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Pet ownership is incredibly rewarding, but it can also be extremely expensive. Whether you’re a dog or a cat person, you could find your savings dwindling quickly if your four-legged friend becomes ill or is involved in an accident. And dental issues can be among the most expensive when it comes to veterinary care.
That’s why taking out a pet insurance policy that includes dental coverage is smart. The best pet dental insurance companies will cover the cost of treatment for dental injuries and illness, and many even offer add-ons for preventive dental care, such as teeth cleaning. This guide will cover the top pet insurance policies that include dental care to help you choose the right policy for your pet.
Lemonade offers coverage for dental cleanings, which includes X-rays, anesthesia, and polishing, among other things. Preventive dental care can help you prevent dental illness in your pet, which can be expensive to treat if not caught early.
Lemonade’s fast online claims process makes it easy to submit a claim for reimbursement following veterinary treatment. Lemonade uses AI to approve a large chunk of its claims instantly, which means you’ll get paid almost instantly. The company also has a short waiting period of just two days for accident coverage, while other providers may have waiting periods of two weeks.
Although Lemonade doesn’t offer coverage for recurring or preventable conditions, it does have relatively low rates for kittens and puppies, making it a good fit for those with younger pets. Lemonade donates any money from premiums that aren’t paid out in claims to various nonprofits.
Embrace covers several dental conditions, including broken, chipped, and fractured teeth, extractions, gingivitis, root canals and crowns, stomatitis, and periodontal disease. This comprehensive coverage means you can be sure that your plan will cover most dental issues. Embrace also offers a diminishing deductible—every year you remain claim-free, your deductible will decrease by $50 until it reaches $0.
There’s a $650 annual limit for Embrace’s wellness plan add-on, which could be limiting for some, but this limit should cover dental cleaning if that’s something your pet needs. Embrace also offers additional office visit coverage for senior pets; this is beneficial because older animals will likely need more frequent vet visits, and exam costs can add up quickly if they’re not covered by insurance.
While most pet insurance companies reimburse the pet owner for vet bills, Pets Best has the option of direct vet payment, which can be more convenient for the policyholder. To get direct vet payments, you must have your vet sign a veterinary reimbursement release form and submit it to the insurance company. Then, Pets Best will pay your vet directly without needing you to submit a claim.
Pets Best provides dental coverage for endodontic treatment and treats dental fractures or other issues caused by accidents. For an additional charge, you can add a routine dental care package that includes cleanings, which are important in preventing future dental issues. Pets Best has several deductible options, so you can tailor your coverage to fit your budget.
It’s important to note that some dental issues may not be covered if you first insure your pet after it turns six months old. This applies to deciduous teeth, dentigerous cysts, enamel hypoplasia, or unerupted/impacted teeth.
Figo offers the option of 100% reimbursement for vet bills, including dental work. Choosing this option means your claim will be paid 100%, less any deductible, so you’ll pay less for your pet’s covered dental expenses. Figo’s policies cover dental illness and injury through the accident and injury plan; there’s no option for accident-only coverage, though, which could be a downside for some.
Figo also offers “powerups,” which you can use to add specific coverage to your policy. One such powerup covers dental cleanings, which are important in preventing more serious dental illnesses.
Fetch’s pet insurance plans cover emergency dental care, gum disease, oral tumors, trauma, and more. Fetch claims to have the most comprehensive dental coverage in the industry because it covers every adult tooth, while other providers may only cover the canine teeth. You can also opt for dental cleaning coverage by adding the Fetch Wellness plan.
Although there’s no option for accident-only coverage, Figo has several perks that can more than make up for this potential con. These perks include coverage for pet boarding costs if you’re hospitalized and don’t have anyone to care for your pet, and coverage for advertising and rewards if your pet escapes or is lost. These benefits can provide great peace of mind to pet parents who want to ensure their four-legged friends are well taken care of, no matter what.
Spot pet insurance covers dental illnesses and tooth extractions for dental accidents. There’s also the option to add on preventive dental care, which covers teeth cleanings and exams to try to catch potential issues before they become too bad (and therefore more expensive to treat).
Although Spot has a relatively long two-week waiting period for accident coverage, there are several options for annual coverage maximums, which allows you to tailor your plan to your budget. Opting for a higher maximum annual coverage amount will mean a higher monthly premium, but you can also choose a lower coverage amount in exchange for a lower premium.
A pet insurance policy from Pumpkin comes with a standard reimbursement percentage of 90%. That means any claims, dental or otherwise, are almost completely covered, so you’ll pay less out of pocket. When it comes to dental issues, Pumpkin’s plans cover dental illnesses, as well as tooth extractions required after dental injuries. However, Pumpkin doesn’t offer any coverage options for preventive dental care, which may rule it out for some insurance purchasers.
