Does pet insurance cover dental care for dogs and cats?
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Wondering if pet insurance covers dental care for dogs and cats? Learn how different insurance plans may handle cleanings, extractions, gum disease and more.
You may have heard many times that brushing your teeth, flossing and visiting the dentist regularly is important to help keep your teeth healthy. Otherwise, you may run into painful issues like cavities, infections and gum disease. Well, the same goes for our pets.
Since you may have dental insurance yourself, you might be wondering: does pet insurance cover dental care? While most pet insurance plans don’t offer standalone dental coverage, it’s sometimes included for conditions related to illnesses and injuries.
Let’s dig into how dental care works while you shop for pet insurance.
Tips for finding pet insurance that may cover dental care
Not all pet insurance providers cover dental care, so it’s important to know what to look for. Pet dental coverage typically falls into three categories:
- Comprehensive plans (like Trupanion!) help cover dental accidents and illnesses including things like gum disease, infections and broken teeth.
- Accident-only plans cover dental problems caused by accidents (like a broken tooth), but not dental diseases or illnesses.
- Wellness plans or add-ons typically cover things like dental cleanings and exams to help maintain your pet’s dental health.
When comparing plans, confirm you know which types of dental care are included — and which ones aren’t.
Does pet insurance cover dental cleanings?
Pets don’t have thumbs, so brushing their own teeth is off the table. That means it’s up to us to help keep their mouths healthy. From providing dental treats to scheduling regular checkups, staying on top of your pet’s oral health can help prevent bigger (and more expensive) problems down the road.
While some providers offer wellness plans or add-ons that help cover dental checkups and annual cleanings, this kind of coverage may fall short when it comes to more serious issues. A single tooth extraction can cost up to $2,500! If you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck, comprehensive dental coverage may help with a range of issues, from broken teeth to periodontal disease.
Common dental conditions covered by pet insurance
Wellness plans might help cover things like cleanings and checkups, but they won’t typically help with bigger, more expensive problems. That’s where a comprehensive pet insurance plan like Trupanion may make a difference.
Here are some common dental conditions covered by Trupanion:
- Periodontal disease
- Tooth abscesses or infections
- Tooth extractions
- Tooth resorption
- Tooth fractures
- Advanced dentistry (like root canals and crowns)
- Oral tumors or growths
Things to consider when choosing pet dental coverage
Dental coverage can be a valuable addition to your pet insurance plan, but before you commit, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Coverage limits — some plans cap how much they’ll pay for dental treatments each year or only cover specific conditions. Look for plans like Trupanion with no limits if you want potentially broader protection.
- Waiting periods — many plans have a waiting period before dental coverage kicks in, especially for dental disease. Be sure to read the fine print so you’re not caught off guard.
- Routine care requirements — providers sometimes require you to keep up with routine dental care to maintain coverage. Skipping routine care might lead to denied claims later.
What’s typically not included in pet dental coverage
Even if your pet insurance plan covers dental care, there are still a few things it probably won’t cover. Here are some common exclusions to watch out for:
- Pre-existing conditions — if your pet already has dental disease or other oral health issues (such as tartar buildup) before your coverage starts, treatment likely won’t be covered. The sooner you buy pet insurance, the more they might be better protected against.
- Cosmetic procedures — things like tooth whitening or orthodontics (yep, even for pets!) are typically considered cosmetic and generally not covered.
- Wellness care — cleanings, exams and other wellness services are usually only covered if you’ve added wellness or routine care to your plan.
- Neglect or lack of routine care — regular dental care is part of being a responsible pet parent. If your provider requires proof of regular dental care and you haven’t kept up with it, claims may be denied.
Pet insurance products are underwritten in the United States by American Pet Insurance Company and ZPIC Insurance Company, 6100-4th Ave. S, Seattle, WA 98108. Administered by Trupanion Managers USA, Inc. (CA license No. 0G22803, NPN 9588590). Terms and conditions apply, see full policy on Trupanion's website for details.
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates, neither offer nor are financially responsible for pet insurance products. State Farm is a separate entity and is not affiliated with Trupanion or American Pet Insurance.
The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with State Farm® (including State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates). While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. State Farm is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the content of any third-party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. State Farm makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.
