How much does it cost to remove a dog’s tooth?

Dog teeth extractions can vary widely in cost depending on several factors. These include the number of teeth, which teeth need to be extracted, and whether the procedure is routine or an emergency.

A simple, non-emergency extraction during a routine cleaning might be on the lower end of the $500-$2,500 cost range. However, if your dog has significant dental problems and needs numerous teeth extracted, then the cost will be significantly higher.

There are many reasons why your dog might need to have a tooth extracted. The most common include: 

• Overcrowding. If a dog’s teeth are too crowded, the vet may recommend that some teeth be removed to prevent discomfort and difficulty eating.
• Cancer. Sometimes, teeth will need to be removed due to a cancerous mass that is affecting a tooth or several teeth.
• Abscess in the roots of a tooth. This is where there is a bacterial infection around the root(s) of the tooth. To clear up the abscess, the tooth is extracted and a course of oral antibiotics is used to treat the infection.
• Gum disease. Like people, dogs can also suffer from gingivitis which if left untreated can lead to gum recession.  When the gum recedes, the roots of the teeth are exposed and bacteria sets in, causing a tooth root abscess.
• Fractured tooth. There are many ways your dog could break a tooth. The most common causes are chewing on a hard toy/antler, chewing on their crate, or trauma to the face. Having a broken tooth can be quite painful, so your vet will likely recommend removing the tooth.
• Unerupted tooth. An unerupted or impacted tooth is a tooth that  never made it through the gumline. Just as people often develop impacted wisdom teeth that become infected or damage other teeth, impacted dog teeth can also become painful or infected.
• Trauma. If your dog is in an accident and suffers trauma to the jaw or mouth, part of the treatment to help them heal may include having some teeth removed.

Many dental procedures recommended by veterinarians are covered by pet insurance — find out what is (and isn’t) included by reading our pet insurance coverage guide.

Unlike human dental work, dental procedures for dogs are always done under general anesthesia. The vet may also take some dental X-rays to examine the roots of the teeth. In the case of a non-emergency tooth extraction, your vet will most likely conduct a thorough dental exam and cleaning, which accounts for some of the cost of tooth extraction. The vet  will then perform a nerve block to numb the area of the mouth and proceed with the tooth extraction. Once the dental procedure is complete, the vet will wake your pet up from anesthesia.

Following the procedure, your dog will likely be prescribed both antibiotics and pain medication. All of these services may be line items on your bill. The average charges may be as follows:

While we can guide you on the average cost of a tooth extraction, many factors will impact the dollar amount you’ll see on your total bill. These include:

• Reason for extraction. For example, a simple tooth extraction that is not an emergency will cost significantly less than a tooth that is unerupted, broken, or infected. In the case of an infected tooth, the veterinarian will need to prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection.
• Type of tooth. Whether it’s a small baby tooth, a canine or a large molar can also impact the final cost of the tooth’s removal. A canine tooth is more expensive because it takes longer to extract due to the length of the root.  Also, teeth that have more than one root are more expensive to extract than a single-rooted tooth.
• Location. The vet office in a big city or at a large veterinary school may charge more for these procedures than a veterinarian in a smaller town. The trade-off is the big-city vet may have access to better equipment and perform the procedures more often.
• Time of procedure. An emergency vet visit will almost always be more costly than a preventative one. This is one of the many reasons why being proactive about your pet’s oral health can save you money.

Your vet should give you some discharge  instructions on how to take  care of your dog while they recover from their tooth extraction. The following are common tips for ensuring your dog’s recovery goes smoothly:

Encourage rest — Your dog’s mouth might be sore after surgery and they will need time to heal. Skip the rowdy  playtime so everything heals properly.

Administer  medication on time —  Your pup’s vet might send them home with some antibiotics and pain medications. It’s important to give these as directed to prevent pain or infection.

Use softened food and take away any hard toys for two weeks  — If your pup chews on hard kibble or hard toys, this may cause discomfort at the extraction site and may cause the stitches at the extraction site to pop or come undone.

Schedule a post-op checkup —  The vet may wish to see your dog a week or two after surgery to ensure things are healing as they should and there are no signs of infection.

Monitor for signs of complications  —  Keep a good eye on your pup to make sure they aren’t experiencing any complications. Monitor for signs of infection, refusals to eat or drink, or even signs of tooth pain or other dental issues.

Sometimes. The answer to this question depends on the insurance policy you have and why the tooth is being extracted. For some policies, no dental work is covered and others will only cover extractions in the case of some type of injury or trauma. If your dog’s tooth is not being removed as part of emergency surgery, it would be best to check with your insurance company first to find out if any of the costs of this dental work will be covered.