In this article: Does Pet Insurance Cover Dental? | Top Pet Dental Insurance Providers | Is Pet Dental Insurance Worth It? | Waiting Periods | Preexisting Conditions | Bottom Line | Other Resources | FAQs | Methodology
Maintaining your pet’s dental health is just as important as investing in other aspects of its well-being. When your pet’s teeth aren’t properly cared for — and sometimes even when they are — it can experience periodontal disease and severe pain that makes it hard to eat or rest. If left untreated, dental issues can lead to more critical health problems, and the longer you wait, the more costly they are to treat.
Unfortunately, not all pet insurance providers cover the full range of pet dental care you may want in their standard accident-and-illness plans. We at the Home Media reviews team have thoroughly researched the best pet insurance companies to determine which provide the most comprehensive dental insurance. This guide outlines our top recommendations and compares their dental coverage options and costs.
Is Dental Covered Under Pet Insurance?
A pet insurance policy doesn’t guarantee your pet will have dental coverage. Though coverage varies by provider, most that offer accident-and-illness coverage don’t include dental coverage, routine cleanings and preventive treatments under their standard plan. You’ll likely need a premium plan or add-ons to get full pet dental insurance coverage.
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 pick for affordable plans
- Spot: Our pick for customizable coverage
- Trupanion: Our pick for flexible deductible
- Fetch: Our pick for therapy coverage
- Embrace: Our pick for savings
- Healthy Paws: Our pick for affordable unlimited coverage
- Figo: Our pick for flexible reimbursement rates
Lemonade: Our Pick for Affordable Plans
Lemonade offers multiple plans and add-ons at more affordable prices than many competitors on this list — at least $20 less per payment for dogs and $10 less for cats. You could save as much as $100 per month compared to some competitors.
Pros and Cons of Lemonade
+ Has a mobile app, website portal and vet telehealth line
+ Offers direct deposit for claim reimbursements
+ Provides coverage for dental accidents, routine dental cleanings and prescriptions
– Costs extra for dental illness coverage and preventive dental care
– Requires a long waiting period for certain events
Lemonade Dental Insurance Requirements
You’ll need to select the Preventative+ plan to receive routine dental cleanings, dental X-rays, anesthesia and teeth polishing. You’ll also need to select an add-on to cover certain dental treatments, such as gum disease and tooth extraction.
- Dental coverage requirements: Must submit medical records; pets must be 14 years old or younger; must live in a covered state*
- Coverage options: Standard accident-and-illness plan, Preventative Care plan, Preventative+ plan, add-ons
- What’s not covered: Preexisting conditions, issues that occur before the waiting period is up, bilateral conditions, preventable conditions, experimental treatments
- To learn more: Lemonade Pet Insurance review
*Unavailable in Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Spot: Our Pick for Customizable Coverage
Spot’s plans allow you to customize your coverage according to your budget and priorities. Its annual limit options are more flexible than competitors, ranging from $2,500 to unlimited. Spot also insures older dogs and cats, whereas some providers don’t cover pets after a certain age.
Pros and Cons of Spot
+ Has no upper age limit for pets
+ Offers a multi-pet discount of 10{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac}
+ Provides a low deductible ($100)
– Requires a waiting period for accident coverage (14 days)
– Costs extra for routine dental cleanings
Spot Dental Insurance Requirements
Spot’s standard accident-and-illness plan covers dental accidents and illnesses. You’ll need to add a preventive plan to receive coverage for things like routine dental cleanings. Spot’s Gold plan allots $100 for dental cleanings per year, while the Platinum plan offers $150 per year.
- Dental coverage requirements: Must submit medical records; pets must be at least 8 weeks old
- Coverage options: Standard accident-and-illness plan, Gold Preventive Care plan, Platinum Preventive Care plan
- What’s not covered: Preexisting conditions, boarding and daycare, elective or cosmetic procedures, supplements and vitamins, any illness or injury resulting from intentional or negligent actions
To learn more: Spot Pet Insurance review
Trupanion: Our Pick for Flexible Deductible
Trupanion offers unlimited coverage caps and a range of deductibles from $0 to $1,000. The company also applies its deductibles per condition instead of per year, meaning you won’t have to meet your deductible multiple times for the same condition.
Pros and Cons of Trupanion
+ Allows you to pay your vet directly
+ Doesn’t have a lengthy waiting period for many conditions
+ Offers deductible options to work with your budget
– Excludes exam fees
– Has no routine dental coverage
Trupanion Dental Insurance Requirements
One drawback to Trupanion is that it doesn’t offer routine dental care. This is because it sees this as an expected expense, not one you need insurance to help cover, as with serious conditions and procedures. However, it still covers dental accidents and illnesses under its standard plan.
