Affordable Tucson Vet
Low cost dentals in Tucson.
Full-mouth dental cleanings performed under anesthesia by Dr. Nelson's team in our own surgical suite. Every cleaning includes scaling above and below the gumline, polishing, and a written report of what we found. Because every pet's teeth are different, we don't post a dental price — instead, we build an accurate estimate at a wellness exam.
What's promised
Estimate before we start
You get a written estimate at the wellness exam and a phone call before any unexpected extractions are added the day of.
Bloodwork & X-rays available
Pre-anesthetic bloodwork and dental X-rays are recommended and offered — priced separately so you only pay for what your pet needs.
One vet, one team
Dr. Nelson performs every dental in our own surgical suite — never outsourced.
Overview
Real dental care, done right.
A dental at our clinic is ultrasonic scaling above and below the gumline, polishing, and a written chart of what we found. We recommend pre-anesthetic bloodwork and dental X-rays for most pets — both are available as add-ons and discussed at the wellness exam so you can decide what makes sense for your pet.
We schedule every dental by appointment so we can plan the day around your pet — anesthesia at the scheduled time, and a phone call before any unexpected extractions are added to the plan. Same-day discharge in almost every case.
Pricing
Every dental is different, so we build an estimate first.
We don't post a flat dental price because honestly, we don't know what your pet needs until we've looked. The cost depends on how much disease is below the gumline, how many extractions are needed (if any), and how complex those extractions turn out to be. Quoting a single number on the website would either be misleadingly low for some pets or unfairly high for others.
Here's how it works: book a wellness exam ($35), and during that visit we'll assess your pet's dental health and give you an accurate written estimate for the dental procedure. If you go ahead, the wellness exam fee comes off the dental quote — so the assessment isn't an extra cost, it's a step.
On the day of the dental itself, if X-rays under anesthesia reveal anything beyond what we estimated, we pause and call you with the updated number before continuing. Nothing extra happens without your okay.
What's included
Every dental, the same standard.
These are part of the dental procedure itself — included in the estimate, not separate line items.
Anesthesia & monitoring
General anesthesia with continuous monitoring of heart rate, oxygen, blood pressure, and temperature, with a tech watching the whole time.
Ultrasonic scaling
Cleaning above and below the gumline using ultrasonic instruments — the part hand-scaling alone can't reach.
Polish
A polish after scaling smooths the enamel and slows how quickly plaque returns.
Extractions (if needed)
If diseased or fractured teeth need to come out, Dr. Nelson performs the extractions during the same procedure — no separate visit.
Written dental chart
A take-home chart showing what we found, what we treated, and recommendations for follow-up at home.
Recovery & same-day discharge
Pets recover in a warm, monitored kennel and go home the same day in almost every case.
How it works
What to expect, from drop-off to pickup.
Dentals are by appointment. Here's the flow of a typical day.
7:30 – 8:00 AM
Drop-off & pre-op check
You bring your pet in fasted from the night before. The vet does a final pre-op exam and runs any add-ons you opted into (e.g. bloodwork) before anesthesia.
9:00 – 11:00 AM
Anesthesia & cleaning
Your pet is placed under anesthesia with continuous monitoring. Scaling above and below the gumline, polishing, and any planned extractions.
Mid-procedure
Call you if anything changes
If we find extractions or other work needed beyond what we discussed, we pause and call you with the count and the quote before doing the work.
Recovery
Wake up & rest
Your pet recovers in a warm, monitored kennel. Most pets are alert and walking within an hour of waking up.
3:00 – 5:00 PM
Discharge & go-home plan
You pick up the same day. We hand you the written dental chart, any take-home meds, and walk through the next-72-hours plan.
FAQ
Common questions, straight answers.
If something isn't covered here, give us a call before booking.
Why do dentals need anesthesia?
Two reasons: dental X-rays and below-the-gumline cleaning. Both require the pet to be completely still, and both are where the meaningful dental disease lives. Awake or 'anesthesia-free' dentals can polish the visible parts of the teeth, but they can't take X-rays, can't clean below the gumline, and can't extract a diseased tooth — which means they often miss the actual problem. A real dental needs anesthesia.
How will I know if extractions are needed?
Some indications show up at the wellness exam — visible tartar, gum recession, broken teeth, signs of pain. But the full picture only emerges from dental X-rays taken under anesthesia, which is where most periodontal disease actually lives. We build your estimate around what we can see at the exam, then call you the day of the dental if X-rays reveal anything more so you can okay the updated number before we continue.
Why don't you post a flat price?
Because every pet's dental needs are different, and a single posted price would either be a lowball quote that balloons on the day of, or an overestimate that turns away pets whose dentals would actually have been simple. Neither is fair. A wellness exam takes 15 minutes and gives us enough information to write you an accurate estimate — that's the trade-off we make to keep our pricing honest.
Are bloodwork and dental X-rays included?
No — they're available add-ons, not bundled. We recommend pre-anesthetic bloodwork for most pets (especially seniors or pets with known conditions) and dental X-rays when there's reason to look below the gumline. We price them separately so you only pay for what your pet actually needs, and we'll walk through what we recommend at the wellness exam before you commit to anything.
Is anesthesia safe for an older pet?
For most healthy older pets, yes. We use continuous multi-parameter monitoring and adjust the anesthetic protocol based on age and any known conditions. For seniors we typically recommend pre-anesthetic bloodwork as an add-on so we have a current picture before we begin. If your pet has a heart, kidney, or other condition that changes the calculus, we'll talk through it honestly at the consult.
Does my pet need to be fasted?
Yes — no food after 10 PM the night before. Water is fine up to drop-off. Fasting prevents nausea under anesthesia and reduces the risk of aspiration during intubation.
Will my pet need a follow-up?
If there were extractions, we ask you to come back for a free recheck about ten days later so we can confirm the gum tissue has healed properly. If no extractions were needed, no follow-up is required beyond your normal annual wellness visit.
Do you take Care Credit?
Yes — we accept Care Credit, Scratchpay, all major credit cards, debit, and cash.
After your dental
Most pets bounce back by the next morning.
What to watch for in the first few days, especially if there were extractions.
First 24 hours
Sleepy and a little wobbly
Lingering anesthesia means most pets are tired and may walk a bit unsteadily. Offer a quiet, warm spot to rest. A small dinner of soft food the night of is fine — don't worry if they skip it entirely.
Days 2–7
Soft food if there were extractions
If your pet had extractions, soften their kibble with warm water (or feed canned food) for a week to protect the healing sites. Cleaning-only pets can return to normal food the next day.
Call us right away
If anything looks off
Persistent bleeding from the mouth, complete refusal to eat past 24 hours, swelling around the jaw, or pawing repeatedly at the face — call the clinic. Most of these are minor and easily addressed, but we'd rather hear early.
Ready when you are
Walk in or book ahead.
Either way, we're excited to meet your furry family. We'll walk you through what's recommended and what it costs before doing anything.