Did You Know?
5,534 pet owners requested and received a free no-obligation quote from one of the above companies in the last 30 days.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Dental Care?
Pet dental insurance coverage can be divided into two categories: dental accidents and dental illnesses. Dental accidents are injuries to your pet’s teeth, such as chipping or losing a tooth. These types of incidents are usually covered like any other injury under an accident-only or accident-and-illness policy. As long as the damage resulted from an accident and was not pre-existing, most pet insurance companies will cover the resulting care.
Dental illnesses include diseases that impact your pet’s oral health, such as cavities and gum disease. Because dental diseases are common in dogs and cats, providers typically limit coverage and impose special conditions on covered care.
You may encounter policies with stricter sub-limits on annual payouts, age caps for eligibility or that only cover some teeth in your pet’s mouth. Each policy can differ significantly, so it is best to check with your insurer for more details.
Dental pet insurance usually covers procedures such as:
- Broken, chipped or fractured teeth
- Crowns
- Gingivitis and periodontitis
- Root canals
- Stomatitis
- Tooth extractions
Does Pet Insurance Cover Routine Dental Cleaning?
Standard accident-and-illness pet dental insurance typically doesn’t cover teeth cleaning. However, some providers offer a preventative care add-on that covers dental cleaning.
For example, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance covers dental cleaning in both its Basic and Prime preventative care plans. The company charges $10 for Basic, which covers up to $100 per year in dental cleaning, plus exams, deworming, vaccines and a fecal test. The Prime plan covers up to $150 per year for teeth cleaning and covers all of the Basic inclusions plus spay/neuter procedures, additional vaccines, fecal and heartworm prevention, blood testing, urinalysis and a health certificate.
What Is Not Covered by Pet Dental Insurance?
Pet insurers typically do not cover pre-existing conditions — so if your pet has a dental issue before you enroll in coverage, it would not be covered. Additionally, insurance providers commonly exclude the following treatments and conditions:
- Cosmetic dentistry
- Fillings
- Implants
- Pet orthodontics
- Routine dental cleanings
- Tools or supplies for at-home or routine dental care
Insurance providers may also put eligibility requirements or specific coverage limits on covered dental procedures.
Although teeth cleaning isn’t covered by pet insurance, some pet wellness plans typically offer coverage on dental cleanings. Some pet insurance companies that cover dental cleanings through preventive care are Lemonade‘s Preventative Care+ plan and ASPCA Pet Health Insurance‘s Basic Preventative Care plan.
Cost of Pet Insurance with Dental Coverage
Accident and illness plans range in cost from $15 to $90 per month, averaging $66 for dogs and $32 for cats, according to our research. Dental illnesses and accidents are typically included in this coverage but check your contract for exact details.
Routine services such as dog teeth cleaning are usually offered as an add-on through a wellness plan, which costs extra each month.
The chart below displays the average cost of pet insurance for 11 providers based on more than 1,400 quotes collected in April 2024.
Most Common Dental Issues in Pets
Dental issues are common in cats and dogs. In fact, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats develop periodontal illness by two years old.
Cat Dental Disease
According to the Cornell Feline Health Center, somewhere between 50% and 90% of cats older than four years suffer from dental disease. Cats most commonly suffer from gingivitis, periodontitis and tooth resorption. Other common dental illnesses include oral trauma and ulcerative stomatitis.
Dog Dental Disease
Nationwide’s PetHealthZone reports that the most common dental issues for dogs include periodontitis, oral trauma, benign oral tumor, gingivitis and deciduous teeth, and complications related to these health issues.
The Cost of Pet Dental Treatments
Treatment for pet dental problems varies in cost depending on the severity of the issue, pet species and breed, etc. According to Carecredit, the average costs range from $50 to $300. The table below breaks down the cost of common dental treatments for pets.
| Dental Issue | Treatment Cost |
|---|---|
| Periodontal disease | $400–$1,000 |
| Abscessed teeth | $200–$500 |
| Root Canal | $200–$3,000 |
| Malocclusions (misaligned teeth) | $200–$1,000 |
| Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) | $300–$700 |
| Tooth loss | $200–$500 |
| Jaw fractures | $1,000–$3,000 |
| Oral trauma | $200–$500 |
| Abscessed teeth | $200–$500 |
| Tooth fractures | $200–$500 |
| Tooth extractions | $200–$500 |
| Routine dental cleaning | $500–$1,000 |
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Source: Embrace Pet Insurance
How To Find Affordable Pet Dental Insurance
Pet dental insurance can help lower the cost of keeping your pet’s teeth clean and healthy. Here are ways to save money on insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs when your pet needs dental care.