- Dental coverage requirements: Must submit medical records; pets must be 13 or younger
- Coverage options: Standard accident-and-illness plan
- What’s not covered: Preexisting conditions, vaccinations, routine checkups and dental cleanings, accident-and-illness vet exam fees, sales tax
To learn more: Trupanion Pet Insurance review
Fetch: Our Pick for Therapy Coverage
Fetch by The Dodo covers several common pet dental needs in its standard plan, including periodontal disease, oral tumors and dental trauma. The company stands out from competitors for its coverage of holistic treatments and behavioral needs. If your pet is stressed out about dental pain or procedures, the company offers acupuncture, homeotherapy and therapies to address anxiety.
Pros and Cons of Fetch
+ Covers dental injuries and illnesses, including periodontal disease and oral tumors
+ Offers an unlimited annual coverage cap option
+ Includes laser therapy, acupuncture, hydrotherapy and homeopathy
– Costs increase for older pets
– Offers no preventive dental coverage
Fetch Dental Insurance Requirements
Fetch is distinct from competitors in that it covers all of your pet’s adult teeth, not just its canine teeth. The standard plan covers dental illnesses and injuries, including reimbursement for gum disease care, prescription medications and supplements, emergency vet visits, surgeries and X-rays. Fetch also allows you to see specialists if needed.
- Dental coverage requirements: Must submit medical records
- Coverage options: Standard accident-and-illness plan
- What’s not covered: Preexisting conditions, routine dental cleanings and preventive care, prescription food, any issues before the waiting period is up, claims filed more than 90 days after treatment
To learn more: Fetch Pet Insurance review
Embrace: Our Pick for Savings
Embrace provides multiple discounts, including a 10{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} discount for each additional pet policy you purchase, a 5{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} military discount and a 10{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} employee discount if your employer offers Embrace. The company covers up to $1,000 yearly for dental illness treatments with no dental exam required.
Embrace also offers a range of options for annual coverage, reimbursement and deductibles. The provider reduces your deductible by $50 each year you don’t file a claim.
Pros and Cons of Embrace
+ Covers dental illnesses and procedures in the standard plan
+ Covers some preexisting conditions if no symptoms have presented for 12 months
+ Offers discounts and reduces your deductible $50 each year you don’t file a claim
– Excludes supplement and prescription food coverage
– Has a $650 annual limit for wellness benefits
Embrace Dental Insurance Requirements
Dental accidents and illnesses are covered under the standard plan. That includes tooth repair, extractions and treatment up to $1,000 per policy year for dental diseases.
- Dental coverage requirements: Must submit medical records; pets must be 14 and under for accident-related coverage
- Coverage options: Standard accident-and-illness plan
- What’s not covered: Preexisting conditions in the last 12 months, deliberate injury or illness due to neglect, cosmetic procedures, routine care
To learn more: Embrace Pet Insurance review
Healthy Paws: Our Pick for Affordable Unlimited Coverage
Healthy Paws provides unlimited per-accident annual and lifetime coverage. This means you won’t have to worry about hitting your coverage limit and paying out of pocket when your pet needs an expensive treatment. You also don’t have to pay a high rate for this benefit; Healthy Paws’ monthly rate is mid-range compared to other providers on the list.
Pros and Cons of Healthy Paws
+ Has unlimited annual and lifetime coverage
+ Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee with each plan
+ Pays your vet directly
– Excludes wellness and preventive dental care
– Increases costs for older pets
Healthy Paws Dental Insurance Requirements
Healthy Paws covers dental needs related to accidents and injuries, such as tooth reconstruction and extraction.
- Dental coverage requirements: Must submit medical records; pets 5 years old and under must have had a vet exam within 12 months before or within first 15 days of policy; pets 6 years old and over must have had a vet exam within 30 days before or within first 15 days of policy
- Coverage options: Standard accident-and-illness plan
- What’s not covered: Preexisting conditions, exam fees, elective procedures, boarding fees, routine dental cleanings, parasite control, vaccinations
To learn more: Healthy Paws Pet Insurance review
Figo: Most Flexible Reimbursement Rates
Figo’s flexible reimbursement rates make it attractive to pet owners. While most pet insurance providers only reimburse you up to 90{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} of each vet bill, Figo offers a 100{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} reimbursement option. The company also provides unlimited annual benefits and doesn’t cap payments by condition type.
