Dog Teeth Cleaning Costs: Best Ways To Save On Dental Care

How much does dog teeth cleaning cost without anesthesia?

Some pet parents believe they might be able to save money at the vet and prevent their loved one from going under with nonanesthetic dentistry (NAD). However, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) considers this practice unprofessional, unsafe, and ineffective for several reasons:

• It's difficult to reach and clean to clean the inner surfaces of the teeth while your dog is conscious, and the procedure feels uncomfortable.
• If a fully awake dog startles, they could accidentally scrape or cut their gums during the cleaning.
• No one can accurately diagnose or treat tooth decay during anesthesia-free dentistry, so the cleaning is merely superficial and misrepresentative of the procedure.

These are a few examples that explain why no AAHA-affiliated veterinarian may perform a dog teeth cleaning without anesthesia, or they risk losing their certification.

Are dog dental cleanings safe?

If you're worried about the possible risks and side effects of dog dental cleaning, know that your trained veterinary team is tasked with monitoring your pet's vital signs during and after sedation. Most dogs recover from dental anesthesia within 15 to 20 minutes after the procedure. Then, they will rest comfortably in a cage for a few hours for continued monitoring and typically go home the same day.

What are the benefits of dog dental care?

Brushing your dog’s teeth in between vet visits can really help with preventing plaque and tartar buildup, but having your dog’s teeth professionally cleaned by your veterinarian is also necessary to prevent dental disease as it is more thorough and effective. Regular dog dental care is particularly important for small dog breeds who are more prone to oral health problems, as well as dogs that eat only wet food.

Even with the most cooperative pet, brushing at home cannot fully clean your dog’s teeth. This is why during a professional dental cleaning, your veterinarian will place your dog under general anesthesia, to do a deep, 360 degree clean of every tooth, as long as they’ve determined that your dog is healthy enough for anesthesia.

While your dog is under anesthesia, your veterinarian can remove tartar buildup below the gum line, which is out of reach when a dog is awake. Most dental diseases in dogs occur below the gumline, so this is an important benefit to having a vet clean your dog’s teeth that cannot be achieved through other oral healthcare.

Your veterinarian also has the medical training and experience to identify dental issues, such as gum disease or periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease is characterized by painful inflammation of the tissues surrounding the teeth and is extremely common. It’s estimated that two-thirds of dogs over the age of three have periodontal disease, making it crucial that dental cleanings begin during puppyhood and are done regularly at your vet’s recommendation.

Prevention through regular dog dental cleanings and at home teeth brushing is essential to avoid significant oral health problems later in your loved one's life.

How to clean dogs' teeth at home

Brushing your dog’s teeth can be tricky at first, but most dogs will get used to it. Use special canine toothpaste in an appetizing flavor, such as peanut butter or poultry, to encourage their cooperation with this. Talk to your vet to ensure you are using toothpaste made specifically for dogs, ingesting human toothpaste can be very bad for your dog’s health.

By brushing your dog’s teeth regularly, you can help them to avoid painful and expensive dental procedures in the future. Start slow and first get your dog used to the yummy flavor of the toothpaste on your finger as they get more used to your fingers in and around their mouth. Brushing first with just your finger and the doggy toothpaste until they are comfortable with you touching all 42 of their teeth, even the ones in the very back, will make it much easier to then introduce the toothbrush into the equation.