Get Pet Insurance When Your Pet is Young
Insurance will only cover pet dental problems that did not exist before you purchased coverage, also known as pre-existing health issues. To prevent potential claim denials due to pre-existing issues, you can buy a pet insurance plan when your pet is young. Most dental disease begins around or before age three, and some conditions, such as unerupted teeth, misaligned teeth and retained baby teeth, become evident when pets are less than a year old.
Choose an Insurance Plan with Wellness Coverage
To ensure coverage for routine dental care, buy a pet insurance plan that offers optional wellness coverage. Many wellness plans extend up to $150 per year to offset the cost of a routine annual dental cleaning and cover other essentials, such as vaccines and parasite preventives.
Follow Your Veterinarian’s Recommendations for Pet Dental Care
Pet insurance plans often require policyholders to follow veterinarian recommendations, including dental home care and professional cleanings, to approve claims for dental disease or injury. For most pets, this means agreeing to an annual veterinary exam and routine prophylactic dental cleaning — or even twice a year for some pets.
Use CareCredit or Pet Savings To Pay for Care
You must pay for your pet’s dental care before submitting a claim for an insurance reimbursem*nt. Third-party payment options, such as CareCredit, can help you spread out costs without charging you interest. You can also use money set aside in a savings account for your pet’s dental bills.
“There are many options available. Do some research on policies and make an informed decision.”
Kristi Flynn, DVM
Veterinary Clinical Sciences Professor, University of Michigan
Top Pet Dental Insurance Companies
Many pet insurance providers offer dental coverage that ranges from cleanings to tooth extractions and dental and gum illnesses. We reviewed the following pet insurance providers to see how coverage offerings compare for dental accidents, illnesses and preventive treatments.
Fetch Pet Insurance
Fetch’s accident and illness policy covers dental illnesses and injuries, including reimbursem*nt for gum disease care, prescription medications and supplements, emergency vet visits, surgeries and X-rays. Additionally, coverage for extractions, periodontal disease and endodontic treatments extends to all of your pet’s adult teeth, not just its canines. Monthly premiums for Fetch plans average $90 per month for dogs and $45 for cats, based on quotes we gathered.
- Dental coverage requirements: Pet owners must submit medical records as requested
- Coverage options: Standard accident and illness plan
- What’s not covered: Pre-existing conditions, routine dental cleanings and preventive care, prescription food, issues that occur during the waiting period and claims filed more than 90 days after treatment
- Waiting period: Up to 14 days
To learn more: Fetch Pet Insurance Review
Figo
Figo covers dental illnesses and injuries under its standard plan and offers additional coverage through add-ons. The company’s wellness add-ons do not directly cover dental care but can provide money back for exams, vaccines and other routine care. You can also purchase a vet exam add-on that covers exam and consultation fees associated with the diagnosis and treatment of your pet. Figo’s standard plan costs an average of $54 per month for dogs and $25 for cats.
- Dental coverage requirements: Pets must be at least 8 weeks old and pet owners must submit medical records as requested
- Coverage options: Standard accident and illness plan and add-ons for wellness care and vet exam fees
- What’s not covered: Pre-existing conditions, routine dental cleanings and preventive care (under the standard plan), experimental procedures and cosmetic surgery
- Waiting period: One day for accidents and injuries and 14 days for illnesses
To learn more: Figo Pet Insurance review
Trupanion
Trupanion offers pet dental accident and illness coverage in its comprehensive base plan, including specialty procedures and treatment for uncommon dental illnesses. However, the company does not cover routine dental cleanings since it does not offer a wellness plan. Our team found that coverage is pricier than some other options, but plans include unlimited annual limits and 90% reimbursem*nt, plus 24/7 customer care and direct vet payments. Monthly premiums for a Trupanion plan average $123 per month for dogs and $53 for cats.
- Dental coverage requirements: Pets must undergo annual dental exams and owners must follow veterinarian recommendations. For extraction of baby teeth, pets must enroll in coverage before 6 months old.
- Coverage options: Standard accident and illness plan and add-ons for complementary care and pet owner assistance
- What’s not covered: Pre-existing conditions, routine dental cleanings and preventive care, exam fees and claims made more than 90 days after treatment
- Waiting period: Five days for accidents, 30 days for illnesses
To learn more: Trupanion Pet Insurance Review
Spot Pet Insurance
Spot’s standard accident and illness plan covers dental accidents and illnesses and averages $68 per month for dogs and $30 per month for cats. However, you’ll need to add a preventive plan to receive coverage for things like routine dental cleanings. Spot’s Gold plan allots $100 for dental cleanings per year, while the Platinum plan offers $150 per year.
