Can I ask about your cat’s dental work please?

[SandrenaIsMyBloodType]

Mabel had a check up before we moved house because she is fairly highly strung and we felt she might need some sedative medication to get her through it all.
The vet said she was in good health (13 yrs old, indoor, Burmese) but should have a tooth cleaning soon. We feel that she is sufficiently settled in our new house that we could get this organised now and I would be very grateful for any advice about what to expect.
How long did it take your cat to get over it? Did they need much aftercare from you or from the vet? How much did it cost? (It’s obviously important enough that I will crack on with it and put it on a credit card, but would love to know what I’m up against).

No I agree but vets do tend to make up the prices as they go along.

Thank you all so much for replying. I’m a bit less worried now. Mabel is highly strung and is worshipped like an ancient Egyptian goddess around here. Anything that makes her anxious makes the rest of us anxious too.
I suppose it makes perfect sense that just as some people have stronger or weaker teeth, so do cats. It hadn’t really occurred to me that she might need to stay in overnight but it seems as though that’s not especially common. It certainly seems as though they don’t much miss the teeth afterwards.
Mabel is very medication resistant so I hope we don’t have to give her too much of that afterwards.

None of my cats have had their teeth cleaned. 2 lived until 16. The old man I have now is 19 never had his done.

Vet fees are high but I really don’t think they just make the prices up. There was a good post upthread by a vet who did a good job of explaining why some of the costs of this type of work are so high.

Human healthcare is expensive, we just don’t know most of the costs because we don’t have to pay for it directly. If we accept that human medicine is expensive, it makes sense that the same is true for animals.

Thing is, our boy came to us with a slightly chipped tooth. No vet has ever mentioned it and he’s had many dealings with the vet (torn cruciate ligament which necessitated many visits and checks). He needed some antibiotics for a bite and the vet said he’ll need that (chipped) tooth out and the cost will be £700. I’m sceptical that’s all.

My 16 year old had an abcess under her loose canine and was clearly in pain as ahe kept pawing it. I couldnt have left her like that. It would have been negligent.

@Whosthetabbynow, that’s understandable. Sounds like there is a difference of opinion between individual vets as to whether your cat’s tooth needs treatment or not. I think most of the posters here are talking about very diseased/decayed teeth and gums which is incredibly common in older cats.

Oh indeed. If my boy had an abscess under a tooth or was in pain for something else tooth-related I’d have no hesitation. I remember going to the vet once for something completely different and them trying to flog me a cat toothbrush. They do try it on tbh x

I have two cats both had a clean about 5 years ago and after being a bit groggy from the anesthesia they were fine.
i booked both in for a clean within the last 12 months and unfortunately when they did X-rays discovered they had tooth resorption which means the teeth look fine above the gum but are crumbling underneath. One had 7 teeth out and the other 6. The one who had 7 teeth out was pretty much back to normal within a week. The one that had the 6 teeth out unfortunately one was a canine which is a major tooth so took quite a few weeks to heal.
I also had an old girl with stomatitis where their own body attacks their teeth and she had all teeth out within 12 months at 18-19 years old and she bounced back pretty quickly each time even though she was elderly.

As far as I'm aware if the cat can eat normally and doesn't have very smelly breath then their teeth are fine.

I only ever had one cat with bad teeth and I think that was linked to his kidneys? But that was my mum's cat.

I've had about 6 and never needed to have any of their teeth cleaned in their whole lives?

Is it really necessary? They don't eat sugar.

I think oriental cats - Burmese, Siamese, Tonkinese etc. can have more teeth issues due to head/mouth shapes. My oriental is getting a tooth removed soon too and I know of others who have had many teeth out and have been ok. Hope it goes well!

My cat had 3 teeth out recently. Cost around £700. That included full mouth x-rays and pre op bloods. .it was me who noticed she wasn't right, hiding away, behaviour changes. She had something called forls, which are like little holes in the enamel exposing the nerve. Very common in cats apparently and very painful.
I am off to the dentist today and shiny new expensive filling has broken after only 3 weeks. I have another broken to tooth they want 1k to fix so I think overall the vet is good value!

My vet tried to sell me a cat toothbrush and then laughed as the idea my cat would let me do that was ridiculous.

Most of mine have got over it immediately. They probably felt better for a good clean. Penelope got over her first dental, where she had 6 teeth out without issue. The last one, she had all of them out took a while. She got an infection and did t eat for five days. Once she recovered though, she’s been a completely different cat. She must feel so much better. And I must admit I’m glad her teeth won’t cost me any more in future! My vet does dentals in two stages though, which I’m not sure I agree with as it’s two anesthetics. But they say it’s the ‘gold standard’

I’m glad you said this because the ignorance about cat dentistry drives me mad!

We have two rescue cats; they both had stomatitis due to chronic calici virus so their teeth had to be removed really young. The amount of people who’ve suggested the vet just did it for the money is mad. As if a vet would put an animal through unnecessary stress and discomfort at all, let alone for a profit of a few hundred quid after overheads.

OP I know it’s not the same as a dental clean but our cats bounced back really well after their dental surgery and were able to come home the same day. We had use credit to fund their surgery but I have no regrets because I know it’s improved their quality of life. They didn’t seem unhappy before the surgery but they seemed much more relaxed and happier afterwards.

100% agree with @Mousespoons. Our vet practice is fabulous and I wosh I got the same standard of care and basic courtesy from my GP.

When our old boy died, they sent a lovely card. When my dad died, the GP didn't even acknowledge it, let alone express condolence.

My vets are also excellent. All my cats have had excellent care and they were so kind when they were PTS.

Following with interest as Dcat is booked in for tooth cleaning & possible extraction. Her teeth are brown, so I agree with our vet it needs doing.

We've been told likely £500, and that X-rays would be another £100. We've decided not to go for the X-rays. The vet did say X-rays can pick up problems that can't be seen eg root issues.

She'll go in, in the morning, and be home late afternoon (conveniently around the school run).

Our insurance should cover one lot of dental within our plan, but many don't have any dental cover. Do check if you're planning to rely on that.