Best Pet Insurance for Dental Care

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As a pet owner, you know that your furry friend is a member of the family. You want to give them the best care possible, which includes regular dental checkups and teeth cleaning. However, vet bills can be expensive, and dental care is often not covered by traditional pet insurance plans. To help you find the right plan for your pet, we've compiled a list of the best pet insurance companies for dental care.

Best for unlimited dental coverage and direct payments to the vetTrupanion

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.

4.00/5

Bottom Line

Most pet insurance companies work on a reimbursement basis. Pet owners will have to pay the vet bill out of pocket and wait to get reimbursed from the pet insurance company. Trupanion pays the veterinarian directly, which means pet owners pay less out of pocket. Trupanion's software technology allows the veterinarian to file the claim in-office. Pet owners do not have to submit claims themselves and wait for approval and disbursement. They just need to pay their portion of the vet bill and Trupanion deals directly with the vet. Trupanion states that it can work with every vet hospital across North America.

Trupanion covers veterinary treatment required due to dental illness and injury. Trupanion will also cover dental illnesses as long as your pet receives a dental exam every 12 months. Routine dental care is not covered. Trupanion has no payout caps or limits, and unlike many other pet insurers, it does not automatically increase premiums every year due to the aging of the pet. Trupanion also has flexible deductibles and hundreds of pricing options, including a $0 deductible.

Best for fast claims processingLemonade

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.

4.00/5

Read Review

Bottom Line

Lemonade is a pet insurance company that uses AI to process claims quickly through its digital app. Lemonade can cover pet owners in seconds and states that claims will be approved in minutes. The insurer also offers renters, homeowners, and car insurance. Lemonade Pet offers a dental illness add-on to its policies. The dental illness add-on can help cover the cost of dental treatments, procedures, diagnostics, and medications related to dental illness. This includes: crowns, extractions, root canals, dental surgeries, and treatments for gum disease like gingivitis and periodontal disease.

There is a $1,000 annual limit and is subject to your base policy's coinsurance and annual deductible. Lemonade recommends this coverage for dogs under five and cats under three. Lemonade's dental coverage does not cover anything related to a pre-existing dental condition, orthodontics, preventive items (like your dog's toothbrush and toothpaste), and routine dental cleaning -- but routine cleaning could be covered by Lemonade's Preventative+ package.

Read our Lemonade review

Best for customizable coverage choicesSpot

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.

4.00/5

Bottom Line

Spot pet insurance offers customizable options for dog and cat owners. Many pet insurance companies offer a limited selection of coverage options, but Spot allows pet owners to choose tailored pet policies, the reimbursement percentage they want, the annual limit, as well as the annual deductible. Spot offers an unlimited annual limit with no cap on the annual claim limit after the deductible is met.

Spot dog insurance and cat insurance plans cover dental illness and treatment for tooth extraction caused by accidents. You can opt for its add-on preventive care plan to get reimbursed for routine dental cleanings. Spot's preventive care plans give an allotted amount of money for dental cleanings that you can get reimbursed up to each year (there's no reimbursement percent). With the Gold Plan, you get $100 for dental cleanings each year. With the Platinum Plan, you can use up to $150 on dental cleanings for your dog or cat.

Best for diminishing deductibles and short waiting periodsEmbrace

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.

5.00/5

Bottom Line

Embrace has a feature called the "Healthy Pet Deductible." For every year a pet owner doesn't receive a claim reimbursement, the deductible is reduced the next year by $50. This means if you have a $200 deductible and do not have a claim for four years, then your deductible will be $0. Once you submit a claim, the Healthy Pet Deductible resets. Many pet insurance companies have waiting periods from 14 to 30 days before coverage kicks in. Waiting periods for Embrace are just two days for accidents and 14 days for illnesses.

Embrace policies cover treatment related to new dental accidents and illnesses that affect the teeth and/or gums. Coverage includes, but is not limited to: broken, chipped, and fractured teeth; extractions; gingivitis; root canals and crowns; stomatitis; and periodontal disease. Dental accidents are covered up to your policy limit and dental illnesses are covered up to $1,000 per policy year. Routine dental care, such as teeth cleaning, is not included in Embrace's accident and illness coverage. However, these procedures can be reimbursed by its routine care plan, Wellness Rewards, which can be added to your policy.

Best for one comprehensive planHealthy Paws

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.

4.00/5

Bottom Line

Healthy Paws offers a single pet insurance plan that covers new accidents and illnesses, including injuries, cancer, genetic conditions, alternative, and emergency care. Unlike some pet insurance plans, the Healthy Paws plan has no maximum limits on payouts. This means no per incident, annual, or lifetime caps. Healthy Paws doesn't require claim forms. Pet owners need to just take a photo of their vet bill and submit it through the mobile app or the online Healthy Paws customer center.

When it comes to dental issues, the Healthy Paws plan includes insurance for the extraction and/or reconstruction of damaged teeth if the teeth were injured by an accident, as long as the injury is not pre-existing to policy coverage. Examples of dental claims that may be eligible for coverage include the extraction or reconstruction of a tooth that was fractured or broken when your pet was chewing on a bone, biting a fence, or involved in an accident. Routine dental care, such as the professional cleanings described above, is considered preventive and is not covered.

