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Insurance Pet Insurance

Pet Dental Insurance: Coverage for Cleaning and Care

According to the American Animal Hospital Association, most dogs and cats begin to show signs of dental disease by age three. Dental disease can lead to serious health problems, such as pain, inflammation, and even heart disease.

Because standard pet insurance policies don’t cover all aspects of dental care, pet dental insurance may provide the comprehensive coverage your pet needs to reduce the risk of dental disease and achieve optimal oral health. We’ll take a closer look at pet dental insurance and what you can expect if you invest in a policy.

Pet insurance companies that cover dental care

In the table and reviews below, we’ll look at what type of dental coverage five popular pet insurance companies offer.

CompanyDental illness & accidentsRoutine dental care*
Fetch
Lemonade
Embrace
Spot
ASPCA
*Covered if your policy includes an optional wellness add-on.

Fetch

Best overall

4.9 /5
LendEDU Rating

Why it’s one of the best

Fetch is a top-rated pet insurance company that offers accident and illness coverage to cat and dog owners across the U.S. and Canada. Its benefits include Fetch Forward, a tool that leverages a vast database of clinical health data to forecast potential health issues in pets based on their breed, age, and location to provide personalized insights and proactive health tips. Fetch also offers virtual vet visit coverage and coverage for boarding fees.

What type of dental coverage does it offer?

Traditional medical plans through Fetch cover new dental injuries and diseases. Fetch also covers every tooth—not just canines—and periodontal disease, the most common disease for dogs and cats. To maintain coverage, your pet will need an annual dental exam. Fetch offers an option wellness plan that covers annual dental cleanings so you can be proactive about your pet’s dental health and catch dental diseases early on.

Fetch offers medical plans with annual deductibles of $300, $500, or $700, and reimbursement of 70%, 80%, or 90%. Annual coverage limits are either $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000.

Lemonade

Best for fast claims

4.7 /5
LendEDU Rating

Why it’s one of the best

Lemonade doesn’t require a dental exam for coverage. It offers pet insurance with comprehensive dental coverage, making it a top choice for pet parents seeking affordable premiums. Available in most U.S. states, Lemonade insures pets from as young as eight weeks.

What type of dental coverage does it offer? 

Lemonade covers dental illnesses and accidents, such as periodontal disease, tooth extractions, and fractures. Routine dental care, including cleanings and check-ups, can be included in an optional preventive care package.

Lemonade’s policies have a base annual deductible ranging from $100 to $500, with annual reimbursement limits between $5,000 and $100,000. Pet owners can select a reimbursement rate of 70%, 80%, or 90% for covered dental expenses.

Embrace

Best for quick coverage

4.7 /5
LendEDU Rating

Why it’s one of the best

Dog and cat parents can get injury, illness, and wellness protection for their pets through Embrace, a top-rated pet insurance company. You can purchase plans from anywhere in the U.S. for pets as young as six weeks.

What type of dental coverage does it offer?

Embrace will cover your pet’s accident- or illness-related dental care each year, with no dental exam required. This includes extractions, root canals, broken teeth, and crowns. Dental illness coverage is allowed for up to $1,000 in care per year, and you get dental accident coverage up to your policy’s overall limit.

Medical plan deductibles range from $200 to $1,000 per year, with annual reimbursement limits of $5,000 to $30,000. You can choose a reimbursement percentage of 70%, 80%, or 90% of your pet’s covered care expenses.

Pet owners can add the Embrace wellness plan to their coverage for an additional cost. It provides reimbursement for routine dental expenses, including exams, cleanings, and teeth brushing, as well as supplies such as dental chews, toothbrushes, and toothpaste.

Spot

Best for selection of terms

4.5 /5
LendEDU Rating

Why it’s one of the best

Pet insurance coverage through Spot is customizable and reliable. The company that underwrites Spot policies has offered insurance coverage for over a century. Pet owners can choose between an accident and illness or an accident-only policy.

What type of dental coverage does it offer?

An accident and illness policy covers dental injuries and illnesses, and an accident-only policy just covers dental injuries. Routine dental care—which includes dental cleanings—is available with the optional purchase of a preventive plan. 

Deductibles range from $100 to $1,000; reimbursement is available for 70%, 80%, or 90% of covered care costs. Choose from $2,500, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, or unlimited for your annual coverage limit. Spot has no per-incident or lifetime limits on covered care, and plans are available for pets as young as eight weeks.

ASPCA

Best for reliability

4.3 /5
LendEDU Rating

Why it’s one of the best

One of the first pet insurance providers in the U.S., ASPCA has offered pet insurance coverage since 1997. Since then, it’s processed more than 1.6 million pet insurance claims.

What type of dental coverage does it offer?

ASPCA pet insurance is available as a full coverage plan as well as an accident-only or preventive care add-on. The full coverage plan covers dental illnesses and accidents. You can also buy coverage for routine care, starting at just $9.95 per month, which includes dental cleanings.

The cost of ASPCA pet insurance depends on your pet’s age, breed, location, and the plan options you choose when building the policy. You can choose deductibles of $100, $250, or $500; reimbursement coverage can range from 70% to 90% of a covered expense. A higher reimbursement amount will mean higher premiums. 

Coverage limits range from $2,500 per year to unlimited coverage. 

Does pet insurance cover dental care?

