How much does your vet charge for a dental?

bastfriend

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I got inspired by the spay thread and wanted to start a dental thread.   I live in a large metro area and most vets around here charge between $300-$400 for a dental even if there are no extractions.   I find this to be insane!    I remember back ten years ago or so it was about $200 and I had sticker shock at that.    I wonder how someone goes about finding a lower cost but quality vet?

What's it like for you all?
 

ritz

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Yes, it is expensive.  Not sure why.

For a simple scraping and cleaning (i.e., no removal) which involves anesthesia, is is around  $250 where I live (suburb of Washington, DC, in Maryland).

I have pet insurance, but it does not cover 'routine' cleanings.  (To which I would argue:  when is it ever routine to administer anethesia to a cat?!)  Ritz had her first cleaning when she was less than two years old; she'll be due for another one in about two more years.  (I fed raw, but cannot brush her teeth.)

Insurance would cover the cost of extractions, however.
 

ldg

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$225 for the cleaning under anesthesia. Extractions are additional. Chum had 3 extractions last year, and if I remember correctly, it cost about $350 (total). I live in NW NJ, a rural area.
 
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catwithmycoffee

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We had one of our cats - Lizzie - in for a dental a week and a half ago.  It's a good thing  that the clinic I work at has an employee discount, as full price was over $600!

The itemized bill (charged for):

                         - Scaling, Polishing and Flouride

                         - Isoflurane Gas Anesthesia

                         - Pre Operation Sedation

                         - Antibiotic Injection

                         - Injection for pain

                         - ECG Surgical Monitoring

                         - Surgery Catheter/Fluids

                         - 3 Extract Teeth Molar

                         - Dental Instruments and Supplies

                         - Xray Oral 2 views

                         - Clindamycin drops

                         - Onsior 6 mg tablet 3 count

               (not charged for but on the bill)

                         - Pre Anesthetic Exam

                         - Nail Trim

                         - Anal Sac Expression

                         - Recheck in 7 days

The actual tooth extraction was the most expensive part of the bill...The clinic I work for does give itemized estimated - with the emphasis on it being an estimate only.  So we had an idea, at least...what caught us by surprise was it was 3 molars that had to come out instead of one.

It hit our wallets a little harder than expected (ouch!), but Lizzie was badly in need of it being done. We have no clue to what - if anything - was done with her prior owner (she and her 'brother' Sam were abandoned).  Even though cats are good at hiding pain, we could tell Lizzie was uncomfortable.  Much of the time she would simply curl up on the couch and look at us with the most woeful expression in her eyes.  The day after her dental - a complete 180 in her personality!  Lizzie is so much more affectionate now, and will actually let me pick her up and hold her(where before she would fight to get away when held).

Yes, it was expensive.  But no doubt in my mind that it was worth it.  Especially seeing how happy she is now. :-)

Sam is next.  And crossing our fingers that he doesn't need any extractions done for his dental!  As it's going to take a couple of months to get the money set aside, I am in the meantime getting him used to having his teeth brushed, which is an adventure unto itself.
 
 
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bastfriend

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This is so helpful!   I'm definitely being way overcharged where I am - I really like my vet but money is getting tighter for me so a change may be needed.  When my Big Guy had to have four extractions done in one dental the bill was almost $900.   I started brushing his teeth after that....   His two dentals after that involved one and then two extractions so maybe the brushing is helping.
 

whaler

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i had a cleaning and one extraction done on pretty girl this past september. it cost just under $450 including her blood work. even though she is only +/- 6 years old i had the senior profile done (i am sort of anal like that) so i could have kept down the cost if i just had the regular panel done.
 
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lizzimi

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I asked for a quote for my 13 year old, they said it would be 600-900$ + depending on what needed to be done. $600 for just a cleaning, -$900 plus if she needed teeth taken out. I said "NOOO!!" and bought a toothbrush for her.
 

denice

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Alice had one two years ago and the bill came to $1300.  That included full pre-op bloodwork and five extractions.  I also got a few doses of buprenex to take home and that pain medicine is very expensive.  My understanding from my vet anyway is that x-rays are always done before an extraction and also to check teeth that might needed extracting.  One of her little front bottom teeth needed to come out and she drilled it out because they are so small.  There was probably an extra charge for that.
 

vball91

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Aria had her teeth cleaned (no extractions or anything else) 4 years ago, and it was $200. I think she might be due soon for another, and I'm curious as to how much it will be now. I'm in CO.
 

murdock

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My cat actually had a dental cleaning today. It was $217 it included;

-Preop bloodwork (she's 10yrs old)

- Anesthesia

-Dental cleaning

-Antibiotic injection

-Pain injection

-Take home antibiotics

-Extraction (Molar)

I didn't think that was too bad. If it was a straight forward cleaning ( no extractions) it would have been around $160.

I was quite surprised to see they did not place an IV Catheter. I thought that was "standard." Made me a little upset knowing if something were to happen to her while under anesthesia, giving emergency drugs would be VERY difficult.
 

cinderellie

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Eh, I'm looking at 900-1500 for cleaning and extractions, (3-5 exractions)  It really depends on where you live and the quality of the vets (not that all cheaper vet's are bad quality, but in some cities like mine to get much less than this I'd be looking at vet's office where I recently found out brand new receptionists are occasionally included in surgeries!  o_O Yeah, so not bringing my cats there!)
 
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bastfriend

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This is great info keep it coming!   Nice to know I'm not the only one - I know vets have to make a living and maybe their overhead expenses are driving the costs where I am but it sure makes doing what is a routine yearly thing a hit to the pocketbook.   Right now I'm trying a new supplement from my vet called EFAC that's supposed to help reduce gum inflammation and maybe Big Guy's FORL problem, sure hope it works but it smells kind of icky not sure if he'll put up with it long term.
 

southpaw

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Oh man. I know we charge $245 for a dog dental but for the life of me I can't think of what we charge for cats! Less than $245, at least!

That price basically includes the anesthesia (sedation, IV induction, isoflurane maintenance), anesthesia monitoring, and the cleaning itself. Extractions are of course extra, and  in that case they'll need antibiotics and pain meds too. And then everyone gets sent home with a toothbrush and toothpaste, antibacterial oral rinse, and some dental treats.

Pre-surgical bloodwork is optional (required on pets >7 years) and is an additional $77. IV catheter and fluids are optional, and are an additional $67. So if you do all those extra precautions (and, IMO, you should) that right there is what, an extra $150?

It is expensive, no doubt. Word of advice: February is pet dental month and a lot of clinics offer discounts on dentals at that time. So if you're ever thinking about scheduling a dental... see if your vet does something like that and try to plan it for Feb!
 
 

AbbysMom

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Abby had a dental with no extractions yesterday and it was $200. She has a senior blood panel done at the end of December and that was $155.
 
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