- Dental coverage requirements: Must submit medical records, pets must be at least 8 weeks old
- Coverage options: Standard accident and illness plan, Gold Preventive Care plan, Platinum Preventive Care plan
- What’s not covered: Pre-existing conditions, boarding and daycare, elective or cosmetic procedures, supplements and vitamins, any illness or injury resulting from intentional or negligent actions
- Waiting period: 14 days
To learn more: Spot Pet Insurance Review
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance covers dental disease and injury under its standard accident and illness plan, but the policy does not include preventative care services such as dental cleanings. However, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance covers dental cleanings under its preventative care add-on. Average monthly premiums are $44 for dogs and $18 for cats.
- Dental coverage requirements: Pets must be at least eight weeks old and owners must submit medical records as requested
- Coverage options: Standard accident and illness plan, accident-only plan and add-on preventative care coverage
- What’s not covered: Routine dental cleanings and preventative care (under the standard plan), cosmetic procedures, pre-existing conditions and breeding costs
- Waiting period: 14 days
To learn more: ASPCA Pet Health Insurance review
Lemonade
Lemonade offers affordable pet insurance, costing an average of $30 per month for dogs and $16 for cats. Dental coverage is available through two add-ons —The Preventative+ wellness plan covers routine dental cleanings, dental X-rays, anesthesia and teeth polishing, and a separate dental illness add-on that covers certain dental treatments, such as gum disease and tooth extraction.
- Dental coverage requirements: Pets must be 14 years old or younger and live in a covered state*. Pet owners must also submit medical records as requested.
- Coverage options: Standard accident and illness plan, Preventative Care or Preventative Care+ wellness plans, and various coverage add-ons
- What’s not covered: Pre-existing conditions, bilateral conditions, preventable conditions and experimental treatments
- Waiting period: Two days for accidents**, 14 days for illnesses and 30 days for orthopedic conditions in some states
*Dental coverage is not available in Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.
**Lemonade may offer shorter accident waiting periods depending on where you live.
To learn more: Lemonade Pet Insurance Review
Healthy Paws
Healthy Paws offers one comprehensive accident and illness pet insurance policy with no annual payout limits. It’s not as cheap as budget providers such as Lemonade but offers unlimited dental coverage. It covers dental needs related to accidents and injuries, such as tooth reconstruction and extraction. Monthly premiums average $54 for dogs and $24 for cats.
- Dental coverage requirements: Requirements vary by age —pets aged 5 years and older must have had a veterinary exam within 12 months before or within the first 15 days of policy enrollment. Pets aged 6 years and older must have had a veterinary exam within 30 days before or within the first 15 days of policy enrollment. Owners must also submit medical records as requested.
- Coverage options: Standard accident and illness plan
- What’s not covered: Dental illness coverage, pre-existing conditions, exam fees, elective procedures, boarding fees, routine dental cleanings, parasite control and vaccinations
- Waiting period: 15 days
To learn more: Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review
Embrace
Embrace offers one pet insurance plan that covers both accidents and illnesses, including dental-related incidents. This includes tooth repair, extractions and treatment up to $1,000 per policy year for dental diseases. Embrace plans average $73 per month for dogs and $39 for cats.
- Dental coverage requirements: Pets must be 14 years and under to enroll and owners must submit submit medical records as requested
- Coverage options: Standard accident and illness plan
- What’s not covered: Pre-existing conditions from the last 12 months, deliberate injury or illness due to neglect, cosmetic procedures and routine care
- Waiting period: Two days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses
To learn more: Embrace Pet Insurance Review
| Company | Base Dental Coverage | Wellness Add-On Coverage |
| AKC | Tooth fracture treatment | Dental cleaning |
| Allstate | Crowns and root canals (up to $1,000) | Dental cleaning |
| ASPCA Pet Health Insurance | Tooth extractions | Dental cleaning |
| Chewy | Depends on the provider (see Trupanion or Lemonade) | Depends on the provider (see Trupanion or Lemonade) |
| Costco | Dental accidents and illnesses, including endodontics and orthodontics | No coverage |
| Embrace | Crowns and root canals (up to $1,000) | Dental cleaning |
| Fetch | Dental accidents and illnesses for all teeth | Dental cleaning |
| Figo | Dental accidents and illnesses, including endodontics and orthodontics | No coverage |
| Geico | Crowns and root canals (up to $1,000) | Dental cleaning |