What is dental care?

Dental care is one of the most important things you can do for your pet's health. Regular checkups and cleanings can help keep your pet's teeth and gums healthy, and prevent serious problems from developing. If not properly treated, your pet can experience severe pain, making it difficult to eat, sleep, and play. In addition, the longer you wait, the more expensive it may be to treat your pet for any dental problems.

Dental care is offered in conjunction with your pet's traditional insurance plan. In most cases, owners pay a monthly fee toward their annual premium and receive reimbursement for certain percentages of upfront dental costs paid out of pocket after meeting the deductible. Not all pet insurance policies cover dental treatments, so it's important to carefully compare details between policies to find what works best for you and your pet.

What is covered under dental care?

Dental coverage varies greatly based on the pet insurer. Some do not offer dental coverage at all. Some will only cover dental accidents. Some pet insurance policies do cover routine dental care, including examinations, cleanings, and X-rays, but only as part of their routine care plan. There are three general types of dental coverage:

Dental injury: These are injuries such as broken, chipped, or fractured teeth.
Dental illness: Some illnesses can impact your pet's teeth, such as periodontal disease, gingivitis, and stomatitis. There are a few policies that cover extensive treatment, such as root canals, extractions, and crowns.
Routine dental care: This includes preventive care such as teeth cleaning, toothbrushes, and dental check-ups. These services are typically an add-on to your existing plan.

A routine care plan will increase the cost of your plan, but it may be worth it since it can offset the cost of dental cleanings and keep your pet's teeth healthier. Each pet insurance policy offers different dental care coverages and has certain requirements you must meet. For example, some insurers require you to submit records with your claim showing that a teeth cleaning was completed in the previous year under general anesthesia for dental coverage.

What is not covered under dental care?

While every policy is different, most do not cover pre-existing dental conditions. They also do not typically include routine dental care such as teeth cleaning, toothbrushes, and dental foods. Many pet insurance providers offer supplemental pet wellness or routine dental care plans that can reimburse you for your pet's dental cleaning costs.

Generally, anything that results from inadequate dental care is not covered. Also any dental care that is considered cosmetic is not covered unless it is considered medically necessary. Most pet insurance companies also have a limit on dental coverage. That's why it's important to find a pet insurance plan that offers the type of dental coverage you need.

How much does dental care cost?

The cost to get your dog's teeth cleaned can range from $300 to $700. Dental procedures such as extractions can run thousands of dollars. Some pet insurance companies cover dental care under their comprehensive or accident and illness plans. On average, the monthly cost for comprehensive insurance is $30 for cats and $50 for dogs.

Routine dental care typically costs $20-$25 per month as a standalone plan. Some pet insurance policies either offer it as part of a standard policy or it can be added on to a plan for an additional fee. Not all plans are the same, so it is important to read and compare the policies carefully.

Is dental care for pets worth it?

Dental care can be expensive, but it is worth taking care of all aspects of your pet's health. There is no doubt that pets are an important part of many people's lives. Not only do they bring us companionship and joy, but they can also act as an important support system in difficult times. Oral health is an important part of their health. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of oral disease by age three.

Many veterinary dentists believe that oral health problems in pets can be linked to behavioral problems like chewing and anxiety, making good oral hygiene even more crucial to both pets and their human companions alike. Regular dental care for pets also has numerous benefits that go far beyond reducing plaque and tartar buildup on their teeth. Maintaining healthy gums and teeth can have a positive impact on a pet's overall wellbeing by preventing infection and minimizing systemic issues like heart disease and diabetes.

Take care of your pet's teeth

When it comes to taking care of your pet's teeth, there are a few key things you should keep in mind. Practicing preventive care for your pet will keep dental issues at bay or stop any problems from getting worse. Provide your pet with a high-quality diet that is full of essential nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. Feeding your pet a healthy and well-balanced diet on a regular basis will help to keep their teeth and gums strong and healthy.

In addition, you should make sure that you are regularly cleaning your pet's teeth. This can be done by brushing them with a special pet toothbrush and toothpaste or simply by giving your pets chew toys or treats that double as oral care tools. Staying on top of these basic steps will help to keep your pet's teeth nice and clean, ensuring optimal oral health for years to come.

It is understandable that many pet owners want to take the best possible care of their furry friends. And for many people, this means investing in regular dental care for their pets. Giving our beloved pets regular dental care can have major positive impacts on their health and happiness, so to many pet owners, investing in their oral health really seems like a small price to pay. Remember, it's important to find a pet insurance plan that fits both your needs and budget. And be sure to read the fine print, so you understand what is and isn't covered by your policy.

To recap, the best pet insurance for dental care for 2024:

The Picks
Offer	Best For	Next Steps
Trupanion Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars. 4.00/5 Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.	Great For: Best for unlimited dental coverage and direct payments to the vet
Lemonade Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars. 4.00/5 Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.	Great For: Best for fast claims processing	Read Review
Spot Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars. 4.00/5 Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.	Great For: Best for customizable coverage choices
Embrace Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00/5 Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.	Great For: Best for diminishing deductibles and short waiting periods
Healthy Paws Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars. 4.00/5 Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.	Great For: Best for one comprehensive plan