cat (canine?) tooth

Question
hi doc.
i recently noticed my 7 yr old male cat had a snaggletooth on his right side.  it hangs lower than the left one, and there's a blackish discoloration within the tooth...also seems to be a bit of gum recession as well.
he seems to be in no pain at the moment.  a friend told me this isnt uncommon in cats and that i should let nature take its course (unless my kitty shows signs of pain).
should i make a vet appt asap?  i dont have much money, so i need the most economical approach.  incidentally, my cat has been to the doctor more than i have, so i hope you realize i am not neglectful of his health.
   thank you!

Answer
If the tooth is looking grayish that means it's dead. It is hanging lower because it is loose and falling out. It probably doesn't hurt if the entire nerve root is dead. The gum recession is a result of the death of the tooth also.

If he isn't pawing at his mouth or drooling, then he most likely isn't in pain. He doesn't use that tooth to eat with, so that is why he is not seeming to be bothered.
It might fall out on its own. You might want to have the vet just look at it and determine if there is any pain involved.

The main issue here is if it gets infected or the root is infected which then seeds bacteria throughout his body. At this point I would say it's not and just leave it. But it's your call on that- he is there with you and I cannot see him.

Your friend is wrong, however, this is not common in cats. We see this mostly in dogs because their propensity to grab and catch things, to play with hard objects and to eat rocks.