| Healthy Paws | Dental accident coverage, including extraction or restoration | Does not offer wellness plans |
| Lemonade | Includes dental injuries as standard and offers dental illness coverage as an add-on | Dental cleaning |
| ManyPets | Dental accidents and illnesses | Dental cleaning |
| MetLife | Dental accidents and illnesses | Dental cleaning |
| Nationwide | Dental accidents and illnesses | Dental cleaning (depending on the plan) |
| Odie | Dental accidents and illnesses, including extractions for all teeth and endodontic therapy for canines or carnassials | Dental cleaning |
| Petco | Dental accidents and illnesses | Dental cleaning (depending on the plan) |
| Pets Best | Dental accidents include extractions for all teeth and endodontic treatment for canines or carnassials; dental illnesses only include treatment for canines or carnassials | Dental cleaning |
| Progressive | Dental accidents include extractions for all teeth and endodontic treatment for canines or carnassials; dental illnesses only include treatment for canines or carnassials | Dental cleaning |
| Prudent Pet | Dental accidents and illnesses and medically necessary cleanings in some cases | Dental cleaning |
| Pumpkin | Dental accidents and illnesses (extractions only) and cleanings when medically necessary | Not covered |
| Spot | Dental accidents and-illnesses (extractions only) and cleanings when medically necessary | Dental cleaning |
| State Farm | Dental accidents and illnesses, including endodontics and orthodontics | Does not offer wellness plans |
| Trupanion | Dental accidents and illnesses, including endodontics and orthodontics | Does not offer wellness plans |
| USAA | Crowns and root canals (up to $1,000) | Dental cleaning |
| Wagmo | Dental surgeries not covered | Dental cleaning |
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Pet Dental Insurance Waiting Periods
All pet insurance companies require a waiting period before coverage will kick in. If your pet is in a dental accident or develops a dental illness before the waiting period is over, it will not be covered.
Here are the waiting periods for dental illness and accidents for popular pet insurance companies:
| Company | Dental Accidents | Dental Illnesses |
|---|---|---|
| AKC | 2 days | 14 days |
| Allstate | 2 days | 14 days |
| ASPCA Pet Health Insurance | 14 days | 14 days |
| Chewy | 5 days | 14 days |
| Costco | 1 day | 14 days |
| Embrace | 2 days | 14 days |
| Fetch | Up to 15 days | Up to 15 days |
| Figo | 1 day | 14 days |
| Geico | Up to 5 days | Up to 30 days |
| Healthy Paws | Up to 15 days | Up to 15 days |
| Lemonade | Up to 2 days* | 14 days |
| ManyPets | 15 days | 15 days |
| MetLife | 1 day | 14 days |
| Nationwide | 14 days | 14 days |
| Odie | 2 days | 14 days |
| Petco | Up to 15 days | Up to 15 days |
| Pets Best | 3 days | 14 days |
| Progressive | 3 days | 14 days |
| Prudent Pet | 5 days | 14 days |
| Pumpkin | 14 days | 14 days |
| Spot | 14 days | 14 days |
| State Farm | 5 days | 30 days |
| Trupanion | 5 days | 30 days |
| USAA | 2 days | 14 days |
| Wagmo | Up to 15 days | Up to 15 days |
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Why Is Pet Dental Work So Expensive?
The severity of the dental work can greatly impact the overall cost. Dental work can range from $50 for basic teeth cleaning to over $1,000 for tooth extraction and anesthesia.
The increasing costs of pet dental care are being driven by several factors, including a rise in pet medication, equipment and supplies costs; higher wages, increasing real estate prices for facilities; and a national shortage of veterinarians.
To help manage rising costs, organizations such as PetSmart Charities are funding low-cost clinics, helping pet owners afford veterinary care.
"Recently, we funded the opening of Emancipet’s low-cost dental and surgical center in Austin, Texas, focusing solely on these services allows for more high-volume and efficient delivery without compromising quality," said Aimee Gilbreath, the president of PetSmart Charities. "And when more pet parents have support in caring for their pets, chances they’ll stay together longer improve.”
Is Pet Insurance With Dental Coverage Worth It?
Dental problems such as periodontal disease and teeth fractures can cause chronic pain, excessive drooling, swollen gums and more in pets. Pet dental insurance can help you prepare for the financial burden of emergency vet care caused by dental issues. Adding a preventative care plan improves your chances of avoiding these health conditions in the first place.
The average pet owner spends $675 per year on dog insurance and $383 on cat insurance, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association. A tooth extraction could cost between $1,000 and $3,000 for dogs and $300 to $1,300 for cats, according to Spot.
Without insurance, you would have to pay the full procedure cost out of pocket, but if the claim is covered by an insurance provider with an 80% reimbursem*nt rate, you’d pay $200 to $600 for dogs and $60 to $260 for cats.