Pumpkin may also have higher premiums than some competitors for certain breeds, although you’ll need to request a free quote to confirm whether that’s the case for your pet.
| Title | Max annual coverage | Reimbursement rates | Max enroll age |
|---|---|---|---|
Lemonade Pet Dental Insurance | Up to $100,000 | 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% | Not specified |
Embrace Dental Pet Insurance | $1,000 | 70%, 80%, or 90% | Up to 15th birthday |
Pets Best Dental Pet Insurance | $5,000 or unlimited | 70%, 80%, or 90% | No upper age limit |
Figo Dental Pet Insurance | $5,000, $10,000, or unlimited | 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% | No upper age limit |
Fetch Dental Pet Insurance | $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 | 70%, 80%, or 90% | No upper age limit |
Spot Dental Pet Insurance | $2,500, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, or unlimited | 70%, 80%, or 90% | No upper age limit |
Pumpkin Dental Pet Insurance | $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, or unlimited | 80% or 90% | No upper age limit |
The first step in identifying the best pet dental insurance policies was to compare the top pet insurers to determine which ones offered dental coverage and, if so, to what extent. We checked to see which types of dental coverage were standard and which were optional add-ons. Then, we dug a little deeper to see what else made each pet insurance provider stand out. Once we had our finalists, we chose awards for each one based on their main strengths.
When considering the best pet dental insurance policies, you must determine which one will provide the most coverage for your pet for the best price. Although it may be tempting to go for the most comprehensive plan, it could cost more monthly than you can afford.
The easiest way to find the right pet insurance with dental coverage is to get quotes from multiple providers and compare them. In addition to the cost, look at what is covered, the available deductible options, the maximum annual coverage allowance, the available reimbursement amounts, and any rules around pet age (some insurers won’t cover pets over a certain age). You can also see if any of your shortlisted providers have a money-back guarantee, allowing you to try the policy risk-free for a predetermined number of days.
Not all pet insurance policies cover dental care, so if that’s a specific need for your pet, you’ll need to ensure your chosen provider offers this coverage before taking out a policy.
Standard pet insurance plans may cover basic dental treatments, such as oral exams, dental cleanings, and dental-related injuries or illnesses. The amount of coverage will vary among providers and plans, and more complex dental issues may not be covered.
A pet insurance policy that includes dental care may cover the following issues:
Ask your pet insurance provider for a list to determine what's covered. This can help ensure you’re prepared and knowledgeable if your pet has dental issues.
Several dental issues are not usually covered by pet insurance. This may include one or all of the following:
Vet visits can be expensive, and if your pet develops dental disease or needs a tooth extraction due to an injury, you could pay thousands of dollars out of pocket. But if you have a pet insurance policy covering dental care, the provider will cover most of the cost, and you’ll just need to pay a deductible. This guide provides a good starting point for those considering pet dental insurance, but the best way to find the right coverage is to request and compare quotes from several providers.
The exact cost of pet dental insurance will depend on several factors. Your pet’s species, age, and breed can all impact how much you’ll pay for pet insurance. Your premiums will also depend on the type of coverage you choose, the deductible amount on the policy, the reimbursement percentage, and the maximum annual coverage amount.
In general, policies with lower deductibles, higher reimbursement amounts, and higher coverage amounts will cost more than those with a high deductible, low reimbursement amount, and low annual max coverage amount. According to the North American Pet Health Association (NAPHIA), the average monthly amounts for dogs and cats are as follows.
| Animal Type | Accident-Only Coverage | Accident and Injury Coverage |
|---|---|---|
Cat | $9.68 | $31.94 |
Dog | $17.01 | $56.30 |
The cost of pet dental treatment depends on the type of treatment, the type of pet, and the type and severity of the condition. The following table shows the average cost range for the most common pet dental treatments.
| Dental Treatment | Average Cost |
|---|---|
Teeth cleaning | 750 |
Tooth extractions | 100 per tooth |
Dental X-rays | 250 |
Cavity fillings | 2,000 |
The easiest way to save money on pet dental care is to schedule regular checkups and dental cleanings. Preventive care can help identify dental issues before they become chronic and, therefore, more expensive to treat.
You can also save money on dental care for your pet by treating dental injuries as soon as possible. If your dog chips a tooth while chewing on a bone, taking it to the vet immediately can help identify the severity of the issue and treat it quickly before it gets worse.
Pet insurance that includes dental coverage is one of the best ways to save money on dental care. Although taking out pet insurance means an additional monthly expense, you’ll be glad you have it if your pet becomes ill or is involved in an accident. You can also look into special financing options—some vets allow customers to pay their bills in installments, which can help lessen the initial expense.
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