What professional teeth cleaning for a cat is
“Cleaning a cat’s teeth” usually means removing tartar. But in cats tartar is often not the main problem: mouth pain is frequently caused by tooth resorption (TR) and chronic gingivostomatitis, and a crown can look intact while the root is already being destroyed.
So professional teeth cleaning for a cat is a diagnostic and treatment procedure: remove deposits above and below the gums, check every tooth and find what can’t be seen on examination. More in the article cat teeth cleaning: why removing tartar is only part of the procedure.
- Tartar on the crown — what owners can see.
- Plaque and tartar under the gum — the main source of inflammation.
- Periodontal pocket — a gap between the gum and the root.
- Bone around the root breaks down, and the tooth loses support.
What cat teeth cleaning includes: the basic COHAT protocol
The base COHAT price covers the following steps — all performed under anaesthesia:
- 01
Oral examination under anaesthesia
I assess every tooth, the gums, the oral mucosa and the bite.
- 02
AirPolishing (Air Flow)
Removal of soft plaque with a special powder and a jet of water and air.
- 03
Ultrasonic scaling
Hard deposits above and below the gumline — it is under the gums that inflammation starts.
- 04
Periodontal examination
Pocket probing and assessment of tooth mobility, the surrounding tissues and defects in the hard tissues of the teeth.
- 05
Full-mouth dental radiography
Especially important in cats: tooth resorption (TR), root fragments and bone loss are often visible only on radiographs.
- 06
Tooth-by-tooth assessment and plan
I combine the clinical and radiographic findings and draw up a treatment plan if one is needed.
- 07
Polishing
Smooth tooth surfaces collect new plaque more slowly.
- 08
Documentation
A dental chart, photos, dental radiographs, a PDF report and home-care advice.
What is often found during a cat’s dental clean
Examination under anaesthesia and radiographs can reveal problems the owner never suspected: cats often keep eating even when they are in pain.
- Tooth resorption (TR) — the tooth tissue is gradually destroyed, and the defect may be hidden under the gum. The approach depends on the type and stage seen on the radiograph; most often affected teeth are extracted.
- Chronic gingivostomatitis — marked inflammation of the gums and the lining of the mouth; it needs a separate treatment plan.
- Periodontitis — pockets, bone loss, loose teeth.
- Broken teeth, especially canines: an exposed pulp is painful and can become infected.
If something like this is found, I show you the radiographs, explain the options and agree the treatment with you. More about feline oral diseases on the cat dentistry page.
- TR 1–2A defect at the gum lineA small pit where tooth meets gum, with red gum tissue growing into it. It may already hurt.
- TR 3The defect reaches the pulpThe tooth hurts, especially when touched or while eating, even if it looks almost intact.
- TR 4The crown breaks downThe crown weakens and may break off. What happens to the root depends on the resorption type, which only an X-ray shows.
- TR 5The crown is goneGum covers the root and the tooth seems to have “fallen out”. Root remnants show only on a radiograph.
How much cat teeth cleaning costs in Kyiv
For cats the basic COHAT protocol is charged at the rate for pets up to 20 kg — 7 500 ₴. Inhalational anaesthesia with monitoring is provided by a veterinary anaesthetist and billed separately: 4 500–5 500 ₴.
As a guide, COHAT with anaesthesia starts from 12 000 ₴. If no treatment is needed, the total is made up of COHAT and anaesthesia; the consultation and pre-anaesthetic tests are paid separately.
What is billed separately
The following are paid separately from the base COHAT price:
- the consultation before the procedure (or an online consultation if you are not in Kyiv);
- inhalational anaesthesia with monitoring of vital signs;
- pre-anaesthetic blood tests and examinations;
- treatment of the problems found, when clinically indicated: extractions, root canal treatment, restorations, complex surgery and other procedures.
You pay only for what was actually done: if diagnostics find no teeth that need treatment or extraction, the total is COHAT plus anaesthesia.
If the findings change the agreed plan, the next steps are agreed with you — so please stay reachable on the day of the procedure.
What the final cost depends on
An exact total can’t be given before diagnostics: a cat whose teeth look intact may turn out to have resorption on radiographs, and vice versa. The total depends on:
- how many teeth are affected by resorption or periodontitis and need treatment or extraction;
- how complex each extraction is — root and bone condition, access;
- whether there is chronic gingivostomatitis;
- general health (in older cats, especially the kidneys and heart) and which tests are needed before anaesthesia.
I give a preliminary plan and an approximate cost at the consultation, and the final one after probing and radiographs. Why a total can’t be quoted from a photo is explained on the Prices page.
Why a cat’s teeth are cleaned only under anaesthesia
A cat will not calmly allow cleaning below the gums, measuring the pockets around every tooth and taking a series of intraoral radiographs — and without these the procedure loses its point. Trying to do it by force means severe stress and a risk of injury.
I work under inhalational anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation: the airway is protected from water and plaque particles, and a veterinary anaesthetist monitors vital signs continuously. Pre-anaesthetic tests help assess the risks for your particular cat. More in the article why dentistry is done under anaesthesia.
Anaesthesia-free cleaning removes only the visible tartar and reveals neither resorption nor diseased roots. Professional bodies, including the AVDC, do not recommend this approach.
Anaesthesia-free cleaning
Visible tartar removed. Deposits and inflammation under the gums remain; resorption and roots are not assessed.
