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🐾 Understanding Dental Procedures, Quotes & Costs at Our Clinic 🦷
We wanted to take a moment to break down how dental work for your pets usually works at our clinic as we completely understand how the process and its costs may seem confusing at times.
The reasoning behind dental estimates is something we want to shed particular light on, the costs coming from many different, yet necessary, places. Continuing to provide top-notch services where nobody feels blindsided is something we strive for as we value our human clients just as much as our (more) furry ones!
Why estimates have a minimum and a maximum
Dental disease isn’t fully visible until your pet is under anaesthetic and we can properly assess every tooth (including below the gumline). For that reason, our dental estimates are provided as a range:
- The lower end of the estimate generally reflects a very straightforward dental — for example, a scale and polish with no or very limited extractions, and without optional extras such as pre-anaesthetic blood testing.
- The higher end of the estimate allows for the possibility that more teeth may need to be removed, that extractions may be more complex, or that additional supportive care (such as IV fluids or pre-anaesthetic blood tests) may be required.
This range is designed to avoid surprises and to give pet owners realistic expectations before the procedure begins.
Our one-stage dental approach
We typically perform what’s called a one-stage dental procedure. This means:
- Your pet has a free dental check with a vet before booking
- On the procedure day, we complete the dental from start to finish, including any necessary extractions
- Your pet only goes under anaesthetic once
Some clinics use a two-stage dental process, where a scale and polish is done first, then further dental work is quoted and scheduled for another day. While this can sometimes appear cheaper upfront, it often results in additional costs and multiple anaesthetics, which we don’t believe is ideal for your pet’s health or comfort.
Why dental procedures cost what they do
A dental procedure is much more than “just a clean”. Costs reflect the level of care, safety and expertise involved, including:
- A full general anaesthetic (yup, unlike with us humans, pets don't just lie back and 'open wide'), with constant monitoring of heart rate, oxygen levels, blood pressure and temperature.
- Highly trained staff, including a veterinarian and qualified nurses, dedicated to your pet throughout the procedure
- Dental X-rays and specialised equipment to properly assess teeth below the gumline when and where needed
- Sterile instruments and surgical supplies for safe extractions
- Pain relief, local nerve blocks and medications before, during and after the procedure
- IV fluids to support blood pressure and organ function during anaesthesia when required
- Time — dental procedures can take anywhere from one to several hours depending on complexity.
- Careful recovery and monitoring until your pet is awake, comfortable and stable
All of this is done with your pet’s safety, comfort and long-term health as the top priority.
Our goal
Our focus is always on:
- Your pet’s safety and wellbeing. We don't compete on price
- Minimising adverse anaesthetic events
- Being upfront and transparent with costs. You can pay a lot more at some clinics and maybe slightly less at others
- Providing clear communication before, during and after procedures
If you ever have questions about a quote or want to talk through options, we’re always happy to explain everything in detail.
🐶🐱 Informed owners make the best decisions for their pets, so no question is too small or silly.
— The Sorrento Animal Hospital Team 🐾