Does Pet Insurance Cover Dental?

Dental coverage is one of the most misunderstood areas of pet insurance. The short answer: most standard plans don’t cover routine dental cleanings, but some do cover dental illness and dental accidents. Here’s exactly what’s covered, what’s not, and which plans offer the best dental protection.

Why Pet Dental Coverage Matters

Dental disease is one of the most common conditions in pets:
– By age 3, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of dental disease
– Left untreated, dental disease leads to infections, tooth loss, and can affect the heart, kidneys, and liver
– Professional dental cleaning under anesthesia: $500–$1,000+ per procedure
– Tooth extractions: $150–$500+ per tooth
– Treatment for dental abscesses or stomatitis: $500–$2,500

Over a pet’s lifetime, dental care can cost thousands of dollars — and for cats especially, dental disease is nearly inevitable.

The Three Categories of Pet Dental Coverage

1. Routine Dental Cleaning (Prophylactic)

What it is: Regular professional teeth cleaning under anesthesia to remove tartar and prevent disease.

Coverage: Rarely covered by standard accident and illness plans. This is considered preventive/routine care, not treatment of an illness.

How to get coverage: Some wellness add-ons include an annual dental cleaning allowance — typically $50–$150 toward the procedure. This doesn’t cover the full cost but offsets it.

2. Dental Illness

What it is: Treatment for conditions caused by dental disease — tooth resorption, periodontal disease, gingivostomatitis, dental abscesses, and extractions required due to disease progression.

Coverage: Varies significantly by insurer. Some cover dental illness under their standard accident and illness plan; others exclude it entirely or require a separate add-on.

Best coverage: Fetch by the Dodo and Embrace are known for including dental illness coverage in their base plans.

3. Dental Accidents

What it is: Injuries to teeth caused by accidents — a dog cracks a tooth chewing a rock or a cat chips a tooth from a fall.

Coverage: Covered by most accident and illness plans as a standard accident. Accidental dental injuries are generally not controversial in claims.

Which Insurers Cover Dental Best?

Fetch by the Dodo — Best for Dental Illness

Fetch explicitly includes dental illness in their standard policy, including:
– Periodontal disease treatment
– Tooth extractions due to disease
– Dental abscesses
– Stomatitis treatment

This is one of the best dental illness coverages in the market without requiring a separate add-on.

Embrace — Good Dental Illness Coverage

Embrace covers dental illness including tooth extractions as part of their accident and illness plan. They also have a wellness plan that includes a dental cleaning allowance.

ASPCA — Dental Illness with Conditions

ASPCA covers dental illness but has specific requirements — dental disease must be directly caused by an accident or illness, not simply from progressive tartar buildup. Read the fine print.

Healthy Paws — Limited Dental Coverage

Healthy Paws does not cover preventive dental care or routine cleanings. Dental illness coverage is limited. Accidents to teeth are covered.

Trupanion — No Routine Dental, Illness Varies

Trupanion does not cover routine dental care. Dental illness may be covered depending on whether it’s classified as an injury or disease process. Worth confirming with their team before enrolling.

Lemonade — Basic Dental Coverage

Lemonade covers dental accidents (broken teeth, trauma) in their base plan. Dental illness requires their “Extended Accident & Illness” coverage or specific add-ons. Their preventive care packages can include dental cleanings.

Nationwide — Best Wellness + Dental

Nationwide’s Whole Pet plan includes dental illness coverage. Their wellness add-ons can cover annual dental cleanings. Good option for owners who want comprehensive dental protection under one policy.

Dental Coverage Comparison Table

| Provider | Routine Cleaning | Dental Illness | Dental Accidents |
|—|—|—|—|
| Fetch | No (wellness only) | Yes | Yes |
| Embrace | Wellness add-on | Yes | Yes |
| ASPCA | Wellness add-on | Partial | Yes |
| Healthy Paws | No | Limited | Yes |
| Trupanion | No | Varies | Yes |
| Lemonade | Preventive add-on | Add-on required | Yes |
| Nationwide | Wellness plan | Yes | Yes |
| Spot | No | Limited | Yes |

Dental Tips for Pet Insurance Buyers

1. Don’t Wait Until Dental Issues Exist

Any current dental disease is pre-existing and excluded. If your dog already has Grade 2+ periodontal disease noted in their records, that’s excluded from coverage going forward. Enroll before dental issues develop.

2. Understand “Dental Illness” vs. “Dental Disease”

Some policies cover “dental illness” (conditions that developed) but not “dental disease” (the chronic buildup that leads to issues). The distinction matters in claims. Ask your insurer specifically: “Does your plan cover tooth extractions required due to periodontal disease?”

3. Wellness Add-Ons for Cleanings

If regular cleanings are a priority, look for a wellness add-on that specifically includes a dental allowance. Plans from Embrace, ASPCA, Nationwide, and Lemonade offer this. The allowance typically offsets $50–$200 of a $400–$800 procedure — not full coverage, but better than nothing.

4. Cats Need Dental Coverage More Than People Think

Feline stomatitis (severe inflammation of the mouth) affects a significant percentage of cats and can require all-tooth extractions costing $1,500–$3,000. This is a catastrophic dental condition that standard plans rarely cover unless you have dental illness coverage.

What About Toothache Coverage?

There’s no such thing as a dental pain management claim in pet insurance. But when dental disease progresses to the point of abscess, infection, or severe gingivitis requiring treatment, that’s when dental illness coverage kicks in — and that’s when bills get large.

Bottom Line

If you want real dental protection for your pet, choose a plan that explicitly covers dental illness (Fetch and Embrace are the strongest options), and add a wellness plan if you want to offset the cost of routine cleanings. Don’t assume your standard policy covers dental — most don’t cover anything beyond dental accidents. Read the dental section of your policy document carefully before you enroll.