When it comes to typical pet insurance, dental care is divided into acute care and routine care. Acute care is a sudden, unexpected need. Routine care includes your pet’s regular predictable needs.

Acute dental care is often covered under traditional accident and illness policies. These policies also cover veterinary care expenses related to an accident or illness up to the policy’s benefit limit. Depending on the specific policy, benefit limits may be per year or even per condition.

If your pet’s dental issues are pre-existing, certain related dental care could be excluded from coverage, even if the visit is due to an accident or illness. This may also be the case if your pet has a genetic condition diagnosed prior to the pet insurance policy’s start date. 

Here’s a close look at the type of dental services pet insurance does cover—and what it doesn’t.

What’s covered?What’s not covered?
Tooth extraction & bone graftsDental checkups
Accident or injury-related tooth reconstruction Teeth cleanings
MalocclusionExtractions related to pre-existing disease
Jaw fractures Extractions of retained baby teeth
Stomatitis Dental care for pre-existing congenital conditions
Cysts or tumors
Root canals, caps, and crowns
Periodontal disease
Radiographs, biopsies & cytology 
Hospital stays, surgical care & anesthesia

Pet insurance that covers dental cleaning

You can’t predict when your pet will experience a dental emergency, such as a broken tooth or abscessed root. However, preventive dental care is something you can plan for. It should be part of your pet’s regular routine.

Routine, or preventive, care includes regular dental exams, teeth cleanings, and tartar descaling. But this dental care isn’t covered under most standard pet insurance policies, making wellness coverage worthwhile. 

Depending on the insurer, you can buy a wellness plan as an add-on to a policy or separately. With a pet wellness plan, you’ll get coverage for preventive dental care and other routine services, such as vaccines, flea treatment, and grooming. These plans often come with an annual limit for specific coverage categories. 

Wellness coverage for dental cleaning

Buying a pet wellness plan for dental care coverage may be a worthwhile expense. Before buying one of these policies, here’s what to consider to see whether it’s the right choice for you and your pet.

Pros

  • Plans can reduce your out-of-pocket costs through reimbursement.

    Rather than paying in full for all of your pet’s routine dental care, a pet wellness plan can pay a portion of those expenses up to your policy’s annual limit.

  • Wellness coverage includes other preventive procedures in addition to dental cleaning.

    We’re talking about dental coverage, but that’s not all these wellness plans offer. You’ll get routine dental care coverage while taking advantage of coverage for annual check-ups, flea and tick meds, vaccines, and more. Some plans even offer coverage for spay/neuter surgery, nail trimming, grooming, and microchipping.

  • They can be affordable.

    Pet wellness plans can cost $20 or less per month, making them worth the expense if you plan to use the routine coverage they provide. All are designed to cost you less than you’ll be reimbursed.

Cons

  • Pet owners will pay a higher premium than if they just have medical coverage.

    If you buy pet wellness and insurance coverage, you’ll pay for both. Your coverage benefits throughout the year will often exceed the cost of your premiums, but this is an expense to consider.

  • The per-item benefit limit may not cover all your costs.

    Depending on what your pet needs and what your pet wellness plan offers, you may still be stuck with out-of-pocket expenses. For example, if your pet needs to be put under for a full cleaning, exam, and descaling for $450, but your pet wellness plan only offers $250 per year in dental coverage, you’ll pay the remaining $200.

Our expert’s advice

Crystal Rau

CFP®

It’s important to review the coverage amounts, deductibles, and requirements to keep the coverage in place. For example, some policies require your pet to have an annual dental exam. And consider the trade-offs. For example, in exchange for lower premiums throughout the year, you may need to pay a higher deductible if your pet needs oral surgery. Consider what will work for your monthly budget, and be intentional about building the savings needed in case you need to cover the deductible. Also, consider what your pet will use when it comes to the wellness benefits. Insured is designed to make you whole if something catastrophic happens, so keep that in mind when looking for pet coverage.

Tips for pet dental care

Your pet’s dental health is critical to their overall health and wellness. Routine dental care from a young age can help your pet avoid unnecessary pain and discomfort and keep them from certain chronic conditions later in life.

  • Regular brushing: Routine dental health can include brushing your pet’s teeth regularly to prevent tartar and plaque buildup (or gingivitis). It can be helpful to start this process while your pet is young. Special dental chews are available that help clean your pet’s mouth while also providing them with a treat—a win for everyone. 
  • Regular exams and cleanings: You should also take your pet in for routine dental exams and professional cleanings. Depending on your pet’s temperament, current dental health, and age, this cleaning might involve descaling and may even require anesthesia. 

You want your furry friend to live a long and happy life. Ensuring they have the best possible dental health is key to your success. 

Many pet insurance policies only cover dental emergencies and acute care needs, but buying pet wellness coverage—as a policy add-on or a standalone policy—can help protect them from emergencies and provide them with adequate preventive care for life.

How we selected the best pet dental insurance providers

Since 2018, LendEDU has evaluated insurance companies to help readers find the best pet insurance. Our latest analysis reviewed 357 data points from 17 companies, with 21 data points collected from each. This information is gathered from company websites, online applications, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives.

These star ratings help us determine which companies are best for different situations. We don’t believe two companies can be the best for the same purpose, so we only show each best-for designation once.

Recap of pet dental insurance providers

Company
Best for…
Rating (0-5)
Best overall
Fast claims
Quick coverage
Selection of terms
Reliability