Embedded Files
We accept dental referrals from other practices.
If you are a veterinary surgeon and would like to refer a cat for dentistry, please visit the Referrals page for more information and for the referral form.
Why does my cat need a dental procedure?
Dental disease is one of the most common health conditions we see in cats, and includes a variety of conditions. If we have advised that your cat needs a dental, it is because we have seen one of the following conditions on examination…
Tooth resorption (also known as FORLs) is a common cause of tooth loss and pain in cats. It is caused by odontoclasts (the cells which normally dissolve the roots of deciduous (baby) teeth before they fall out), which in some cats can malfunction and start destroying parts of the adult teeth. Often they can only be seen using dental x-rays. Affected teeth need to be removed, as otherwise they can be very painful.
Broken teeth are often caused by tooth resorption but can also be caused by trauma. Fractured teeth should be removed as the exposed pulp can be painful and develop dental abscesses.
Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) is common in cats who have a buildup of tartar (plaque), or who have previously had calicivirus (one of the types of cat flu). Sometimes the inflammation in the mouth is so severe, it becomes a condition called gingivostomatitis. Various treatments are used for this condition but in some circumstances it is appropriate to remove some or all of the teeth.
Tartar should be removed using an ultrasonic scaler to prevent further disease, similar to a human visiting the dental hygienist. Sometimes tartar can be part of significant periodontal disease, which can cause bone loss around the tooth roots and lead to extractions.
Why come to Manchester Cat Clinic for feline dentistry?
The most important thing to consider when choosing a vet for your cat's dental care is the availability and quality of dental x-ray facilities. Many practices don't have dental x-ray at all, while some have low quality equipment which takes a long time to get poorer views.
At Manchester Cat Clinic, we have a special interest in dentistry and have invested in a cat-specific digital dental x-ray setup used by dental specialists. This equipment allows us to get high-quality full mouth x-rays in only a few minutes, reducing the time your cat needs to be anaesthetised and enabling us to accurately and efficiently detect causes of dental pain
What happens when my cat has dental treatment?
Before the appointment
Before your cat’s dental treatment, we’ll send you a WhatsApp message with the important information you need to prepare for the day. This will include instructions about when to stop feeding your cat, whether they can have their usual medication, and anything you may need to bring with you.
We’ll also send you an online consent form to read and approve before the appointment. This explains the planned procedure and the risks involved.
Arriving at the clinic
On the morning of your cat’s dental treatment, you’ll have an admit appointment between 8.30-9am with a vet or veterinary nurse. We’ll check that nothing has changed with your cat’s health, confirm the planned treatment and answer any last-minute questions.
Please make sure the person bringing your cat knows about their health and medication and is able to discuss their treatment with us.
Anaesthetic and monitoring
Your cat will settle into our quiet, cat-only ward before their procedure.
If they haven’t had recent blood tests, we may take a blood sample first. This helps us check for problems such as kidney or liver disease that could affect their anaesthetic.
Before the procedure, your cat will be given pain relief and medication to help them relax. They will then have a general anaesthetic. A Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) will closely monitor them throughout their anaesthetic and recovery.
Cleaning, x-rays and extractions
We thoroughly clean your cat’s teeth and examine each tooth carefully. We also take x-rays of the whole mouth. This is important because many dental problems in cats happen below the gum line and cannot be seen just by looking in the mouth.
If we find painful or unhealthy teeth, we will usually remove them during the same anaesthetic. If your cat needs a lot of teeth removed, we may recommend doing the treatment in two stages. This means they have two shorter procedures a few weeks apart rather than one very long anaesthetic.
After removing teeth, we may place small dissolvable stitches in the gums. These do not usually need to be removed.
Going home
Our nursing team will monitor your cat closely while they wake up, and most cats go home later that afternoon, with collection times usually between 4-6pm.
When you collect them, we’ll explain what to expect when you get home, how to care for their mouth and how to give any medication they need.
If your cat has had teeth removed, they will usually go home with pain relief. We normally arrange a free follow-up check 5–7 days later to make sure their mouth is healing well. Some cats need a second check after this. You can read our aftercare instructions here: https://tinyurl.com/afterdental
How much does dental work cost?
At Manchester Cat Clinic, we aim to keep our pricing straightforward. Many of our procedures, including dental work, are fixed cost packages. All dental services include a general anaesthetic, IV fluids, ultrasonic scale cleaning and full mouth x-rays. Surgical procedures with extractions include take-home pain relief and two post-op nurse checks.
Dental band 1: Dental cleaning and x-rays £345
Dental band 2: Dental cleaning, x-rays, dental surgery with up to 4 extractions £645
Dental band 3: Dental cleaning, x-rays, dental surgery with up to 8 extractions £845
Dental band 4: Major dental surgery with total or near-total mouth extractions £1345
Band 4 can be staged in two halves on different days to avoid prolonged GA time. Includes both stages if required within 6 months.
If your cat has not had blood tests to check their kidney function in the last 3 months, we will also run pre-anaesthetic bloods on the morning of the procedure, which costs £95 for a standard panel (haematology & biochemistry).
We also offer more comprehensive pre-anaesthetic blood panels for cats over the age of 11 or breeds at risk of heart disease, with the standard panel plus TT4 or NT-proBNP costing £135, or the standard panel plus both TT4 and NT-proBNP costing £175. This prices are discounted compared to our usual blood panels to facilitate this useful screening before a routine anaesthetic.
Will my pet insurance cover the cost?
Some pet insurance companies (eg. Pet Proactive, Petplan) cover dental work, but many don't. It may be sensible to speak to your pet insurance company before booking in to check whether they will cover the cost so you can make arrangements for how you will cover your bill if your insurance won’t. We advise all clients who are taking out a new policy to look for an insurance provider who will cover for dental care, as it is very likely that your cat will need some dental work at some stage in their life.
How do I book in?
Speak to our reception team via telephone (0161 464 5545) or email (hello@manchestercatclinic.co.uk) and they will arrange an appointment on a day that is convenient for you.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse