Dental services & pricing
for dogs and cats.
One focus, done well — the same standard you'd expect from your own dentist. Except your dentist probably doesn't wag.
What is a COHAT?
A COHAT — Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment — is the foundation of every appointment. It includes full-mouth digital radiographs, scaling above and below the gumline, polishing, and subgingival debridement. This is where we find what a visual exam can't: root fractures, abscesses, bone loss, and disease below the surface.
Every patient gets a COHAT. It's included in all surgical packages. The cleaning itself often provides the majority of the clinical benefit.
The common things, done right.
A cleaning for pets is not what most people picture. What we perform is a Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment — COHAT. The visible polish is the least important part. The real work happens below the gumline, where bacteria and tartar accumulate in the space between tooth and bone, quietly causing damage that shows no outward sign until it's well advanced.
Every COHAT includes full-mouth digital radiographs, scaling above and below the gumline, subgingival debridement, polishing, periodontal probing, and a complete written oral exam. No step is skipped. A cleaning without X-rays is not a COHAT — it is an incomplete procedure.
There is no safe or effective alternative to anesthesia for thorough veterinary dental care. Sedation-free cleaning removes visible tartar but does not allow for subgingival treatment, periodontal probing, or full-mouth radiographs. A conscious, uncomfortable animal will not allow meaningful examination of painful areas.
Every patient receives an individualized protocol based on age, weight, breed, and health history. Advanced monitoring — heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, temperature, and end-tidal CO₂ — runs throughout every procedure. Endotracheal intubation is standard.
Two-thirds of every tooth is below the gumline. Root abscesses, root fractures, bone loss, and resorptive lesions are completely invisible on visual examination — and yet they are among the most common sources of discomfort we find in dogs and cats.
We take full-mouth films on every patient at every appointment — not spot views of areas that look concerning. A tooth that appears normal from above can harbor an abscess at its root, a fracture through its core, or disease eating it from the inside. We have found significant pathology in teeth that looked completely healthy on the surface.
Periodontal therapy treats the structures that support the tooth — the gum, the ligament, the bone. Without it, a dental cleaning has limited clinical value. The surface looks better. The disease underneath continues.
The work centers on the pocket — the space between the gum margin and the tooth root. When that pocket deepens, bacteria accumulate where brushing and visible scaling cannot reach. Left alone, pockets progress. Bone resorbs. The tooth loosens. Infection spreads into the bloodstream.
Extractions are the most common dental surgical procedure in companion animals — and the one that provides the most immediate relief. Many pets carry dental disease longer than their owners realize, because it develops quietly below the gumline. When a tooth needs to come out, removing it is almost always the turning point. Owners notice the change within days.
Animal teeth are not human teeth — some are larger, deeper, and more firmly anchored; others are smaller, sharper, and more fragile. Both require specific instruments and specific approaches. We carry a comprehensive selection of precision extraction tools, including instruments that sever the periodontal ligament cleanly rather than removing bone to gain access. When something exceeds our scope, we refer to the right specialist — plainly and honestly.
Your pet is already here, already under anesthesia, already cared for. While we're at it — when it makes clinical sense, we can address other needs in the same appointment. Vaccines for dogs and cats (core and non-core), and targeted products when medically indicated. One trip. One nap. Everything handled.
Periovive ($40) — hyaluronic acid gel for tissue healing. Oravet ($60) — at-home antiseptic gel. Sanos ($160) — professional subgingival sealant, VOHC Accepted. ReGum ($185) — bone graft scaffold. Each is offered with a plain explanation of what it does and whether your pet actually needs it.
Everything included.
Nothing hidden.
Packages exist so we can stay focused on your pet — not on itemizing costs mid-procedure. The price you see is the price you pay.
Levels reflect clinical difficulty and craft — not time in the chair. Most patients are estimated for a range, and we'd call you before going beyond it.
How communication works: You tell us at drop-off how much contact you'd like during the procedure. We confirm by phone or email as standard. Streamlining that exchange helps minimize anesthesia time.
Financing available.
We accept CareCredit and Scratchpay. If cost is a concern, ask at drop-off — we'd rather build a plan than have you defer care.
