With 15 years of immersion in the world of personal finance, Ashley Kilroy simplifies financial concepts for individuals striving toward financial security. Her expertise has been showcased in reputable publications including Rolling Stone, SmartAsse.
Ashley Kilroy Insurance WriterWith 15 years of immersion in the world of personal finance, Ashley Kilroy simplifies financial concepts for individuals striving toward financial security. Her expertise has been showcased in reputable publications including Rolling Stone, SmartAsse.
Written By Ashley Kilroy Insurance WriterWith 15 years of immersion in the world of personal finance, Ashley Kilroy simplifies financial concepts for individuals striving toward financial security. Her expertise has been showcased in reputable publications including Rolling Stone, SmartAsse.
Ashley Kilroy Insurance WriterWith 15 years of immersion in the world of personal finance, Ashley Kilroy simplifies financial concepts for individuals striving toward financial security. Her expertise has been showcased in reputable publications including Rolling Stone, SmartAsse.
Insurance Writer Michelle Megna Lead Editor, InsuranceMichelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine.
Michelle Megna Lead Editor, InsuranceMichelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine.
Michelle Megna Lead Editor, InsuranceMichelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine.
Michelle Megna Lead Editor, InsuranceMichelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine.
| Lead Editor, Insurance
Updated: Feb 1, 2024, 12:36pm
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Maintaining your pet’s pearly whites is essential for their overall health. Inadequate dental care can cause issues such as periodontal (gum) disease or lead to severe health problems and excruciating pain, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Pet insurance policies often cover costs resulting from a pet’s dental issues, but not all do, so make sure you look at dental benefits when comparing plans.
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Dental coverage can be found within pet medical insurance policies. Coverage varies by insurer, but there are typically two pet dental coverage categories: dental accidents and dental illnesses. Pet insurance companies may cover both dental accidents and illness and provide reimbursement for dental problems, such as:
Make sure to look at the policy’s rules for dental accidents and illnesses. There can be major variations to what the dental insurance portion may cover. Here are a few examples:
Here are common dental exclusions found in pet insurance:
The average cost of pet dental treatment for periodontal disease is $1,050, according to claims data from Spot pet insurance. Periodontal disease accounts for more than half (58%) of Spot’s pet dental claims. The average cost to treat a fractured tooth is $950 and the average cost to treat gingivitis is $770, which account for 16% and 5% of Spot’s pet dental claims, respectively.
Pet insurance companies that cover dental accidents and dental illnesses within their pet insurance policies include:
You can save on pet dental care by shopping around, making sure you use preventive services and finding the right plan for you. Here are ways to keep down a pet’s dental care.
Pet insurance policies vary, so you want to make sure you’re reading the fine print to find the right plan for you. That includes understanding what an insurance policy covers.
Once you figure out if pet insurance is worth it in your situation, decide what you want from a pet insurance policy. Do you want a lower-cost policy that only covers preventive care? Do you want one that only covers accidents? Or would you rather have one that helps out with both illnesses and accidents?
Once you figure that out, you can narrow your choices and find the pet insurance plan that works best for you. A good place to start is the best cheap pet insurance companies.
Many pets show early signs of periodontal disease once they reach age 3, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. As they age, it’s essential to take preventative measures so dental conditions don’t worsen or end up affecting their kidney or liver functions.
“While many dental specialists commonly recommend an annual dental cleaning, consult with your vet and see if they will conduct a dental assessment instead. This way, you and your vet can review best practices for taking care of your pet’s dental health such as brushing or chews and assess if a cleaning or X-ray is warranted due to the condition of your pet’s teeth,” says Dr. Shawna Garner, chief veterinary officer at GuardianVets.
Adding a wellness plan to a pet insurance policy will increase the cost but can offset the expense of dental cleanings (averaging from a few hundred dollars to over $1,000, depending on your location).
CareCredit offers a credit card that you can use for routine vet appointments, emergency pet care and many surgeries and treatments. You can also save 5% on a Pets Best policy if you have a CareCredit card.
Not all vets accept CareCredit, so make sure your provider accepts the card before signing up.
Every pet insurance plan has a deductible and a co-insurance percentage that you must pay. Setting money aside when possible can make your veterinarian bills more manageable.
Compare 10+ Leading Pet Insurers In Minutes
All pet insurance companies have a waiting period, which is the specified period of time before your coverage kicks in. Many pet insurers have separate waiting times for accidents and illnesses. For example, Pets Best pet insurance has a 3-day waiting period for dental accidents such as a broken tooth and a 14-day waiting period for illnesses such as gingivitis.
A good way to determine if pet dental insurance is worth it is to consider how a major veterinary dental bill would impact your personal finances versus the yearly cost of a pet insurance policy. For example, a tooth extraction for a dog could cost anywhere between $150 to $1,500 per tooth. Without pet dental insurance, you would have to pay this amount out of pocket.
Broken down further:
Compare 10+ Leading Pet Insurers In Minutes
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Get a Free Quote From Top Pet Insurance Companies Helping You Make Smart Insurance DecisionsGet Forbes Advisor’s ratings of the best insurance companies and helpful information on how to find the best travel, auto, home, health, life, pet, and small business coverage for your needs.
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Pet insurance typically does not cover pre-existing conditions, so if your pet had a dental illness before you bought coverage or develops an issue during the waiting period, it won’t be covered. For example, if your dog has gingivitis before you buy a policy, you’ll have to pay out of pocket for treatment. Some pet insurance companies cover pre-existing conditions if they are considered curable. For example, Embrace pet insurance will cover curable pre-existing conditions as long as the recurrence is at least 12 months from the date of the last problem.
Teeth cleaning for a dog can cost between $170 to $350 when done by a general practitioner veterinarian. That price could be much higher if the procedure is performed by a board-certified veterinary dentist. The cost of cleaning varies depending on the dog’s overall health and the extent of the procedure, including whether your dog needs X-rays or any other tests before cleaning. Teeth cleaning for a cat can cost between a few hundred dollars to more than $2,000. These costs are influenced by who performs the procedure, such as a general practitioner or a board-certified veterinary dentist. The cost is also influenced by the overall health of your cat and the extent of the procedure, including X-rays and tests performed prior to the teeth cleaning.
Pet insurance companies will reimburse you for bills from any licensed veterinarian in the U.S. That typically includes emergency care clinics and specialists. Some pet insurers may require you to submit your pet’s medical records or have an exam to determine if your pet has any pre-existing conditions, including dental problems.
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Insurance WriterWith 15 years of immersion in the world of personal finance, Ashley Kilroy simplifies financial concepts for individuals striving toward financial security. Her expertise has been showcased in reputable publications including Rolling Stone, SmartAsset and Money Talks News. She's committed to equipping readers with the knowledge needed to achieve their financial goals.
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