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What do you pay for dental?

Horse Care
#1

My small pony mare just had her teeth done by a vet different to who did her last time, 18 mos. ago, and there’s a noticeable 55% increase in cost :flushed: Sedated, teeth power-floated, … nothing different in terms of what was done. Both vets, last time and this time, said her teeth weren’t bad at all so it was just a matter of taking down a few sharp points.

2020, old vet, pricing was $198 (including a partial call fee)
2022, new vet, pricing was $245 (call fee waived) … all in CAD.

I value dental care very highly so it’s not something I’d ever not do, but I’m definitely interested in knowing what everyone pays for this service for those willing to share numbers.

#2

I used an equine dental technician. His fee is $80 plus a call fee of $30. Call fee is waived for 5 or more horses. The fee is split below that. If I need sedation then my vet comes out and charges for the sedation and call fee. If he doesn’t need sedation or only needs a little I can get dermosadan paste from my vet and administer it myself. Since my horse will likely need his lower incisors floated and it is his first time floating this horse the dental has asked for my vet to sedate. Levi is missing his front top teeth so will likely need the incisors floated. Dentist indicate that in his experience horses getting incisors floated need sedation

#3

My vet (specialized in dental) for sedation and power float runs around $225 US. She does a great job, so I can’t complain, even if it’s probably a little spendier than others.

#4

$150 for power float, including sedation.

#5

I’m in Ontario and those prices seem accurate, if not cheap.

1 Like
#6

I’m at a couple hundred per horse with a vet who specializes in dentistry.

I would never use a non vet dentist.

3 Likes
#7

I’m in NW FL and power float plus sedation runs $100 to $200 depending on how long it takes and if the vet needs me to help tech.

Farm call extra of course.

#8

There is a non vet dental guy running around my area. Hard pass from me too.

#9

$100-125 per horse but I use a non-vet dentist. He’s been doing my horses for almost 25 years, except when I was out of state at college. The DVM dentist he recommended in that state said he’d been doing an excellent job with my tricky guy (kicked in the mouth as a foal, missing molar, incisors grow out instead of down). He’s getting close to retirement so I’ll have to find someone else soon probably. Good to know I should expect to pay a lot more!

#10

OP, I’m not understanding your calculation for price increase. I get around 24%. Maybe you’re doing something to account for farm call, no farm call.

This summer my vet charged me $140 to float my gelding, plus $66 for sedation, all in USD. Plus more for a farm call and vaccinations.

#11

For a while I paid for a non-sedation dentist who traveled around Florida. I think it ran $175ish but it was at least two years ago. I then switched to a more local situation with sedation as I became convinced that they could handle more things if needed… Vet comes with the dentist; price is roughly the same, maybe a bit less as the farm call is waived.

#12

$235 (USD) including sedation, haul in, top clinic in the area. December 2021.
In 2020 I used the university vets, which was ~$190. The work was sufficient but I felt the clinic did better.

#13

Isn’t that more like a 24% increase?

I do not find the new price to be out of line. I do not what I will pay this year, but it will likely be in the range of what your current price is, including the sedation and such.

2 Likes
#14

I deducted the call fee from the first vet and then used pre-tax figures so as to compare apples to apples. Old vet was $140. New vet was $217. $77 difference divided into $140 yields 55%. So my math is fine (shockingly), but my original explanation as to what actual figures I was using? Not so much :sweat_smile:

Sounds like the old vet was a bargain, and the new vet is the average going rate. If anyone else would like to convert those dollar figures into USD for comparison purposes, go nuts. I’m done with math for today :crazy_face:

#15

$275, including sedation. However… I have a just-imported mare in CEM quarantine that was done by the same non-vet dentist that Boyd Martin and Philip Dutton use and it was $75, so I think I will be making a switch soon. If it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me.

#16

I paid just over $250 to have my 25 year old pony sedated and power floated by my vet- call fee and taxes included (in Ontario). My vet specializes in dentistry and I’m always very happy with his work.

I have used a very well known non vet who always brought a vet with him to sedate and he charged just over $400. This was over 10 years ago.

#17

I had to call a vet who really does know dental work and uses power equipment, vs. the local vets who use a rasp and keep looking at two sets of teeth, saying “they’re fine” —— until they weren’t :face_with_symbols_over_mouth:

That means the vet was far enough away that I paid. $140 trip fee.

One horse was in worse condition that I expected, it took two plus hours to get his back molars fixed up. Part of the time was his usually co-operative self wasn’t co-operating , once the speculum went in his mouth and he ended up costing me an extra $25 in happy juice and the syringe/needle to administer it.

The other horse is a saint and promised the vet he would be quiet if she would just hurry — 15-20 minutes later he was done. He also had the better teeth which was a surprise, as he has Cushings.

My total bill was $377. I’m not complaining, The vet’s dental handiwork exceeded my expectations and she will be back in a year, now that I know about her.

#18

$125 including trip fee for a certified equine dentist. She’s amazing and so affordable. Our vets (not certified) charge more. South Georgia.

#19

$250 for my vet dentist who only does dentistry now but includes a basic wellness exam and sedation. He uses “pneumatic, short-stroke” instruments and doesn’t tie up the horses head to the rafters like other specialists I’ve seen (who charged $400 a horse)… no travel fee because he’s my neighbor.

When I used non vet dentists in the past I’ve paid between $75 and $100

#20

I use a non-vet who uses hand tools and no sedation. I am present when he works. He uses a speculum and is quite thorough. I have had my vet check his teeth during vaccinations and he has never found a problem. Costs $180 if done every six months.
I like not having to sedate as long as the job can be done completely.

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