If you add the cost of an annual pet insurance premium to the above portion of a covered tooth extraction claim, you would pay up to $1,184 for a dog and $603 for a cat. Depending on your pet’s final bill, you could achieve significant savings over the out-of-pocket treatment cost.
Note that preventative care, such as teeth cleaning, is not covered by pet insurance but may be included in a wellness policy.
Ask an Expert: Do Vets Think Dental Insurance Is Worth It?
We asked veterinarians what they think about pet dental insurance to help determine if coverage is worth the cost.
“Dental health insurance coverage can be worth it when you enroll your pet at a young age. Dental disease typically develops by 3 years old, and once this occurs, dental disease is considered pre-existing and won’t be covered in the future.”
— Angela Beal, DVM
"Dental conditions are prevalent in pets. Getting insurance ensures pets are covered for common dental conditions, dental emergencies, and dental injuries, and less common conditions, such as oral tumors."
— Jenny Alonge, DVM
Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Dental Insurance
Unlike insurance policies for humans, pet dental insurance policies typically allow you to see any licensed veterinarian. Some companies may reduce your reimbursem*nt for visiting certain specialists. See providers’ policy details for specifics.
Most providers require that you submit your pet’s medical records so the company can determine pre-existing conditions. Some insurers require you to submit medical records spanning a particular period, often 12 months before policy enrollment.
Whether a veterinary exam is required to enroll in a pet insurance policy depends on the provider. If you can’t provide medical records, the provider may require an examination by a licensed vet at the time of the policy enrollment date. Providers may also use the first documented veterinary exam after enrollment to determine pre-existing conditions.
Pet dental insurance typically doesn’t cover teeth cleaning, at least not in the standard accident-and-illness plan. Some providers offer coverage add-ons for preventive dental care so your pet can get dental cleanings and routine exams. Others see dental cleanings as an expected expense and one you don’t need insurance to cover, so they don’t provide coverage options.
A company will likely consider a pet dental illness as pre-existing if symptoms occur before pet insurance enrollment or during the waiting period. Potential dental issues could include chronic or progressive dental diseases, such as periodontal disease, tooth or root resorption, or stomatitis. If these dental problems start before your pet enrolls in an insurance plan, insurance companies will likely not cover related treatment in the future. Dental conditions that occur once, such as a tooth fracture, typically will not affect future coverage if a new fracture occurs in a different tooth.
Methodology: Our System for Rating Pet Insurance Companies
We review each pet insurance company based on factors most important to pet parents like you. Our process includes in-depth industry research into each provider, such as comparing coverage options, gathering quotes online to determine pricing and reading reviews to assess customer service. To better inform our reviews, we’ve surveyed 3,000 dog and cat owners nationwide to determine the most important elements of pet insurance coverage. We’ve also bought pet insurance plans for 10 of our team’s pets to test the customer experience of various providers for ourselves.
We then score each provider on a 100-point scale and calculate an overall rating out of five stars. Here are more details about the factors we consider when reviewing pet insurance providers:
- Costs and Discounts (22.5%): To assess pricing, we collected sample quotes for 10 mixed-breed and purebred dogs and cats, ranging from 3 months to 8 years old. Our team collected a total of 17,330 quotes directly from 22 provider's websites, requesting at least two quotes for all 50 U.S. states from every insurer and pet profile. Providers earn the most points in this category for offering affordable coverage and more than four discount options to customers.
- Coverage (22.5%): The best pet insurance companies offer a range of plans, customization options and more so pet owners can choose the right coverage. Companies offering a wide variety of coverage options earn full points in this category. We also look at waiting periods and award the most points if companies offer policies with shorter waiting periods than its competitors.
- Covered Treatments (17.5%): According to our survey of pet owners, coverage is one of the most important factors when shopping for pet insurance. Companies with a breadth of included treatments and unique coverages as standard within their policies receive more points in this category than those with less options.
- Customer Experience (17.5%): Respondents to our survey also valued customer service when comparing pet insurance providers. We score each company based on its website accessibility and overall usability, customer service, mobile apps, money-back guarantees and veterinarian telehealth options. The insurers with the most customer experience offerings receive the most points.
- Industry Standing (10%): We review up-to-date ratings and accreditation information from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot, and score companies based on customer reviews and years of industry experience.
- Availability (10%): Some companies do not offer policies for pets over a certain age. For this category, we deduct points from providers that have age limits for older pets. We also consider state availability, international coverage and if a company extends coverage options to breeds considered dangerous.
We use our rating system to compare each company we review and determine the best pet insurance companies in the industry. To learn more, read our full pet insurance methodology to see how we review and score providers.
If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at editors@marketwatchguides.com.
