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How Much Do You Pay For Dental Cleaning?

15K views 44 replies 20 participants last post by  DukeCharlie 
#1 ·
Our vet tried to sell us a $560.00 package for an anesthetic teeth cleaning prodedure. I almost fainted. Cody has very good teeth. He has the usual amount of tarter for a 4 year old Poodle mix. Nothing bad. I just can't see not only paying that much, but risking putting him under. There is a risk every time a dog goes under anesthesia, albeit a small one, that they won't come out.

I would feel horrible if I lost my dog so unnecessarily that way. One vet that saw him explained they don't normally do it until the dog is about halfway through their life. In the case of a small breed Poodle, at about 7 years. That made a bit more sense. However, he never quoted me a price. I got my teeth cleaned, along with X-Rays and a checkup from the dentist for only $90.00. And I'm supposed to pay over 6 times as much for my dog??? Have any of you had this done? And if so how much did they hit you for?
 
#41 ·
I, too, suffered SHOCK when my vet suggested it would be around $500, too, for a dental, and that was only an estimate. A friend of mine uses a vet in a more rural area and I called them. They actually took the time to break it down for me (my vet would not) and for starters, she said the anesthesia portion is $200 -- the actual cleaning procedure was $85.00, and the pre-bloodwork, and x-rays, I think were added. She also said if they encounter anything else, it's $65 per regular extraction, etc., and so on. My regular vet ($$$) tried to say that they needed an EKG since Sunny is a senior -- 8 for a mini is not a senior IMO -- anyway, I am frantically brushing, and started using a new product PlaqClnz in hopes that I don't have to do this!
 
#42 ·
What bothers me the most is the wild price fluctuations from vet to vet. Even in the same city. I was quoted $560.00. Some here have said they have spent well into 4 digits. Then I found this veterinary clinic in Scottsdale that does both.

"Traditional Dental Cleaning under Anesthesia".............$270.00

"Conscious Sedation Dental Cleaning".........................$175.00

Pet Dental Scottsdale | TSVC Scottsdale AZ (Arizona)

Mind you, Scottsdale is a very affluent suburb of Phoenix. If anything you would think they would be much higher. And nothing seems to be short cut. The price includes: Basic chemistry/CBC blood profile, pre-anesthetic evaluation, anesthesia, ultrasonic scaling, oral charting,
dental probe, low speed polish, fluoride treatment, IV fluids, antibiotic injection, pain injection, dental x-rays.

That's a lot of work for just $270.00. Now why is my vet charging me $290.00 more for the same exact thing? And why are some here paying 3 times that? None of this makes any sense. My vet is in a cheap, run down building. I can all but guarantee you this Scottsdale clinic is paying far more for rent, and yet they're almost $300.00 cheaper than my vet. This somewhat irritates me. It requires the same thing regardless of who does it.

Get work done on your car from most any dealer, and the pricing will be similar, and competitive. Bring in your dog to get his teeth cleaned, and it seems anything goes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0WQYuDNHyc
 
#43 ·
Well this conversation hurts my heart because being in NYC I pay four times the highest prices that you all are quoting, but may I point out that none of you seem to be thinking about WHO is doing the procedure! My Vet used to have a tech who developed the dental specialty for techs. She taught classes in it, she wrote books on it. She recently left the practice and they have replaced her with a Veterinarian Dentist. Yes, a Vet who is a dental specialist. Who is doing the procedures that you are getting price quotes on, and what is their level of training and expertise? Don't you think that matters?
 
#44 · (Edited)
....may I point out that none of you seem to be thinking about WHO is doing the procedure! .....Who is doing the procedures that you are getting price quotes on, and what is their level of training and expertise? Don't you think that matters?
Sure it matters. But the fact of the matter is you have no way of knowing who is cleaning your dogs teeth. It's the same with people. When you have surgery you want the "best". The problem is it might not be "the best" who is actually doing your surgery. It could be someone else.

Doctors, vets and veterinary technicians have to be trained in these procedures all the time. Where do you think they get the practice? The experienced doctor or vet may very well be in the room, or else look in from time to time, but might not ever touch your pet. So you could easily be paying top price, but not getting what your paying for. You have no way of knowing, unless you're in the room with them. And that's not going to happen.

Back to what happened to Joan Rivers. She went in for a common throat procedure. She went to one of the best established clinics in Manhattan's Upper East Side to get it done. As it turned out one of the doctors who worked on her was not qualified to practice that particular procedure. The end result? She had to be rushed to the hospital, (Mt. Sinai), where she died, and the head doctor of that clinic was fired. And another doctor lost their license to practice medicine because of all of it. Multi million dollar law suits are sure to follow, which could very well result in the closing of that clinic. And even if it doesn't, who is going to want to go there?

Now, the point in all of this is simply this. If this can happen to a nationally known celebrity worth tens of millions of dollars, it can certainly happen to Fido at any vet clinic in any state.... Regardless of price, or who you think you are paying it to.
 
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