Pros and Cons of Figo
+ Allows uncapped claim payments by condition type
+ Closes most claims within 2.6 business days
+ Provides free, 24/7 access to a licensed veterinarian
– Excludes preventive dental coverage and exam fees in the standard plan
– Requires pets to be a minimum of 8 weeks old to be covered
Figo Dental Insurance Requirements
Figo’s standard plan covers dental illnesses and injuries. You can select add-ons to gain further coverage. The Wellness add-on provides money back for exams, vaccines and other routine care. The Vet Exam add-on provides coverage for exam or consultation fees associated with the diagnosis and treatment of your pet beyond preventive care.
- Dental coverage requirements: Must submit medical records, pets must be a minimum of 8 weeks old
- Coverage options: Standard accident-and-illness plan, add-ons for wellness coverage and vet exam fee coverage
- What’s not covered: Preexisting conditions, experimental procedures, cosmetic surgery, routine dental cleanings and preventive care in standard plan
Is Pet Dental Insurance Worth It?
Most pets require dental care in their lifetime. Without it, your pet can experience a range of dental problems, such as infections, plaque buildup, periodontal disease, gingivitis and other painful issues that make it difficult to eat or be at peace. Since many dental treatments require anesthesia, addressing dental problems can become expensive.
The right pet insurance plan and deductible can significantly reduce the amount you pay out of pocket for dental care and treatment. Some providers also cover preventive care that reduces your pet’s risk of developing more painful and costly issues. Aside from the financial benefit, having pet dental insurance ensures your pet gets the care it deserves and stays healthier for longer.
Does Pet Dental Insurance Have Any Waiting Periods?
Though most pet dental insurance policies go into effect the day after enrollment, there are waiting periods to file a claim for certain conditions. This waiting period varies by provider. Some conditions have a waiting period of just a couple of days, while others require several months. Here’s how the providers in this article compare:
- Lemonade: Two days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses
- Spot: General 14-day wait
- Trupanion: Five days for injuries, 30 days for illnesses
- Fetch: General 15-day wait
- Embrace: Two days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses
- Healthy Paws: General 15-day wait
- Figo: One day for accidents and injuries, 14 days for illnesses
Is Dental Work Covered as a Preexisting Condition?
Most pet insurance providers won’t cover any preexisting 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 preexisting conditions.
- Lemonade: Excludes coverage for all illnesses and injuries that occur before wait 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
See our top picks for pet insurance with preexisting 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Dental Insurance
Methodology: Our System for Ranking the Best Pet Insurance Companies
Our review of pet insurance companies is based on in-depth industry research that includes reading hundreds of customer reviews, simulating the quote and purchasing process, speaking to representatives on the phone to assess the customer service experience and surveying 1,000 dog and cat owners nationwide to determine the most important elements of pet insurance coverage.
We have scored each provider on a 100-point scale based on those elements. We then divided the points earned for each provider’s final score on a 5-point scale.
Here are more details about each factor and how they’re weighted:
- Monthly pricing (25 points): How much each company charges for its pet insurance plans is an important part of a customer’s decision. The best pet insurance companies combine comprehensive coverage and plan options with affordable rates.
- Plans (15 points): The top pet insurance companies offer accident-and-illness plans, accident-only plans and wellness or preventive care add-ons to give customers the option to choose a plan that’s best for their pet.
- Covered treatments (15 points): With this factor, we scored companies based on the treatments and procedures they cover. Companies with a breadth of included treatments and unique coverages received more points than providers with more standard or general policies.
- Customization options (10 points): Customizing your policy is a valuable way to ensure you only pay for what your pet needs. Providers with more annual-limit, deductible and reimbursement-rate options earned the highest scores.
- Customer care (10 points): We scored companies on their website accessibility and overall usability, customer service availability, mobile apps (if any), money-back guarantees and veterinarian telehealth options, awarding points to the insurers with more customer experience offerings.
- Industry reputation (10 points): To determine each company’s industry reputation, we reviewed up-to-date ratings and accreditation information from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and scored companies on their years of experience in the industry and their state availability.
- Waiting periods (10 points): Companies with shorter accident, illness and orthopedic waiting periods between the sign-up and coverage start date scored higher than companies with longer waiting periods.
- Eligible age (5 points): Some companies don’t offer policies for pets that are over a certain age. We deducted points from providers that have age limits for covered pets.
We use our rating system to compare and contrast each company against key factors to help us determine the best pet insurance companies in the industry. Additionally, we keep our research up to date and revisit our reviews on a regular basis.