Table 2.

Criteria for dental disease category

Dental Disease Category	Calculus Index Criteria	Calculus Index (0–3)	Gingivitis Index Criteria	Gingivitis Category (0–3)
No dental disease (0)	No calculus	0	No gingivitis	0
Mild (1–2)	Minimal layer of calculus visible on teeth at gingival margin	1	Thin area of mild inflammation at gingival margin	1
Moderate (3–4)	Moderate amount of calculus visible at gingival margin	2	Larger area of moderate inflammation affecting gingiva ± bleeding	2
Severe (5–6)	Large amount of calculus covering a significant surface area of the tooth and extending into interdental space	3	Severe inflammation of gingiva ± bleeding and stomatitis	3

Criteria for calculus and gingivitis index for assessing dental disease in cats at the initial evaluation. Calculus and gingivitis index were combined to give the dental disease category (no dental disease, mild, moderate, and severe).