How much does dog teeth cleaning cost?

Dog teeth cleaning cost

Sources put a routine cleaning for a dog anywhere from about $300 to $1,000, depending on what is counted; the table above compares them. PetMD lists a routine cleaning at $350 to $500.^[2] One Banfield clinic in Clearwater, Florida charged $424.95 for a professional cleaning in May 2025, including routine bloodwork, an IV catheter and fluids, and anesthesia monitoring.^[2]

Cat teeth cleaning cost

CareCredit’s general vet cost page lists a cat cleaning at $430, a little above its 2025 study average of $375.^[1][4] Lemonade’s range runs from $200 up to $1,000 if the cat needs extra attention.^[3]

Why does it cost so much to clean a dog’s teeth?

The base charge is partly a facility fee and partly staff time: anesthetic drugs, airway equipment, monitoring, instruments, polishing supplies, recovery space and trained staff.^[2] Add-ons then raise the total:^[2]

• Dental X-rays: $187 for a dog (CareCredit 2026, cited by ThePricer)
• Simple extraction: $78 per tooth; complex extraction: $130
• Anesthesia: $300 to $500 and oral surgery $400 to $1,000 in older CareCredit figures
• Extractions at a veterinary dentist or complex cases: PetMD lists $500 to $2,500

ThePricer’s sample invoice for a cleaning, dental X-rays and one simple extraction totals $689.95; it notes this is a model, not a quote.^[2]

Is it safe to put a 13 year old dog under anesthesia for teeth cleaning?

Only your vet can judge that for your dog, after an exam. Banfield acknowledges that anesthesia feels like a big step for senior pets and uses pre-anesthetic bloodwork to check organ function, plus monitoring during the procedure.^[5] ThePricer notes that a senior dog may need bloodwork and X-rays before the cleaning, which adds to the bill, and that a dog with no current exam to review anesthesia risk should not go ahead.^[2] Ask what screening is included and what the vet will do if the tests show a problem.

Does PetSmart do teeth cleaning for dogs?

Many Banfield Pet Hospital locations are inside PetSmart stores.^[6] Banfield cleans teeth under anesthesia, with plaque and tartar removed above and below the gumline and dental X-rays, and its Active Care Plus and Senior Care Plus plans include one cleaning a year.^[5] Banfield’s estimate for U.S. dental cleanings is about $300 to $700 before X-rays or extractions.^[2]

Anesthesia-free vs vet teeth cleaning

Anesthesia-free cleanings cannot reach problems beneath the gums, where most dental disease occurs, and Banfield does not offer them.^[5] ThePricer advises against paying for awake scraping as a substitute for a medical dental cleaning.^[2] Under anesthesia, the vet can work below the gumline and take X-rays to find infections, root abscesses or bone loss.^[5]

Teeth cleaning cost by state

CareCredit’s state averages run from $310 for a dog and $317 for a cat in Mississippi to $696 for a dog and $710 for a cat in Hawaii.^[1]

How to pay less

1. Ask for an itemized estimate with the cleaning, anesthesia, X-rays and a price per extraction, so you can compare clinics.
2. Clean before problems build up. Lemonade prices a cleaning for an older dog with oral problems at over $1,000, against $500 to $1,000 for a young healthy dog.^[3]
3. Compare clinics in your area. State averages vary by more than $380.^[1]
4. Book the cleaning at a routine visit. The vet visit cost guide lists checkup prices, and the vet costs hub compares other common bills such as spay and neuter cost.
5. Ask a vet whether a cleaning is due. Care Anytime’s Virtual Veterinarian benefit gives members 24/7 access to licensed veterinary professionals by video chat or phone for general and preventive care questions.