Updated April 2026
Does Pet Insurance Cover Dog Dental Cleaning?
Most standard policies do not cover routine cleaning. But dental illness and extractions often are covered. Here is exactly what each insurer offers.
Quick Answer
Routine Cleaning
Not Covered
by standard policies
Dental Illness
Covered
by most illness policies
Dental Accident
Covered
by most policies
Understanding Dental Coverage Types
Routine / Wellness Dental
Annual professional cleaning for preventive maintenance. Not covered by standard policies. Available through wellness add-ons from Embrace, Nationwide, Lemonade, ASPCA, and Spot for an additional $15 to $35/month.
Dental Illness
Treatment for periodontal disease, tooth root abscesses, stomatitis, and extractions caused by disease. Covered by most accident and illness policies. This is where the real savings are, as extractions from disease are the most expensive component of dental care.
Dental Accident
Treatment for teeth broken from trauma (hit by car, fall, chewing accident). Covered by virtually all accident and illness policies. Includes emergency extraction and repair.
Insurer-by-Insurer Dental Coverage
| Insurer | Routine | Illness | Accident | Wellness Add-On |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trupanion | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Embrace | No | Yes | Yes | Available |
| Healthy Paws | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Nationwide (Whole Pet) | No | Yes | Yes | Available |
| Lemonade Pet | No | Yes | Yes | Available |
| ASPCA Pet Insurance | No | Yes | Yes | Available |
| MetLife Pet | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Spot Pet Insurance | No | Yes | Yes | Available |
| Fetch (formerly Petplan) | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Trupanion: Covers dental illness including extractions. No wellness add-on. 90% reimbursement, no payout limits.
Embrace: Dental illness covered. Wellness Rewards add-on ($15-$30/mo) covers routine cleaning up to scheduled amount.
Healthy Paws: Covers dental illness. No wellness plan. Known for fast claims. No annual or lifetime limits.
Nationwide (Whole Pet): Whole Pet with Wellness plan covers routine cleaning. Standard plans cover illness only.
Lemonade Pet: Dental illness covered. Wellness add-on available for routine cleaning. Preventive dental package.
ASPCA Pet Insurance: Complete Coverage plan covers dental illness. Preventive Care add-on available for routine cleaning.
MetLife Pet: Covers dental illness and accident. No wellness add-on. 70/80/90/100% reimbursement options.
Spot Pet Insurance: Dental illness covered. Preventive Care add-on includes dental cleaning allowance.
Fetch (formerly Petplan): Covers dental illness including periodontal disease. No wellness add-on.
Pre-Existing Condition Rules
This is the single most important thing to understand about pet dental insurance. Every insurer excludes pre-existing conditions. For dental coverage, this means:
- If your dog has been diagnosed with periodontal disease, gingivitis, or any dental condition before you purchased the policy, all related treatment is excluded forever.
- Even a vet noting "mild tartar" in your dog's records could be used to deny a dental illness claim later.
- The best time to buy dental illness coverage is when your dog is young (1 to 2 years old) and before the first dental cleaning has documented any issues.
- Most policies have a 14 to 30 day waiting period for illness coverage after purchase.
Buy coverage early. Once dental disease is on record, you cannot insure against it.
How to Maximise Insurance Value for Dental Care
- Buy young, before dental disease is documented. Age 1 is ideal. By age 3, many dogs already have documented tartar or gingivitis.
- Choose a policy with dental illness coverage. Not all policies include it. Verify explicitly before purchasing.
- Keep up with recommended cleanings. Some insurers can deny claims if you have not maintained recommended preventive care. If your vet recommends annual cleaning and you skip 3 years, a subsequent dental illness claim may be contested.
- Add a wellness plan only if you will use it. Wellness add-ons that cover routine cleaning cost $15 to $35/month ($180 to $420/year). If a cleaning costs $300 to $500, the math only works if you use other wellness benefits too.
- Understand your deductible and reimbursement rate. A $500 deductible with 80% reimbursement means you pay the first $500 plus 20% of the rest. For a $1,500 extraction procedure: you pay $500 + $200 = $700; insurance pays $800.
Financing Options
CareCredit
- Promotional 0% interest for 6 to 24 months
- Deferred interest (not true 0%)
- Standard APR: 26.99% to 29.99%
- Accepted at most veterinary practices
- Apply online, instant approval
Scratchpay
- Multiple plan options per application
- Some true 0% interest plans available
- Lower APR on standard plans than CareCredit
- Growing network of vet practices
- Soft credit check, no impact on score
Reminder: Financing makes sense for unexpected emergency dental work. For planned routine cleanings, a monthly dental savings fund ($30 to $50/month) avoids interest charges entirely. See our saving strategies guide.
Is Dental Insurance Worth It? The Math
Small Breed (Yorkie)
- Premium: $50/mo x 12 years = $7,200
- Expected dental illness claims: $8,000 - $12,000
- Verdict: Worth it
Medium Breed (Beagle)
- Premium: $40/mo x 12 years = $5,760
- Expected dental illness claims: $2,000 - $5,000
- Verdict: Break-even
Large Breed (Lab)
- Premium: $45/mo x 10 years = $5,400
- Expected dental illness claims: $1,000 - $3,000
- Verdict: Not worth it for dental alone
These calculations are for dental coverage value only. Pet insurance also covers injuries, illnesses, surgeries, and emergencies beyond dental care. Many owners find the overall policy worth the premium even if dental savings alone do not justify the cost.