Surgeries and treatments
How much does a dental clean cost?
A dental clean for cats typically costs £435 at a UK vet. That is the middle price across 1,057 practices that publish one: independent vets typically charge £299 and the big chains £495. Below: how much it varies, where it costs least, and what the price usually includes.
Size of pet:
How much it varies
How many vets charge each amount for a dental clean, cats, in £50 steps. The dark bar holds the typical price.
By region
Typical price in each part of the UK, cheapest first.
| Region | Typical | Vets |
|---|---|---|
| London | £345 | 64 |
| Northern Ireland | £345 | 11 |
| North West | £375 | 94 |
| East Midlands | £435 | 68 |
| East of England | £435 | 109 |
| Scotland | £435 | 107 |
| South West | £435 | 133 |
| West Midlands | £435 | 111 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £435 | 64 |
| Wales | £465 | 56 |
| North East | £550 | 18 |
| South East | £550 | 217 |
Where it costs least
Typical price in the town, where three or more vets publish it.
| Minehead 3 vets | £220 |
| Bromley 3 vets | £295 |
| Greenwich 3 vets | £295 |
| Rochdale 3 vets | £300 |
| Newton Abbot 3 vets | £301 |
| Fife 5 vets | £315 |
| Leicester 4 vets | £320 |
| Lancaster 3 vets | £320 |
| Peterborough 3 vets | £330 |
| Wirral 4 vets | £340 |
| Gloucester 5 vets | £340 |
| Exeter 5 vets | £340 |
The cheapest vets in the UK for a dental clean
Cats. Check what each price includes before you compare.
| Practice | Town | Owner | Price | Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| charnwood Veterinary Centre | Dumfries | Independent | £102 | GA |
| Hoylake Veterinary Surgery | Wirral | Independent | £115 | GA |
| Forth Coast Veterinary Clinic | Fife | Independent | £120 | |
| Longridge Vets | Longridge | Independent | £139.96 | GA |
| MyVet Salisbury | Salisbury | Independent | from £151 | |
| Wye Valley Vets | Hereford | Independent | £160 | GA |
| Pattenden Vet Clinic | Tonbridge | Independent | £161 | |
| Craig Robinson Vets Rosehill | Carlisle | Independent | £165 – £350 | GA |
| Craig Robinson Vets Wigton Road | Carlisle | Independent | £165 – £350 | GA |
| Independent Animal Clinic | Spalding | Independent | £175 | GA, post op checks |
| Fishguard Veterinary Services | Fishguard | Independent | £180 – £300 | GA |
| Rhianfa Veterinary Centre | Rhyl | Independent | £190 | GA |
| Three Valleys Veterinary Clinic | Ottery Saint Mary | Independent | from £190 | GA |
| Chapel House Veterinary Practice Chesterfield | Chesterfield | Linnaeus | £192 | |
| Chapel House Veterinary Practice Staveley | Staveley | Linnaeus | £192 | GA |
A low price with nothing in the "included" column may mean the vet has not said, not that nothing is included. Open the practice for the detail.
What the price covers, and why it varies
The standard definition: Dental assessment (initial examination of mouth, scale and polish)*
This is one of the prices where two vets quoting the same figure can mean different things. As well as the price, a practice has to say how it charges for this (usually by the pet's weight) and can list what is included: the general anaesthetic, sedation, pain relief, a stay in hospital, a blood test before the anaesthetic, and a check afterwards. A a dental clean that includes pain relief and the follow-up check is not more expensive than one £30 cheaper that includes neither. Every practice page here shows the inclusions where the vet states them.
Other prices in the same group: Castration, Spay (traditional), Spay (keyhole), Physiotherapy session, Laser therapy session. All 36 treatments.
Common questions
How much does dental scale and polish cost at the vet in the UK?
Typically £435 for cats. That is the middle price across 1,057 UK practices that publish one, so half charge less and half charge more. Independent vets typically charge £299 and the big chains £495. The cheapest town with three or more priced vets is Minehead, where the typical price is £220.
Does the price of dental scale and polish depend on the size of my pet?
Yes. Most practices price dental scale and polish by weight. Typical published prices: cats £435; dogs (all sizes) £440; all pets £379.60; small dogs £350; medium dogs £375; large dogs £400; extra-large dogs £423; giant dogs £522.50; rabbits £172.50; other small pets / exotics £126. The standard list uses cats and five dog sizes (small, medium, large, extra large and giant), but each practice sets its own kilogram limits, so ask which band your pet falls in.
How can I pay less for dental scale and polish?
Compare the vets in your own town first: the gap between the cheapest and dearest is often larger than the gap between towns. Then check what each price includes, because a cheaper dental scale and polish without pain relief or a follow-up check may cost more once those are added. If you are near Minehead or another of the cheaper towns listed above, it may be worth the drive for a planned procedure. Ask for a written estimate before you agree to anything, which practices must give for treatment over £500.
What does the dental scale and polish price include?
On the standard list it appears as "Dental assessment (initial examination of mouth, scale and polish)*". The practice has to say how it charges for it, usually by weight, and can state what is included: the general anaesthetic, sedation, pain relief, a stay in hospital, a blood test before the anaesthetic and a check afterwards. Published prices include VAT and are for a typical case. Complications cost more.
Why do vets publish the price of dental scale and polish?
Because the competition regulator told them to. It found in 2026 that owners could not compare vet prices and that prices had risen faster than inflation, so every practice now has to publish the same 36 prices, including dental scale and polish, on its website one click from the home page. The big chains must do it by 23 December 2026 and everyone else by 23 March 2027.
Not veterinary advice. This page compares what practices charge. It does not say whether a treatment or a medicine is right for your animal, and nothing here should be used to start, stop or change any treatment. Only your own vet, who can examine your animal, can advise you. If your animal is unwell, ring a vet. In an emergency, use an out-of-hours vet.
How this is ordered. By price, lowest first, unless you sort it yourself by clicking a heading. Nobody pays to appear here, to appear higher, or to be left out, and no practice has any say in the order. How we collect prices.
About these prices: each figure is as published on the practice's own website on the date shown, VAT included where the practice says so, for the size of pet and the inclusions stated. Practices now have to publish a standard price list and keep it current (the rules), but the price you pay depends on your pet, so confirm with the practice before you book. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will re-check the source within two working days.