Does Pet Insurance Cover Teeth Cleaning and Dental?

Updated: November 19, 2025

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Key Takeaways
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Pet insurance coverage may include dental treatments if they're related to covered accidents or illnesses. Teeth cleanings require an optional wellness plan to your base policy.

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Major pet insurance companies like ASPCA, MetLife and Pumpkin offer both dental coverage in their standard policies and teeth cleanings in their wellness plans.

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To determine if you need teeth cleaning and dental coverage, assess your pet's age-related dental risk, consider breed vulnerabilities and evaluate your location’s dental care costs.

How Does Pet Insurance Work for Teeth Cleaning and Dental?

Pet insurance provides financial protection for your furry friend's dental care by reimbursing you for covered treatments after you pay the vet bill upfront. You'll pay your deductible first (deductibles don't usually apply to wellness coverage), then your insurer reimburses the remaining eligible costs based on your chosen reimbursement rate.

Most policies pay for necessary dental procedures like tooth extractions and treatment for dental diseases as long as they're not pre-existing conditions. Routine cleanings require additional coverage since they're considered preventive care.

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What Covers Teeth Cleaning and Dental?

Coverage for your pet's dental needs depends on whether the treatment addresses an accident, illness or routine maintenance. Here's how each type of pet insurance handles dental care.

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    Accident-only plan

    This basic policy covers dental injuries from accidents like broken teeth from chewing hard objects or trauma from falls but doesn't cover dental diseases like periodontal disease or infections that develop over time.

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    Accident and illness policy

    This comprehensive plan covers both dental accidents and dental diseases that aren't pre-existing conditions. Accident and illness policies pay for tooth extractions due to severe decay, treatment for periodontal disease and oral surgeries for tumors or infections.

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    Wellness plan

    This optional add-on coverage focuses on preventive care, including teeth cleanings. While these plans have no waiting periods, they impose annual benefit limits and may not cover the full cost of treatments. You'll need to combine this with an accident and illness plan for complete financial protection.

    Wellness plans have annual limits (often $100 to $300 per year for dental cleanings) and may require you to use network providers. These plans work differently from traditional insurance as prepaid service plans.

Who Has Teeth Cleaning and Dental Coverage?

Many insurers provide dental pet insurance for teeth cleaning and dental services, as detailed in the table below.

Yes, but only medically necessary extractions for permanent broken teeth due to an accident.
Yes, under DefenderPlus.
Yes, and it also covers teeth cleaning  that are prescribed to treat dental illnesses and diseases.
Yes, under Basic and Prime preventive care coverages.
Yes, up to $1,000 per policy term.
Yes, under Wellness Rewards.
Yes.
Yes, under Fetch Wellness.
Yes.
Yes, under Basic and Plus Wellness Powerups.
Yes.
No.
Yes, but only treatments related to dental injuries and accidents. You’ll need its Dental Illness add-on for treatments related to dental illness.
Yes, under Preventative+ Care package.
Yes, but only treatments for dental injuries to permanent teeth.
Yes, under Accident, Illness and Wellness coverage.
Yes.
Yes, under Preventive Care coverage.
Yes.
Yes, under Wellness Level 2 coverage.
Yes.
Yes, under BestWellness plan.
Yes, and it also covers dental cleanings secondary to illness or injury.
Yes, under Medium and High Wellness coverages.
Yes.
Yes, under Pumpkin Wellness Club.
Yes, and it also covers dental cleanings used to treat a covered illness.
No.
Yes.
Yes, under Gold and Platinum Preventive Care plans.
Yes.
No.
Yes, but it excludes surgery for dental illnesses.
Yes, under Deluxe Wagmo Wellness.

*Coverage details vary by state and individual policy terms. Pet insurance policies have waiting periods, exclusions and limitations. Always review your specific policy documents for exact coverage terms, exclusions and state-specific regulations before purchasing.

Compare the top pet insurance companies to determine the best option for your pet:

Do You Need Teeth Cleaning and Dental Coverage?

Deciding whether you need pet insurance that covers teeth cleaning and dental requires evaluating your pet's specific needs. Follow the steps below to determine if having pet insurance is worth it for your situation.

  1. 1
    Assess your pet’s dental risk

    Puppies and kittens under two years old rarely need dental treatment, making both types of coverage less valuable initially. However, Cornell University reports that 80% to 90% of dogs over age three have some component of periodontal disease, while 50% to 90% of cats older than four years suffer from some form of dental disease. 

    Senior pets over seven years old are at the highest risk for dental diseases and need regular cleanings.

  2. 2
    Consider your pet’s breed vulnerabilities

    Small dog breeds like Chihuahuas and Yorkshire Terriers are prone to dental crowding and early tooth loss, making both dental coverage and teeth cleaning add-ons valuable.

    Brachycephalic breeds (flat-faced dogs and cats) often have alignment issues that require special treatment covered under standard accident and illness policies. Large breeds usually have fewer dental problems but may need expensive oral surgeries when issues arise.

  3. 3
    Evaluate your cleaning budget and prevention habits

    Based on CareCredit's 2023 study of veterinary costs across the U.S., professional dental cleanings cost an average of $376 for dogs and $314 for cats, making wellness coverage that reimburses $100 to $200 a valuable financial cushion.

    Regular at-home dental care (brushing, dental chews) can reduce your pet's risk of dental diseases, making standard dental coverage less critical. Consider whether you'd rather get pet insurance with dental coverage and pay predictable monthly premiums or handle these expected annual costs yourself.

  4. 4
    Factor in your location’s dental care costs

    CareCredit data shows state variations, with teeth cleaning for dogs ranging from $291 in New Jersey to $503 in Idaho, while cleanings for cats range from $249 in Arizona and West Virginia to $405 in Arkansas.

    If you live in a high-cost area, teeth cleaning add-ons provide better value relative to your potential savings. Emergency dental procedures can cost $1,000 to $3,000 or higher regardless of location, making dental coverage valuable everywhere.

Costs vary based on location, pet size, procedure complexity and individual veterinary practices. These figures represent averages and your actual costs may differ.

Pet Insurance Teeth Cleaning and Dental: Bottom Line

Pet insurance covers dental care in two ways: standard policies cover accidents and illnesses, while optional wellness plans reimburse routine teeth cleanings. Insurers like ASPCA, MetLife and Pumpkin offer both options. 

Your pet's age, breed risks and local dental costs determine whether you need the best pet insurance with teeth cleaning and dental coverage.

Pet Insurance That Covers Teeth Cleaning and Dental: FAQ

We've compiled frequently asked questions about whether pet insurance covers teeth cleaning and dental care below:

Does pet insurance cover routine teeth cleaning?

What dental treatments does standard pet insurance cover?

At what age should I consider dental coverage for my pet?

Are dental cleanings covered if my pet has periodontal disease?

What's the difference between accident-only and accident and illness dental coverage?

About Mark Fitzpatrick

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Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.

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