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.
Estimate after a wellness exam
We start with a $35 wellness exam, then build an accurate dental estimate before scheduling the cleaning.
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.
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.
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.
FAQ
Common questions, straight answers.
If something isn't covered here, give us a call before booking.
Do you offer financing options?
Yes, we partner with Cherry to offer simple monthly payment plans. Learn more about our financing options.
Ready when you are
Let's book your visit.
We're excited to meet your furry family. We'll walk you through what's recommended and what it costs before doing anything.