Dental vet costs explained

Dental treatment is usually a planned procedure, which means you have time to ask questions, understand what is included, and compare options before booking. It is also one of the more variable veterinary costs — because the final bill often depends on what the vet finds once your pet is under anaesthetic.

The CMA includes routine dentistry in its recommended standard price-list categories for veterinary practices, which should make it easier to find published fees over time.

This guide explains the difference between a dental check and dental treatment, what affects the price, and what to ask before you book.

Source note: This guide is based on the CMA's veterinary market investigation final decision report and supporting materials. It does not provide veterinary or medical advice. Clinical decisions about your pet's dental care should always be discussed with your vet.

Types of dental appointment

Not all "dental" appointments are the same. Understanding the difference helps you compare like with like.

Dental check or assessment — a vet or nurse examines your pet's teeth and gums without performing treatment. This may be included in an annual health check or offered as a standalone appointment. It does not include cleaning under anaesthetic.

Scale and polish under general anaesthetic — the most common form of routine dental treatment. Your pet is placed under general anaesthetic so the vet can scale tartar from the teeth and polish the surfaces. This is what most owners mean when they ask about "dental treatment" costs.

Extractions or further dental surgery — if diseased or damaged teeth are found during the procedure, extractions may be needed. This adds surgical time, anaesthetic duration and cost. The number of extractions required is often not known until the vet examines the mouth under anaesthetic.

What affects the price

Dental costs vary because:

• Appointment type — a dental check, a scale and polish, and a procedure involving extractions are all priced differently
• Species and size — larger dogs typically require more anaesthetic and more time; cats and small dogs may be priced differently
• What is included — some practices quote a single "dental package" fee; others list the consultation, pre-anaesthetic blood tests, anaesthetic, procedure and post-operative pain relief separately
• Pre-anaesthetic blood tests — some practices recommend or require blood tests before general anaesthetic, which adds to the total cost
• Extractions — the final cost may increase if teeth need to be removed; this is often the main reason an estimate changes
• Location and practice type — fees reflect local running costs and facilities, similar to other planned surgical procedures

The CMA's standardised price-list remedy (Final decision report — Part B) includes routine dentistry among the categories practices will be required to publish. Remedies are being phased in over time; for the current position, see the GOV.UK landing page in Sources above.

Typical costs — what to expect

Published dental fees vary widely between practices, and we do not publish a UK average here because practices set their own fees, extractions are often priced separately, and our snapshot is incomplete.

Do not rely on a figure from a friend, social media or an old price list. Always ask the practice for its current fee and a written estimate that explains what is and is not included.

Where practices have shared price data, routine dentistry fees may appear on WisePet practice listings. Data availability varies — dentistry is published by fewer practices than consultations or vaccinations.

What to ask before booking

Before agreeing to dental treatment, you can reasonably ask:

• What is the current fee for a scale and polish, and what does it include?
• Are pre-anaesthetic blood tests included or charged separately?
• What happens if extractions are needed — how are they priced?
• Will I be contacted before any additional work is done if the estimate changes?
• Can I have a written estimate before the appointment?
• Can I receive an itemised bill afterwards?

For more on estimates and bills, see Vet written estimates and itemised bills explained and Questions to ask before agreeing to vet treatment.

Comparing dental prices

Routine dentistry is listed in the CMA's recommended price categories. Where practices have published fees, you can compare available prices on WisePet and browse city pages where we hold enough practice data.

However, dental treatment is harder to compare precisely than a vaccination or consultation because the final cost may depend on findings under anaesthetic. Focus on understanding what the quoted price covers and how the practice handles estimate changes.

See also: How to compare vet prices before booking and CMA vet reforms explained.

Pet care plans

Many monthly pet health plans include a dental check but not dental treatment under anaesthetic. If you are considering a plan partly for dental cover, read the terms carefully.

See also: Are pet health plans worth it? — check whether your plan includes a dental check only or any treatment discount.