommendation on yes, it's time for a cleaning or, no, I think we can wait maybe six months. Let's recheck it then, so that is very dependent on the oral health of the cat.

Every time they come in, we're going to be looking at those teeth, but I’d say once or twice a year minimally on that. And you should be keeping an eye on it yourself at home. Cats can be tricky, just like they are with all kinds of diseases. They get some common diseases that can be more under the gum line than visible up top. You want to look for subtleties at the gum line or changes in how they're eating—are they drooling, or is there anything weird going on there? Keep checking your cat's mouth as much as they'll let you, of course. Some cats are a little trickier than others on that. But certainly, at least with their twice-yearly checkups, we would want to keep an eye on that.

As far as dental cleanings, I'd say most cats don't tend to need them more than once a year, depending on the cat. Some don't even need them that often. If we find that your cat has some of those lesions under the gum line, we're probably going to be monitoring and rechecking those at least yearly with dental x-rays under anesthesia.

During every wellness exam, the veterinarian will also examine your cat's teeth. They will check for tartar buildup, missing or fractured teeth, and other dental issues. Regular dental checkups are essential for maintaining your cat's oral health.