Insufficient dental care can result in problems like gum disease or even severe health issues and significant discomfort, as highlighted by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Between 2017 and 2020, the average pet insurance claim cost for periodontal disease in dogs stood at $1,942, sourced from claims made to C&F Insurance Agency. This is for average only. If you are in California, for instance, pet insurance in general may be more expensive.
While many pet insurance policies include coverage for dental issues, not every plan offers this benefit. Hence, it’s crucial to examine dental benefits when comparing various plans to ensure adequate coverage for your pet’s oral health needs.
What is Covered in Pet Dental Insurance?
Pet dental insurance coverage falls into two main categories: dental accidents and dental illnesses. Dental accidents involve injuries to your pet’s teeth, like chipping or tooth loss, usually covered akin to any other injury under an accident-only or accident-and-illness policy. Most pet insurance companies cover the resulting care if the damage stemmed from an accident and was not pre-existing.
Dental illnesses encompass conditions affecting your pet’s oral health, such as cavities and gum disease. Given their common occurrence in dogs and cats, providers often limit coverage and apply special conditions to covered care.
There are also insurance providers with limitations on annual payouts. It is also common for older pets to have limited cover for their teeth. The older your pet, the costlier and more limited the coverage. Each policy varies significantly, so it’s advisable to consult your insurer for specific details.
Dental pet insurance coverage are comprehensive. The following are often covered and more:
- Stomatitis
- Crowns
- Root canals
- Broken, chipped, or fractured teeth
- Tooth extractions
- Gingivitis and periodontitis
What is Not Covered in Dental Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance companies generally exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions. Therefore, if your pet has a dental issue before enrolling in coverage, it typically wouldn’t be covered. Here are some cases that will not be covered.
- Implants
- Pet orthodontics
- Cosmetic dentistry
- Fillings
- Equipment for standard dental care
- Routine dental cleanings
Pet Insurance Companies with Dental Coverage
There are various pet insurance providers that provide a range of dental coverage for pets, including services such as cleanings, tooth extractions, and treatment for dental and gum diseases.
Fetch
Fetch Pet Insurance’s accident and illness policy provides extensive coverage for dental injuries and illnesses. This includes reimbursement for gum disease care, prescription medications, emergency vet visits, surgeries, X-rays, extractions, periodontal disease, and endodontic treatments for all adult teeth. Monthly premiums for this comprehensive coverage average around $103 for both dogs and cats.
Requirements for dental coverage include the submission of medical records. Fetch’s coverage options revolve around their standard accident and illness plan. Not covered are pre-existing conditions, routine dental cleanings, preventive care, prescription food, issues preceding the waiting period, and claims filed more than 90 days after treatment. The waiting period stands at 15 days.
ASPCA
ASPCA policies and plans include dental related injuries and ailments. You can get this in their accident and illness policy. However, it does not include preventive care services like dental cleanings in this plan.
Yet, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers coverage for dental cleanings under its separate preventative care add-on. Monthly premiums average $46 for dogs and $19 for cats. The requirements for dental coverage involve submitting medical records, and pets must be at least 8 weeks old.
Coverage options include the standard accident and illness plan, an accident-only plan, or the add-on preventative care coverage. Exclusions consist of routine dental cleanings and preventive care under the standard plan, cosmetic procedures, pre-existing conditions, and breeding costs. The waiting period spans 14 days.
Figo
Figo’s standard plan covers dental injuries and illnesses, with additional coverage available through add-ons. Their Wellness add-on refunds expenses for routine care like exams, vaccines, while the Vet Exam add-on covers consultation fees for diagnosing and treating your pet beyond preventive care. Figo’s standard plan averages $54 per month for dogs and $26 for cats.
For dental coverage, you need to submit medical records, and pets should be at least 8 weeks old. Coverage options include the standard accident and illness plan alongside add-ons for wellness and vet exam fee coverage.
Exclusions involve pre-existing conditions, experimental procedures, cosmetic surgery, routine dental cleanings, and preventive care under the standard plan. The waiting period is 1 day for accidents and injuries and 14 days for illnesses.