Cleaning under anaesthesia (COHAT)
Cleaning above and below the gums, probing, full-mouth radiographs and a treatment plan for every tooth.
How to reduce stress for your cat
Many cats find travel and unfamiliar places hard. This is what helps:
- leave the carrier open at home well in advance and put a familiar blanket inside, so it isn’t associated only with trips;
- on the journey, secure the carrier, keep the temperature comfortable and don’t open it in the car;
- if your cat is very afraid of travel or the clinic, say so in advance — the vet may suggest an individual plan to reduce anxiety before the visit;
- don’t give human sedatives or medicines you have chosen yourself.
Preparation: which tests a cat needs before anaesthesia
Before anaesthesia a complete blood count and blood biochemistry, an echocardiogram and an abdominal ultrasound are usually needed. Depending on age and other conditions the list may be extended — I decide it individually at the consultation.
The tests can be done at your local clinic and the results sent in advance. You will receive individual instructions on food, water and medicines. More in the article how to prepare your pet for a dental procedure.
How to book a cat teeth cleaning in Kyiv
KYIV VET PODIL clinic: 15 Nyzhnii Val St, Podil, Kyiv, near Kontraktova Ploshcha metro station. You can message me on Telegram at @dr_vetstomat.
Not in Kyiv? Start with an online consultation: I will review your photos, suggest which tests to do locally and help you plan the trip.
- 01
Consultation
I assess the teeth and gums, draw up a preliminary plan and approximate estimate, and explain which tests are needed.
- 02
Pre-anaesthetic tests
Blood tests, echocardiography, ultrasound — you send the results in advance.
- 03
Procedure date
Choose a convenient day among the open slots.
- 04
COHAT under anaesthesia
Cleaning, probing, radiographs and the agreed treatment.
- 05
Report and recommendations
A dental chart, radiographs, a PDF report and a home-care plan.
After the clean: care at home
After the procedure your cat stays under observation until fully and steadily awake. At home, prepare a warm, quiet spot where nobody will disturb it. You receive a dental chart, photos, radiographs, a PDF report and individual recommendations: when and what to feed, how to give any prescribed medicines and when to start brushing again.
If teeth were extracted, soft food is needed for the first few days. If your cat hasn’t eaten for a day after the procedure, let me know.
The result lasts longer with home dental care. How to get your cat used to brushing is covered in the article how to brush your cat’s teeth.
How often a cat needs a dental clean
There is no universal interval. Cats with tooth resorption, gingivitis or periodontitis need more frequent check-ups, while others need only periodic checks.
The interval depends on age, gum health, the findings on the radiographs and how well home care works. After the procedure I set a check-up date for your cat specifically.
When to see a vet
- Swelling of the face or under an eye, or a cat that hasn’t eaten for a day or longer — see a vet the same day.
- Drooling, blood in the saliva, bad breath.
- Your cat eats on one side, drops food or flinches while eating.
- A red line on the gums along the teeth; tartar.
- Your cat grooms less.
What you can do at home
- Introduce tooth brushing gradually — with a toothbrush or finger brush and pet toothpaste.
- Watch how your cat eats: on which side, whether it drops food, whether it has started eating more slowly.
- Get your cat used to the carrier in advance — it will make the trip to the clinic easier.
- As an add-on, you can choose food or treats with the VOHC seal.
- If your cat calmly allows it, photograph the teeth from the side — the photos will be useful at the consultation.
What not to do at home
- Don’t try to scrape off tartar yourself, and don’t restrain your cat by force.
- Don’t agree to tartar removal without anaesthesia — resorption and diseased roots won’t be found that way.
- Don’t use human toothpaste or mouthwash.
- Don’t give human painkillers: paracetamol is especially dangerous for cats, and so is ibuprofen.
- Don’t wait until your cat stops eating — cats often hide pain.
Frequently asked questions
For cats the basic COHAT protocol costs 7 500 ₴ (the rate for pets up to 20 kg). Inhalational anaesthesia is billed separately at 4 500–5 500 ₴. Treatment such as extraction of teeth with resorption is priced after diagnostics and only with your agreement.
Not properly. A cat won’t allow cleaning below the gums, measuring pockets or taking dental radiographs, and without radiographs tooth resorption can’t be found. Anaesthesia-free cleaning removes only visible tartar, which is why professional bodies, including the AVDC, do not recommend it.
Yes. Full-mouth dental radiography is part of the basic COHAT protocol. In cats this is especially important: tooth resorption (TR) and retained roots are often visible only on radiographs.
There is no universal interval: it depends on age, gum health, whether there is resorption or gingivitis, and home care. After the procedure I set a check-up date for your cat specifically.
The exact time can’t be predicted in advance: it depends on what probing and radiographs show and on whether treatment is needed. Besides the procedure itself, time is needed to prepare for anaesthesia and for a calm recovery. I give guidance on the day of the procedure at the consultation.
Sources and professional guidelines
- AVDC Position Statement on Anesthesia-Free DentistryPosition on dentistry without anaesthesia
- AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and CatsClinical guidelines for dental care
- AAHA Anesthesia and Monitoring Guidelines for Dogs and CatsGuidelines on anaesthesia and monitoring
- Cornell University — Tooth resorptionOverview of tooth resorption in cats
© dr.vetstomat. Original content.
Copying and publishing text and visual materials without the author's written consent is not permitted, except as allowed by law.