What is a pet dental cleaning?
A cat or dog dental cleaning includes a thorough oral examination and cleaning of the gums/teeth, along with a final polishing. During the cleaning, your veterinarian will scale the surfaces of pets' teeth and areas under the gum line to remove plaque and tartar.
Once cleaning is finished, your pet’s teeth will be polished in order to decrease the rate of plaque redevelopment. Dental x-rays are usually taken to assess the health of the mouth, jaw, and tooth roots that aren’t visible. The entire procedure is done while your pet is under general anesthesia.
How do dental cleanings work?
Some pet insurance companies offer dental coverage as part of their add-on wellness plans. Even though this coverage varies by insurer, there are typically two different types of pet dental coverage: dental illnesses and dental accidents.
Some providers, such as Embrace, cover both dental illness and accidents, providing reimbursement for a variety of dental issues such as root canals, damaged teeth, teeth removal, gingivitis, stomatitis, crowns, and gum disease. Other insurers like Lemonade cover only dental accidents and issues resulting from accidents.
Average dental cleaning cost
Dog teeth cleaning costs from $300 to $700, or $50 to $300 for cats. However, this price doesn’t include extras such as tooth extractions or treatments for periodontal disease. These procedures can significantly increase the final vet visit cost. Oral radiographs (x-rays could also add $150 to $200 to the total price.
Choosing a pet insurance plan with comprehensive dental coverage will give you peace of mind knowing you can provide proper dental care for your pet at any stage.