Embrace
Embrace offers a single pet insurance plan covering accidents, illnesses, and dental-related incidents. This includes tooth extraction, repair and other procedures. This is good for a maximum of $1,000 per policy year for dental issues. This plan’s average monthly price is $72 for dogs and $38 for cats.
To qualify for dental coverage, you must submit medical documents, and pets should be 14 years old or younger for accident-related coverage. The coverage options include the standard accident and illness plan.
Exclusions involve pre-existing conditions in the last 12 months, deliberate injury or illness due to neglect, cosmetic procedures, and routine care. There is a 14 day waiting period for pet diseases. For accidents it is two days.
Lemonade
Lemonade’s pet insurance averages $33 per month for dogs and $22 per month for cats. They offer dental coverage through two add-ons: The Preventative+ wellness plan encompasses routine dental cleanings, dental X-rays, anesthesia, and teeth polishing. Additionally, there’s a separate add-on covering specific dental treatments like gum disease and tooth extraction.
To qualify for dental coverage, you’ll need to submit pet medical records, and pets should be 14 years old or younger and live in a covered state. Coverage options include the standard accident and illness plan, Preventative Care plan, Preventative+ plan, and add-ons.
Exclusions consist of pre-existing conditions, issues occurring before the waiting period ends, bilateral conditions, preventable conditions, and experimental treatments. Lemonade has a 14 day waiting period for ailments. For accidents it is two days.
Spot
Spot’s standard accident and illness plan covers dental accidents and illnesses, averaging $85 per month for dogs and $38 per month for cats. However, to access coverage for routine dental cleanings and similar services, you’ll need to opt for a preventive plan. Spot offers two preventive plans: the Gold plan, allotting $100 for dental cleanings per year, and the Platinum plan, offering $150 per year.
To qualify for dental coverage, you must submit medical records, and pets should be at least 8 weeks old. Coverage options include the standard accident and illness plan, along with the Gold and Platinum Preventive Care plans. Exclusions comprise pre-existing conditions, boarding, daycare, elective or cosmetic procedures, supplements, vitamins, and any illness or injury from intentional or negligent actions. The waiting period stands at 14 days.
Healthy Paws
Healthy Paws provides a comprehensive accident-and-illness pet insurance policy without annual payout limits. It covers dental needs arising from accidents and injuries like tooth reconstruction and extraction. The cost is $25 a month for cats and $58 for dogs. Note that these are averages.
For dental coverage eligibility, you must submit medical records. Pets aged 5 and under must have undergone a vet exam within 12 months before or within the first 15 days of the policy, while pets aged 6 and over need an exam within 30 days before or within the first 15 days of the policy.
Coverage options include the standard accident-and-illness plan. Exclusions involve pre-existing conditions, exam fees, elective procedures, boarding fees, routine dental cleanings, parasite control, and vaccinations. The waiting period is a general 15 days.
How Much Does Pet Dental Treatment Cost?
The cost of dental treatment for pets can vary significantly based on various factors, including the type of treatment needed, the geographical location, the veterinarian’s fees, and the pet’s condition. Here are approximate costs for some common dental procedures:
Dental Cleaning: Usually ranges from $150 to $500 or more, depending on the vet, the extent of cleaning required, and additional services like X-rays and anesthesia.
Tooth Extraction: Can cost between $300 to $800 per tooth. The price may vary based on the complexity of the extraction and if surgical intervention is necessary.
Root Canal Therapy: Can range from $500 to $2,000 or more per tooth. It’s a complex procedure, and the cost varies based on the tooth and the severity of the infection.
Treatment for Gum Disease (Periodontal Disease): Costs vary widely but can range from a few hundred dollars to over a thousand, depending on the severity and extent of treatment required.
Tooth Repair or Restoration: Costs can range from $200 to $1,000 or more per tooth, depending on the type of restoration needed (like crowns, fillings, or bonding).
Oral Surgery: Prices can start at a few hundred dollars and go up significantly based on the complexity of the surgery and the required follow-up care.
Remember, these figures are approximate and can vary based on many factors, so it’s advisable to consult with a veterinarian to get an accurate estimate for your pet’s specific dental treatment needs. Additionally, having pet insurance with dental coverage can help offset some of these costs.
