Are the painful lesions in feline tooth resorption usually visible?

Feline tooth resorption (FTR) is a common condition in cats where the body starts to resorb the structures of the tooth, leading to painful lesions. The correct answer is that the painful lesions are often visible, particularly during a dental examination. Veterinarians typically notice the lesions during the oral examination, which may include dental radiographs.

These resorptive lesions usually appear as irregularly shaped defects on the tooth surface or as areas of missing enamel or dentin. While they may not always be immediately obvious to pet owners, a thorough examination by a veterinarian can reveal these painful areas.

It is important to note that while visibility is high, not all cases will show obvious external signs, as some lesions may be more internal and only identifiable through imaging or more invasive examination methods. This variability may lead to confusion regarding the visibility in various cases, but in a clinical setting, the trained eye of a veterinarian will often catch these lesions.