
Compare Pet Dental Insurance Companies
Many pet insurance providers offer dental coverage that ranges from cleanings to tooth extractions to dental and gum illnesses. Use the table below to compare monthly costs, dental coverages and more.
Top Pet Insurance Companies That Cover Dental Work
We reviewed the following pet insurance providers to see how their coverage offerings compare for dental accidents, illnesses and preventive treatments.
- Lemonade: Our Top Pick
- Fetch: Our pick for special perks
- Spot: Our pick for customizable coverage
- ASPCA: Most experienced
- Healthy Paws: Our pick for affordable unlimited coverage
- Figo: Our pick for flexible reimbursement rates
- Embrace: Our pick for savings
What Does Pet Dental Insurance Cover?
Pet dental insurance coverage can be divided into two categories: dental accidents and dental illnesses. Dental accidents are usually covered like any other injury under an accident-only or accident-and-illness policy. As long as the damage came from an accident and was not pre-existing, such as Fido chewing on a rock instead of his rawhide, the resulting care will be covered by most companies.
Dental illnesses get treated a bit differently. Because they’re so common — 80% of dogs and 70% of cats develop periodontal illness by age 2 — providers typically offer only limited coverage and often impose special conditions on included care. You may encounter stricter sub-limits on annual payouts, age caps for eligibility or coverage for only some teeth in your furry friend’s mouth. Each policy can differ significantly.
Dental pet insurance usually covers procedures, such as:
- Broken, chipped or fractured teeth
- Crowns
- Gingivitis and periodontitis
- Root canals
- Stomatitis
- Tooth extractions
What Is Not Typically Covered with Pet Dental Insurance?
Pet insurers never cover pre-existing conditions and may put eligibility requirements on covered dental procedures. Dental pet insurance plans don’t usually take care of the following conditions, which providers consider exclusions:
- Cosmetic dentistry
- Fillings
- Implants
- Pet orthodontics
- Routine dental cleanings
- Tools or supplies for at-home or routine dental care
How Much Does Pet Dental Insurance Cost?
Pet dental insurance is sold as part of providers’ broader accident-only and accident-and-illness pet insurance plans. Accident-illness plans cost an average of $19.93 a month for dogs and $10.85 for cats, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association’s (NAPHIA) 2022 State of the Industry Report. NAPHIA also publishes average monthly pricing for accident-and-illness plans, which are $48.66 for dogs and $28.57 for cats.
How to Find Cheap Pet Dental Insurance
Here are five tips for how to find cheap dental insurance for your pet.
Sign your pet up early. Because some dental diseases develop in most dogs and cats by age three, it’s imperative to enroll your pet in an insurance policy as early as possible. If your animal shows signs of periodontitis or other dental diseases prior to coverage or during the waiting period, it is considered a pre-existing condition and won’t be covered.
Consider preventative care. Not all dental care is included under a pet insurance policy. Important preventative care, like annual dental cleanings, is usually offered in a separate wellness plan or as an add-on to a pet insurance policy. Opting for this coverage can smooth out the out-of-pocket expenses of preventative dental care while reducing your pet’s risk of developing more painful (and more costly) issues.
Practice at-home dental care. You can do your part to prevent dental illness by caring for your pet’s teeth at home. Regularly brushing your pet’s teeth can help to prevent periodontal disease by removing plaque and tartar. According to PetMD, you should brush your dog’s or cat’s teeth two to three times a week. It’s inexpensive to purchase toothbrushes and toothpaste specialized for pets, and other supplies, such as specialized chews and treats, to help preserve your pet’s dental hygiene.
Is Pet Dental Insurance Worth It?
Most pets require dental care at some point. Without it, your pet can experience many dental infections, plaque buildup, periodontal disease, gingivitis and other painful issues that make it difficult to eat or exist without pain. Because many dental treatments require anesthesia, addressing dental problems can get expensive.
The right dental pet insurance plan and deductible can significantly reduce the amount you pay out of pocket for dental care and treatment. Besides the financial benefit, having pet dental insurance ensures your pet gets the care it deserves and stays healthier longer.
Does Pet Dental Insurance Have Any Waiting Periods?
Although most pet dental insurance policies kick in the day after enrollment, there are waiting periods to file a claim for certain conditions. How long the waiting period is varies by provider. Some waiting periods last only a couple of days, while others require several months. The length of time also can vary by condition. Here’s how the providers in this article compare:
Is Dental Work Covered as a Preexisting Condition?
Most pet insurance providers that cover dental won’t cover any pre-existing conditions. However, some providers on this list will make exceptions for conditions deemed curable or that haven’t presented symptoms within a specific period — usually 12 months. Here’s how each provider on this list handles pre-existing conditions.
- Lemonade: Excludes coverage for all illnesses and injuries that occur before waiting periods are up.
- Spot: Excludes coverage for illnesses and injuries that occur before wait periods are up unless the condition has been cured and without treatment or symptoms for 180 days.
- Trupanion: Excludes coverage for illnesses and injuries shown within 18 months before the policy start date.
- Fetch: Excludes coverage for illnesses and injuries that occur before wait periods are up.
- Embrace: Excludes coverage for illnesses and injuries that occur before wait periods are up unless the condition has been symptom-free for 12 months.
- Healthy Paws: Excludes coverage for all illnesses and injuries that occur before wait periods are up.
- Figo: Excludes coverage for all illnesses and injuries that occur before wait periods are up.
Read more: Best pet insurance for pre-existing conditions
The Bottom Line: Should I Purchase Pet Dental Insurance?
Your dog or cat will likely need some dental care in its lifetime. It’s a good idea to have a pet dental insurance policy to offset the costs of treatments and anesthesia when required. If your pet is already showing signs of dental issues, these likely won’t be covered by a new policy. However, most providers will cover any future dental needs entirely or partly.