How Much Does Dog Teeth & Dental Cleaning Cost?

Dental hygiene is important for people, but it’s also equally important for dogs. Overall health is determined by dental health, and if not maintained, it can lead to bigger problems like heart and kidney disease. When it comes to teeth cleaning for dogs, treatments and procedures vary quite a big depending on several different factors. There are things to consider that may also go along with a standard dental cleaning, and these will be explained more in depth in this guide. Overall, though, expect to pay about $200 for your dog’s standard teeth cleaning.

This pricing guide covers:

1. Dog Teeth Cleaning Costs
2. Dog Teeth Cleaning Costs By Type
3. What does a dog dental cleaning include?
4. Additional Dog Dental Costs
5. How often should I get my dog's teeth cleaned?
6. Signs Your Dog Needs Teeth Cleaning
7. Dog Teeth Cleaning Process
8. Cost-effective Dental Maintenance For Dogs
9. Choosing your Dog Groomer
10. Dog Groomers Near Me

How Much Does Dog Teeth Cleaning Cost?

When it comes to dog teeth cleaning, an anesthesia-free cleaning will range from $100 to $300, while anesthesia based cleaning costs between $500 and $1,000. The cost will vary depending on location, veterinary office, size and age of the dog, bloodwork, any necessary extractions, anesthesia cost, aftercare, medication—if the procedure is painful or requires an antibiotic, and any additional boarding costs if the dog isn’t able to return home the same day.

The pricing can range anywhere from a few dollars into the thousands, depending on which procedures are deemed necessary. Anesthesia can also be very expensive, depending on the age and size of the dog.

A dog’s prophylaxis/prevention cleaning with Banfield is estimated at $262 for the Austin, TX, area. The same procedure in the Los Angeles area is estimated to cost around $366. An anesthesia-free procedure at Tomlinson’s pet store in Austin, TX, will cost you $175 with an additional $30 deposit.

The Different Types of Dog Dental Cleaning Costs

There are a few different types of cleaning procedures for dogs, depending on their dental needs and current health.

Anesthesia-free Teeth Cleaning $100–$300

At an average cost of $200, most dogs can do okay with an anesthesia-free teeth cleaning procedure, unless they have behavioral issues that won’t allow them to be handled by others. This procedure doesn’t require all of the initial bloodwork and testing that go along with regular dental cleaning procedures, but it requires the dental professional to use a special tool to scrape surface plaque off the teeth.

One advantage of this is that there is virtually no downtime, so the dog can go home right after the procedure is finished. This should be done every six months to a year, depending on how faithful you are with regular brushing at home.

Anesthesia Teeth Cleaning $500–$3,000+

The most thorough procedure involves anesthesia and provides a deeper clean that goes below the gum line and beyond the surface of the teeth themselves. This is going to be the most expensive procedure costing around $1,000, because of the cost for the dog to be put under, as well as the additional exam and bloodwork required to make sure that the dog is healthy and can be put under for the procedure.

Another thing that needs to be considered is any necessary X-rays that the dentist or technician deems appropriate in order to rule out things like periodontal disease before the cleaning takes place. This is where the cost can get higher and higher, especially if things like tooth extractions also need to be performed.

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What does a dog dental cleaning include?

An excellent, reputable dental cleaning service will include the following:

Full dental/oral examination, bloodwork, pre-anesthesia physical, digital X-rays, oral radiography, anesthetic, catheter, IV fluids, oxygen monitoring, EKG monitoring, dental probing, scaling, polishing, charting of teeth, before and after photos, before and after care, and possible overnight care.

Additional Dog Dental Costs To Consider

Digital X-rays alone can cost $500–$1,000, and oral radiography $150–200+ more, hence the cost of the cleaning. Also here are prices if your dog requires a tooth extraction:

• Tooth extraction (simple) – $10–$15 per tooth
• Tooth extraction (elevated) – $25–$35 per tooth
• Tooth extraction (with a drill) – $100 or less per tooth
• Root canal (charged by the root) – $1,000–$3,000 per tooth

How often should I get my dog's teeth professionally cleaned?

It's recommended to get your dog's teeth professionally cleaned at least once per year. If you regularly brush your dog's teeth at home you may be able to wait longer. Check with your local clinic for more details.

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What are signs that my dog needs teeth cleaning?

Just like people, as dogs age, their teeth tend to grow weaker and decay. A smaller dog’s teeth are even more at risk because their teeth are more likely to be crowded in their mouths and retain more plaque, like those of yorkies, dachshunds, and chihuahuas.

