How Much Does a Dog Dental Cleaning Cost?

Your veterinarian mentions tartar at a checkup and suggests a dental cleaning. Then the estimate arrives, and it’s more than you expected for something that sounds pretty routine.

So how much does a dog dental cleaning actually cost? According to CareCredit’s 2025 cost study, the national average is $388, with a typical range of $307 to $702. But published clinic prices run from about $165 at a low-cost clinic to nearly $2,000 for a more involved procedure. The final bill often depends on what your veterinarian finds during the cleaning.

This guide explains what a dental cleaning includes, why prices vary so widely, why the estimate can change partway through, and how to keep the cost manageable.

A veterinary dental cleaning is more involved than the cleanings you typically get at the dentist. A typical procedure includes:

• A pre-anesthetic exam, and often blood work to check whether your dog can safely undergo anesthesia

• General anesthesia, with an IV catheter and monitoring throughout

• Full-mouth dental X-rays to check for problems below the gumline

• Scaling above and below the gumline to remove plaque and tartar

• An examination of each tooth to check for signs of disease or damage

• Polishing to smooth the tooth surface

• Treatment of problem teeth, such as extractions, if needed

Each of those steps affects the price. A cleaning without X-rays or blood work is cheaper, but it doesn’t include the same level of care.

These examples from veterinary clinics show just how much prices can vary depending on what's included.

According to CareCredit’s 2025 cost study, the national average for a dental cleaning is $388. Dental X-rays average another $187, while tooth extractions average $78 for a simple extraction (range $62 to $142) and $130 for a more complex one.

Where you live matters

CareCredit’s state averages for a dog dental cleaning range from $310 in Mississippi and $313 in West Virginia to $518 in California, $524 in Washington, D.C., $543 in Massachusetts and $696 in Hawaii.

This is what surprises owners most. Much of each tooth sits below the gumline, where neither you nor your veterinarian can see it during an awake exam. Dental X-rays under anesthesia often reveal problems such as infected roots, bone loss, or broken teeth, and those teeth may need to come out.

That's why your veterinarian may give you a price range instead of a fixed amount. If your dog needs several teeth removed, the final bill could be much higher than the original estimate. But there are ways to avoid unexpected charges:

• Ask for a low and a high estimate before the procedure, with extractions listed separately.

• Leave a phone number and ask the clinic to call you before doing work beyond the estimate.

• Agree on a spending limit in advance, and ask your veterinarian how they’ll prioritize treatment if the cost goes beyond your budget.

Some groomers and pet stores offer awake teeth cleaning for less. The American Animal Hospital Association does not endorse it. Its guidance calls anesthesia-free dentistry “not acceptable” on safety, effectiveness, and ethical grounds.

The reason is that awake scaling can only remove visible tartar above the gumline. It can’t clean below the gums, take X-rays, or treat painful teeth, so the teeth can look clean while disease continues underneath.

Anesthesia does carry some risk, but your veterinary team takes precautions to keep your dog safe, including pre-anesthetic testing and close monitoring throughout the procedure. Leaving dental disease untreated can also put your dog at risk of ongoing pain and infection.

According to the American Veterinary Dental College, most dogs show some signs of periodontal disease by age three. Without treatment, dental disease can lead to painful, loose teeth and infections. What might have been a routine cleaning can eventually require more extensive and expensive treatment, including tooth extractions.

Small and toy breeds are especially prone to dental problems and may need more frequent cleanings. Starting good dental care habits early can help protect your dog's teeth and reduce future costs.

• Brush at home. Daily brushing with a dog toothpaste is the single most effective habit. Even a few times a week helps.

• Look for products with the Veterinary Oral Health Council seal, which identifies chews, diets, and rinses shown to help control plaque or tartar.

• Don’t ignore persistent bad breath. It can be an early sign of dental disease, and getting your dog’s teeth checked sooner may help prevent more expensive treatment later.

• Ask whether your clinic runs dental discounts. Many practices do, often around February, Pet Dental Health Month.

• Check whether a wellness plan from your clinic includes an annual cleaning.

• Look at what’s included in an estimate, not just the price. A $200 cleaning without X-rays isn’t the same as a $600 cleaning that includes them.

Don’t wait for a scheduled cleaning if your dog has facial swelling, a broken tooth, bleeding from the mouth, difficulty chewing (such as dropping food or chewing on one side), or suddenly stops eating. These can be signs of a painful tooth or infection that needs prompt veterinary attention.

If the estimate is more than you can afford, talk to your veterinarian before putting off treatment. There may be ways to make the cost more manageable.

• Ask for an itemized estimate and which parts are essential for your dog. Recent blood work from another visit may be reusable.

• Ask whether the treatment can be scheduled in stages, starting with the most urgent dental problems.

• Compare with a nonprofit or humane society clinic. Check what’s included, especially X-rays.

• Ask about payment plans and third-party financing such as CareCredit, and read the deferred-interest terms carefully.

• Check your pet insurance. Many policies don’t cover routine cleanings, but some cover extractions or treatment for dental disease or injury.

If the cost is still more than you can afford, Waggle may be able to help. Waggle is a nonprofit crowdfunding platform that helps pet parents raise money for veterinary care. With a written estimate from your veterinarian, you can create a fundraising campaign, and the money you raise will go directly to your veterinary clinic.

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• CareCredit, Dog Teeth Cleaning Cost, April 2026, and Dog Tooth Extraction Cost, February 2026; figures from the 2025 Synchrony Average Procedural Cost Study by ASQ360.

• American Animal Hospital Association, Anesthesia and Dental Cleaning, citing the 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats.

• American Veterinary Medical Association, press release, 1 February 2023, citing the American Veterinary Dental College.

• Texas Coalition for Animal Protection, Dental Cleaning price page.

• Humane Heroes, Pet Dental Care price page, Texas.

• Lowcountry Pet Wellness Clinic, Dental price page, North Charleston, South Carolina.

• Access Veterinary Care, Surgery Services and Pricing, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

A note on the figures in this guide

Prices were taken from published clinic price pages and cost studies available as of October 2026 and are provided for general orientation only. They are not quotes for your dog’s care, and costs in your area may differ significantly. Your veterinarian is the best source for what your dog’s dental care will cost. Nothing in this guide constitutes veterinary or financial advice.