Dental disease is the most common — and most under-treated — condition in companion animals.

Clinically reviewed by Dr. Sara de Wet, DVM, MPH · Veterinarian, Lucks Lane Veterinary Clinic · Last updated 2026-05-25

By the time a dog or cat is three years old, the AVMA estimates that 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have some form of periodontal disease. The visible tartar on the crown is the part you can see. The actual disease — bone loss, root pathology, periodontal-pocket infection, pain on chewing — is mostly below the gum, where you can't see it and your pet can't tell you about it.

This is the most-skipped preventive in companion-animal medicine. Owners hear "dental cleaning" and they hear "anesthesia" and they hear "two thousand dollars" and they wait another year. We understand. We are also the people who see what happens when the cleaning is waited on for five years. We would rather have an honest conversation about it now.

At Lucks Lane Veterinary Clinic, routine dental cleanings are a cornerstone of our preventive care program for dogs, cats, and select exotic species. Our imaging suite includes advanced digital dental x-ray, and every dental case receives full-mouth radiographs. Treatment plans are built from the films, not from the visual exam alone. Healthy teeth and gums matter — without them, your pet is at risk for pain, difficulty eating, and systemic problems affecting the heart and kidneys.

What a full dental cleaning includes.

Pre-anesthetic bloodwork

Required on every patient. CBC, chemistry panel, and (in seniors) thyroid + electrolyte panel. Helps us anticipate anesthetic risk and adjust the protocol accordingly.

IV catheter & fluids

Placed on every patient before induction. Maintains hydration and gives us immediate venous access if it's needed.

Monitored general anesthesia

Intubated, on inhalant anesthesia with active warming. A dedicated technician monitors heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, ETCO2, and core temperature throughout. No anesthetic-monitoring shortcuts.

Full-mouth digital x-rays

Every patient, every cleaning. This is non-negotiable at our clinic. Periodontal disease, root resorption, abscesses, and bone loss are not visible on a visual exam — they are only visible on x-ray.

Scaling above & below the gum

Ultrasonic scaling above the gumline, hand scaling below. Below-the-gum scaling is what actually treats periodontal disease.

Polishing & sealing

Polishing smooths microscopic scratches from scaling so plaque has nothing to grip. Fluoride sealant on selected patients.

Treatment-planned extractions

If indicated by radiograph. We do not extract opportunistically. We call you during the procedure to discuss any extractions before proceeding.

Written dental report home

Includes dental chart, radiograph summary, extraction record, home-care plan, and a follow-up oral exam scheduled at no charge two weeks post-procedure.

What does a dental cleaning cost?

Routine dental cleaning, small dog with no extractions: starts at $485. Average dental on a 7-year-old dog with mild dental disease and 1–2 extractions: about $720. Cat dental with multiple feline-resorptive-lesion extractions can run $1,200 to $1,450. Complex cases involving multiple surgical extractions are estimated case-by-case.

You receive a written estimate after the exam. We update the estimate by phone during the procedure if x-rays reveal extractions we couldn't see on the exam. We do not perform extractions without telling you.

• Small dog, no extractions: from $485 — pre-anesthetic bloodwork, full-mouth digital x-rays, scaling above and below the gumline, polishing.
• Mid-size dog, 1–2 extractions: around $720 — typical 7-year-old with mild dental disease.
• Cat with feline resorptive lesions (multi-tooth): $1,200–$1,450.
• Single-rooted extraction: add $45–$85 each.
• Multi-rooted surgical extraction: add $145–$225 each.
• Wellness-Plan discount: 10–15% off the dental cleaning total for plan members.

"The clean teeth are the easy part. The reason to do it under anesthesia, with x-rays, is to find and treat the part you couldn't see."

Why we don't do anesthesia-free cleanings.

Anesthesia-free cleanings — sometimes offered by groomers or stand-alone "non-anesthetic" dental services — can scrape visible tartar off the visible part of the crown of the tooth. They cannot clean below the gumline. They cannot probe gingival pockets. They cannot take radiographs. They cannot diagnose, let alone treat, the periodontal disease that is causing your pet pain. They look like dentistry. They are not dentistry.

We do not recommend them, we do not perform them, and we are willing to lose business over this position. The American Veterinary Dental College has a position statement on this if you want to read further; we are happy to send you the link.

Home care between cleanings.

Brushing is the gold standard. We will demonstrate at any appointment. The trick is daily — two times a week is barely better than zero. For dogs and cats who refuse brushing, the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) accepts a short list of dental chews, water additives, and prescription dental diets that are proven to slow plaque accumulation. We hand out the list at consultation. We are dubious about most dental treats not on that list.