With proper care, a dog may be able to keep most or all of its teeth for a lifetime. This is exactly why regular maintenance is necessary to keep dental health optimal. Brushing and veterinary teeth cleaning at least once a year is essential in order to maintain a healthy mouth. Some signs that your dog may be in trouble in this area are:

• Bad breath - Though many dogs may have dog breath, which is often seen as normal, an ongoing unpleasant scent coming from dogs’ mouths is usually a sign that something is going on with their dental health. Odors that give off as stale or rotten should be addressed promptly with your veterinarian.
• Loose or broken teeth - Unless dogs have broken teeth off due to chewing something that is too hard for them, teeth that are inexplicably loose or broken off is a sign that they need to be seen by a vet. There may be an infection or periodontal disease causing this.
• Trouble eating - If your dogs act stressed or uninterested in eating, it could be a sign that they have oral pain and need medical attention.
• Brown- or yellow-stained teeth - If your dogs’ teeth are very discolored, they have obvious tartar buildup and need to have this removed in order to avoid further issues.
• Gum sensitivity or bleeding gums - If dogs’ gums look puffy, inflamed, or bleeding, it’s important that they are seen by a dental professional as soon as possible. This is often a sign that there is a large buildup of bacteria and plaque within the gums, which can affect their internal organs if not treated quickly.

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What is the process for dog teeth cleaning?

If you choose the more expensive Anesthetic procedure, it provides a deeper clean that goes below the gum line and beyond the surface of the teeth themselves. Here is the process:

• Anesthetic - Once a dog gets the all-clear on his physical, he will be sedated, intubated, and be administered anesthetic gas and oxygen. The vet will more than likely also insert a catheter to relive the dog’s bladder and set up an IV to administer fluids.
• Cleaning – The vet uses an ultrasonic scaler to break up and remove plaque and tartar. A hand scaler is then used to clean along the gum line and all sides of each tooth. The vet will then use dental probes to assess the depth of the pocket between each tooth and the gum above it. If it’s abnormally deep, it’s a sign of periodontal disease. Usually the vet will also do oral radiographs to search for malignant or benign masses, bone loss, and cavities.
• Extractions – If extractions are necessary, the veterinarian will remove the teeth in question and suture the empty sockets with absorbing sutures.
• Rinse and polish – The dog’s mouth is rinsed out and suctioned and the teeth are polished before being rinsed again. Some vets will also apply a fluoride treatment.
• Aftercare – your dog will be monitored after reversing the anesthesia. Once he/she is fully recovered, you will be called to pick your dog up. At that time you’ll be given a prescription for painkillers and antibiotics, if the vet deems them necessary.

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Cost-effective Dental Maintenance For Dogs In Between Cleanings

Below are a few additional ideas for keeping your dog’s teeth clean and healthy in between dental visits.

Dog Dental Bones

There are several brands of special dental bones and chews for dogs that help with teeth cleaning and also freshen breath. Most pet stores, and even some veterinary offices, carry these. Regular chewing keeps tartar from building up as easily and gives dogs something to entertain themselves with when they get bored.

Dog Teeth Brushing

This may or may not sit well with dogs, depending on their temperament and how relaxed they are when it comes to their mouths. There are special dog toothpastes on the market as well as special brushes that allow you to clear away visible food particles and other buildup. Along with this, there are some products on the market that go into the dog’s food and help soften and break up plaque on the teeth, and even sprays that go directly into the mouth to help with buildup.

Most grooming services include basic teeth brushing. For example, Petsmart offer a “Teeth Brushing & Breath Freshener” walk-in service for $11.

Many dog owners choose this option and have it done when the dog is groomed, even though tooth brushing should be done at least twice a week for 30 seconds a side.

Choosing Your Dog’s Teeth Cleaning Provider

Since there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to pricing out teeth cleaning procedures for your dog, it’s important to ask around before you commit to one specific dental practitioner. Referrals are a great way to go, but there are several ways to do your research online to find the best one.

Dog dental care is essential to your pet’s overall health and well-being, and should be carefully considered. The best way to find out what local veterinary offices or special animal dentists will charge is to:

• Look for reviews on HomeGuide and Google
• Call and ask for price quotes for clinics around your area so you can compare and choose the service that best fits your needs
• See if the clinics or stores offer reduced costs or specials on teeth cleaning
• Make sure the clinic is qualified in surgical dental care for dogs if you choose the Anesthesia method

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