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hamsterjill

(17,933 posts)
Wed Jun 10, 2026, 09:45 AM Jun 10

Has anyone here experienced INTERNAL resorption of a tooth?

I'm told this condition affects less than 1% of the population, and I'm trying to find someone who might have experienced it?

20 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

hamsterjill

(17,933 posts)
4. Aw, you're so funny!!!!
Wed Jun 10, 2026, 10:49 AM
Jun 10

Thanks for trying to keep this up beat!!!

I am actually looking for someone who might have had personal experience, since it is considered very rare.

marble falls

(73,388 posts)
14. Is this a cat thing or human thing? I know the roots to baby teeth are reabsorbed. edit
Wed Jun 10, 2026, 01:24 PM
Jun 10

So I took the time to educate myself a little. This is pretty serious stuff.

https://www.dentaly.org/us/oral-health/tooth-resorption/

hamsterjill

(17,933 posts)
15. It's both.
Wed Jun 10, 2026, 01:48 PM
Jun 10

Yes it's serious. It's a natural thing with a baby's teeth, but an entirely different matter for an adult.

That's the same link that werdna had provided, and it's got some good information.

Response to marble falls (Reply #1)

hamsterjill

(17,933 posts)
3. Thanks for this.
Wed Jun 10, 2026, 10:48 AM
Jun 10

Of course, I've already googled until my head is spinning.

I was actually asking if someone might have had a personal experience.

3catwoman3

(30,088 posts)
6. I only know it very common in cats...
Wed Jun 10, 2026, 10:50 AM
Jun 10

...affecting up to 67% of adult cats, and the only treatment is extraction, so I'm no help.

hamsterjill

(17,933 posts)
8. I have a cat sanctuary and I'm familiar with stomatitis.
Wed Jun 10, 2026, 11:07 AM
Jun 10

It's awful. I've had luck with a good vet who did full mouth extractions, but the vet HAS to know what they are doing because if they leave anything behind, it won't fix the problem. There are also cats who react to things in their mouth other than the dentin (i.e., their own saliva) who get this type of disease, and doing a full mouth extraction does not help them.

For you to know about this must mean that you've had a kitty or kitties with it, so please accept my thanks for your efforts toward helping those.

In humans, it's a little different.

3catwoman3

(30,088 posts)
11. Oh, yes. We've had 4 cats afflicted with this. Different ages, different breed.
Wed Jun 10, 2026, 12:08 PM
Jun 10

We currently have 4 cats. 2 unrelated 14 yr olds. The male tabby has no problems, which the vet find remarkable at this age. The female tuxie started showing gum inflammation very early in her life. We also have a brother&sister Siamese-mix pair who are 3 yrs old. The brother has a perfectly clean mouth. His sister just had to have 7 teeth extracted.

hlthe2b

(115,121 posts)
10. Yes. It is... There may be a genetic predilection in cats, but not shown to be in humans...
Wed Jun 10, 2026, 11:12 AM
Jun 10

It appears to be related to ongoing inflammation, trauma, and most often from orthodontic movement over time, although not necessarily related to orthodontic treatments.

Given the amount of trauma and inflammation older cats experience, I think we can assume this to be the major cause in cats as well--over genetics.

hamsterjill

(17,933 posts)
16. It's affecting younger cats quite a bit.
Wed Jun 10, 2026, 01:54 PM
Jun 10

It used to be primarily something that older cats faced, but veterinarians are seeing it more and more in younger cats, some under one year of age. It is not an infectious disease passed from cat to cat, as you know, of course.

Although some vets believe there is something that transmits because they've all come across genetically unrelated cats in households where several experience the disease.

There is a medicine out of China under scrutiny right now called Mutoral. Some people swear by it as far as helping their cats, but my vet says it's snake oil. Guess time will tell. Would be wonderful if they could find a cure like they have for FIP.

John1956PA

(5,137 posts)
7. I once had a molar which had cracked. The pulp eventually resorbed, leaving a bone-and-enamel shell.
Wed Jun 10, 2026, 10:51 AM
Jun 10

hamsterjill

(17,933 posts)
9. Do you happen to know if this was "internal" or "external" resorption?
Wed Jun 10, 2026, 11:09 AM
Jun 10

External is more common, but you may not have been told which.

Thanks for your reply.

John1956PA

(5,137 posts)
17. I was not as used as to its nature regarding external versus interval.
Wed Jun 10, 2026, 09:59 PM
Jun 10

In two weeks, I am going to get another molar extracted because it is cracked. The pulp is still present.

John1956PA

(5,137 posts)
20. Thank you for your good wishes.
Wed Jun 10, 2026, 11:19 PM
Jun 10

The extraction will be of an upper molar. It will be important for me to allow the clot to coagulate firmly.

Florida Dem

(59 posts)
12. Ended Up With Extraction and Dental Implant
Wed Jun 10, 2026, 12:18 PM
Jun 10

I was recently diagnosed with idiopathic root reabsorption on one of my lower molars.

"Common Symptoms: Resorption is typically asymptomatic and progresses slowly, making routine dental check-ups vital. When symptoms do appear, they often include: Pinkish spots or a pink tint on the surface of the tooth.Unexplained radiating tooth pain."
*This is what happened with me. I had some discomfort and then upon closer inspection my dentist noticed a very small pink area and referred me to an endodontist.

The endodontist wasn't sure if the tooth could be salvaged and he referred me to a periodontist. He said he had only seen one other case similar to mine during his entire career. They classified mine as idiopathic in which they don't really know what caused the condition. 3D imaging was done of that specific tooth.

It was never really discussed whether it was internal or external in my case, so I don't really know. I was presented with the option of either doing a root canal or getting an extraction. The extraction was strongly advised because they had low confidence that a root canal would work for the long-term and if I was going to spend that amount of money it would be better spent toward the permanent solution of an implant.

A bridge/denture was another option and would have been less expensive but is an inferior solution in the long run for multiple reasons. I could have also just have not done anything after the extraction but I didn't want to leave a hole there for the rest of my life and then also experience the inevitable bone loss that occurs in that part of the jaw bone. It can have negative clinical and aesthetic consequences over time.

After thousands of dollars and many months of the multi-step implant process, I am now rocking a dental implant. It was completed September of last year. Of course every case is going to be different. Apparently, mine was a little too far gone when it was discovered to reasonably save the tooth even though I am meticulous with my dental care and in having cleaning/exams every 6 months.

hamsterjill

(17,933 posts)
13. THANK YOU!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!
Wed Jun 10, 2026, 12:38 PM
Jun 10

May I send you a DM to further discuss? I am tied up for a while this afternoon, so that would probably be later tonight if I have your permission to do so.

Thank you so much for your response! That is what I was really hoping to find on DU (i.e., personal experience).

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