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Taking good care of your pet's teeth now can help prevent costly health problems later. Pet insurance can protect you from unforeseen vet bills, and some policies cover eligible dental work. However, what kind of dental treatment is covered can vary depending on the type of pet insurance you choose.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Dental Work?
Standard pet insurance covers accidents and illnesses but doesn't pay for routine care such as dental cleanings. When you purchase pet insurance, you can generally opt for accident and illness coverage or accident-only coverage. Accident insurance typically covers dental issues such as a broken tooth from eating rocks or a lost tooth from a car accident. Illness insurance generally covers dental diseases such as gingivitis and periodontal disease.
Other things to know about dental accident and illness coverage for pets:
- Pet insurance usually doesn't cover pre-existing conditions, which includes any dental problems your pet had before you purchased your policy.
- Your pet may need an annual dental exam to maintain dental accident and illness coverage.
- There may be caps on coverage for dental accidents and illness, separate from your overall policy limits.
- Dental accident and illness coverage may be limited to certain teeth.
Many pet insurance carriers sell optional pet wellness plans. These plans generally reimburse you for pet dental cleanings up to a certain dollar amount per year, such as $75 or $125. Typically, neither pet insurance nor pet wellness plans cover cosmetic, orthodontic or endodontic dental treatments, such as capping or filing teeth.
How Much Do Pet Dental Procedures Cost?
The ASPCA estimates dental care costs an average of $500 annually for dogs and $300 for cats. Prices vary depending on factors such as your location and your pet's age, breed and size, but here's what you can expect to spend on some common pet dental procedures:
| Average Cost for Common Pet Dental Procedures | |
|---|---|
| Dental Procedure | Average Cost |
| Dental cleaning with anesthesia | $450-$1,000 |
| Dental extraction | $500-$3,000 |
| Root canal | $1,000-$3,000 per tooth |
| Dental X-rays | $150-$1,000 |
| Gingivitis | $300-$700 |
| Periodontal disease | $400-$1,000 |
| Tooth fractures | $200-$500 |
| Abscessed teeth | $200-$500 |
Sources: Yelp, Homeuide, Embrace Pet Insurance
Ever wondered why pet dental work is so expensive? It's because treatment—even for simple dental cleanings—requires anesthesia, which can involve blood tests, chest X-rays, electrocardiograms and more. You'll often see non-anesthetic dental cleanings advertised for much lower prices. However, because these cleanings generally aren't very thorough, the American Veterinary Dental College does not recommend them.
Common Pet Dental Issues
Because animals tend to hide pain, it can be difficult to diagnose pet dental issues without a thorough dental exam. Up to 90% of dogs over the age of 3 have periodontal disease, the Cornell Canine Health Center reports. Up to 90% of cats over age 4 have some type of dental illness, according to the Cornell Feline Health Center.
The most common pet dental problems are:
- Gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums
- Periodontitis, which results from untreated gingivitis
- Tooth resorption, or the erosion of an entire tooth, typically requiring extraction
- Fractured teeth or other dental injuries, which affect an estimated 1 in 4 pets
How Much Does Pet Dental Insurance Cost?
Pet accident and illness insurance to cover your pet's dental illnesses and emergencies costs an average of $56.30 per month for dogs and $31.94 for cats, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA).
Once you have pet insurance, you can add a wellness plan, which typically covers part of the cost of dental cleanings. On average, you'll spend an additional $587.78 annually for a dog wellness plan and $242.69 for a cat wellness plan, NAPHIA reports.
However, caps for dental cleanings tend to be low, so even with a wellness plan, you'll likely pay several hundred dollars for a dental cleaning. Carefully weigh whether the potential benefits of a wellness plan outweigh the premiums, or whether you're better off saving that money for your pet's care.
| Average Premiums for Pet Insurance | ||
|---|---|---|
| Accident, Illness and Wellness Coverage | Accident and Illness Coverage | |
| Dog | Annual: $1,263.39 Monthly: $105.28 | Annual: $675.61 Monthly: $56.30 |
| Cat | Annual: $625.99 Monthly: $52.17 | Annual: $383.30 Monthly: $31.94 |
Source: North American Pet Health Insurance Association
Learn more >> How to Save Money on Pet Insurance
How to Get Pet Insurance
Your home or auto insurance company may sell pet insurance; you can also buy it from companies that specialize in pet insurance. To get pet insurance:
- Determine the coverage you want. Do you need accident-only insurance, accident and illness insurance, or a complete package including a wellness plan? Also consider health risks your pet faces due to breed conditions or habits (like eating rocks).
- Do some research. Review pet insurance websites to get a general idea of what each company offers and weed out those that don't have the coverage you want.
- Get quotes. Streamline your search by using a website that gathers quotes from multiple pet insurance providers all in one place. Be sure to get quotes for the same deductibles, reimbursement rates, types of coverage and coverage caps.
- Compare coverage and costs. Review the details of each provider's coverage, typically available in a sample policy on their website. Evaluate coverage limitations, waiting periods and exclusions. Contact the company to clarify anything you don't understand.
- Purchase a policy. Provide some basic information about your pet and pay your premium, which you can typically do monthly or annually. Consider setting up autopay to ensure your pet is protected.
Learn more >> Pet Insurance Mistakes to Avoid
The Bottom Line
Pet insurance can help keep pricey dental treatments from taking a bite out of your pet-care budget. However, pet dental coverage can vary from one insurance plan to another, so it's important to do your homework before you buy a policy.
Because pet insurance won't cover all your dental care costs, consider setting aside money for annual dental cleanings in a sinking fund. Stashing your cash in a high-yield savings account can help your money earn more—giving you more to spend on your beloved pet.