I wish you all the best on Thursday but if there is a tooth problem this may all be sorted out without a problem
To be honest I would have had her sedated for them to look at her properly, the correct sedation should be very safe even at 16yrs. I dont like a cat to be that stressed while being examined.
Sasa my semi-feral had to be sedated just before Christmas cos she bit the vet while examining her
.........and she had not been starved or anything cos she was an emergency. The vet said the sedation would not be a problem cos it would cause her to vomit her food up if she had eaten, she is only around 10yrs though.