What each level actually covers.
All four levels are built on a complete COHAT. The level reflects clinical difficulty — not the number of teeth involved or time. Most patients are estimated for a range of two levels, the likely based on visual cues, and the possible based on sedated findings. Bumping up levels is rare — and we'd call before proceeding under anesthesia.
Level 2 — Fundamental Surgery
$675
Straightforward extractions regardless of root count — multi-rooted teeth included when disease has advanced to the point of easy release. Includes full COHAT, nerve blocks, pain management, watertight closure, and re-check.
Most first-time patients fall here.
Level 3 — Complex Surgery
$875
Cases requiring additional skill: fractured teeth with intact healthy roots, repeated surgical sectioning, larger gingival flap closures, or other anatomical factors that make extraction technically demanding.
Difficulty — not quantity — determines the level.
Level 4 — Extensive Surgery
$1,175
At or near or full-mouth extractions with significant soft tissue work to repair defects.
Almost always identified at the exam — rarely a day-of surprise.
On craft vs. time: Levels are not based on how long the procedure takes. The level reflects the clinical skill and judgment required — the difficulty of the work, not the duration of the anesthesia. This is a deliberate choice. It keeps the focus on quality of care, not speed.
We estimate and prepare for the possibility of going one level up. You set your communication preference at drop-off. If anything falls outside the estimated range, we reach out before proceeding.
VDA vs. a typical general veterinary practice.
Most veterinary practices do dentistry as one service among many — alongside wellness exams, vaccines, surgery, diagnostics, urgent care, and more. That's not a failing; it's the general-practice model working as designed. We chose a different one. Here's what changes.
General Practice
Dentistry is one of many services. The team rotates between cleanings, vaccines, surgeries, and wellness exams across the day.
Veterinary Dental Arts
Dentistry is everything we do. Every protocol, every tool, every training hour serves one craft.
Pricing
Often itemized — a base cleaning plus charges for extractions, soft tissue repair, additional materials, anesthesia time, and medications, totaled at discharge. Difficult to predict.
Pricing
Four fixed packages. Radiographs, anesthesia, monitoring, pain management, and the re-check are all included.
Overhead
Exam rooms, boarding, equipment for highly variable needs, broader pharmacy, training and management for diverse case types. Necessary for the model — built into every bill.
Overhead
None of those. Lower overhead. Savings go to you.
Complex cases
Generally referred out to specialty practices — a sensible choice when scope is broader.
Complex cases
Most common dental needs handled here. We refer honestly when something exceeds our scope — and tell you why. There are often ideal ways and practical ways depending on your circumstances and your pet's personality.
Neither model is wrong. They serve different needs. If your pet needs a wellness exam, vaccines, a broken-leg fix, or anything outside the mouth, you want a general practice. If they need dental work, we're built for that — you'll feel the difference.
Clinical judgment, not a package.
Bloodwork recommendations vary by patient. A young, healthy pet may need only a basic screen. An older patient, one with weight loss, or one with known health conditions benefits from a broader panel. Your doctor will recommend what makes clinical sense — you won't pay for what isn't needed.
Better diagnostics mean a safer procedure — not just a longer invoice. We'll discuss your options when scheduling. No decision is made without your input.
Offered only when medically indicated.
0.8% hyaluronic acid gel applied directly to treated tissue during surgery. Accelerates healing, supports bone formation, and reduces post-operative discomfort. Used in nearly all surgical cases — one of the most consistently beneficial products we offer.
At-home antiseptic gel applied along the gumline between visits. Disrupts the biofilm bacteria that cause plaque to reform after a cleaning. Think of it as extending the benefit of the COHAT between appointments.
Professional subgingival sealant applied at the end of a cleaning. Seals the gumline against plaque formation for up to six months. No take-home maintenance required. VOHC Accepted — independently tested and proven effective.
Biodegradable gelatin scaffold placed into periodontal defects after extraction. Provides a framework for the body's own bone and tissue regeneration. For cases with significant bone loss — not needed for most patients.
Have questions? We're here.
Exams are always free if you'd like one. Most people book a dental directly.