Tooth resorption and crown amputation - experiences anyone?

Since spring/summer this year I had noticed that my kitty (12 years old) had been losing small amounts of weight and was being a picky eater. Nothing alarming - just a matter of ounces - but otherwise he seemed happy and fine so with nothing much else appearing, I just monitored him closely.

When he had an annual checkup this fall, we noted that he could use a dental, although it did not look urgent. Routine geriatric bloodwork is all fine (I do this every few years for each cat, even if no issues), except potassium just at the borderline of normal range. It turned out he had some advanced resorptive lesions hidden under some gum swelling in a few teeth. The root resorption was a bit too advanced to pull the teeth (showed by xrays), so the vet did a careful crown amputation and sewed the gums back together (standard procedure if pulling the tooth is not possible). Tooth resorption is supposed to be painful, so I thought that this could explain his recent small weight loss and pickier eating over the past 6 months or so.

After the crown amputation he was put on painkiller for a few days (buprenex), and now he is back to normal about the house. He seems particularly cheery so I do think maybe this surgery helped sort out the worst of the pain. After the surgery he lost a couple of ounces (not too surprising with fasting and having crown amputation and sore gums etc). The thing is that two weeks later, he is still being a pretty picky eater and has not regained any weight (I am offering plenty of soft food if he wants it). He is eating, but not regaining the lost weight - which is kind of disappointing.

Does anyone have experience of tooth resorption and/or crown amputation? Could he still have some residual pain even if the worst of the pain is gone? I have checked in his mouth, and all looks good in there. I will be taking him into the vet for a followup shortly - still I would like any thoughts anyone has to share even so!

Thank you!

How long ago was the surgery?
Have you changed his diet?

I know a few on here have personal experience with this issue hopefully they will chime in..

The surgery was two weeks ago.

He has same the kibble still available, but I put out some new kibble with smaller bits in case he found that easier to eat. And I am letting him have any of his favourite flavours of wet food (same ones he has always had and enjoyed). Like I said, he was eating very picky before the surgery, and I'd say he might be eating a tad better now, but it is just still not quite enough to do more than barely hold his weight if that.

Several months back I took Franny, my 4 YO female to the vet for a routine check up. Long story short, we were referred to a Vet Dentist. Franny had/has resorption issues. According to the dentist she had already lost 5 teeth and he pulled another 9! She never showed any signs of weight loss, nor did she change her eating pattern. She eats both wet and dry. She never slowed down chasing, and chomping, her favorite string toy.

She came home with a pain patch and didn't indicate that she was in any real discomfort (except "What the heck is this thing on my leg?!") The after care instructions said no dry food for 3-4 days. She was tentative with the dry at first but soon enough was eating away. Franny was not overly affectionate before the extractions. She would pick her spots. Since the adventure those spots have been occurring more often and lasting longer

The dentist said that they do not know what causes resorption, so there is no way to prevent it.

Interesting that your kitty ate fine while teeth were resorbing, as many web sites suggest picky eating, some weight loss is very commong as the mouth is in pain.

I suppose that like people, cats all react differently to pain and some may experience more or less pain depending on amount of inflammation present etc. etc. etc. And Liam was always a lighter eater, I have a few other cats that I suspect would keep eating and not slow down eating even with tooth resorption...