FORLs are painful "Kitty Cavities" that are caused from bacterial enzymes digesting the teeth. The following are pictures of what a FORL looks like above and below the gums. For more information on FORLs, click here.


This is a cat under anesthesia.  Look at the gum starting to grow up the lower molar on the back part of the crown (near the Q-tip).  It doesn't look so terrible does it?

The probe can be inserted 3 mm under the gum.

Now you can see the lesion after the gum has been elevated - there is a hole in the tooth!  The pulp chamber and nerve are exposed.  This is a very painful lesion.  The tooth has to be extracted to relieve the cat's pain.