Keeping your dog’s mouth healthy isn’t just about fresher kisses. A cracked molar or simmering gum infection can send you home with a four–figure invoice—and, in severe cases, ripple into kidney or heart complications.
The stakes are climbing right alongside vet fees: the average cost for tooth extractions now sits between $500 and $4,000.
Yet most pet-insurance plans still treat dental disease as an afterthought, covering only the four visible canine teeth or excluding periodontal treatments altogether.
We combed through policy booklets, fine print, and 2026 pricing to identify the seven plans that deserve a spot on any “best pet dental insurance” shortlist.
Why Dental Coverage Matters
- Professional dental cleaning for dogs averages $388 nationally (ranging $307–$702), per the 2025 Synchrony/CareCredit national study across all 50 states — and that’s before any extractions
- Over 80% of dogs show signs of periodontal disease by age 3 — and up to 90% by some measures — making it the most prevalent oral condition in companion animals.
- In a necropsy study of 45 dogs, periodontal disease was associated with histopathologic changes in the kidneys, heart muscle, and liver
- Many pet insurers limit dental coverage to certain teeth or exclude dental disease entirely. Fetch Pet Insurance, however, covers injury and disease in every adult tooth and your pet’s gums.
If most dogs are statistically likely to develop gum disease before middle age, skipping coverage isn’t simply a gamble — it’s almost a guarantee you’ll pay out of pocket sooner or later.
How We Ranked the Seven “Best Pet Dental Insurance” Plans
- Coverage depth – injury and disease in all adult teeth and surrounding gums.
- Annual payout cap – higher limits scored better.
- Waiting periods & exclusions – shorter and fewer = higher rank.
- Cost control tools – adjustable deductibles, wellness add-ons, tele-vet credits.
- Customer sentiment – Trustpilot, BBB, and claims-processing data.
Quick-View Comparison
For detailed definitions, see the FAQ section below.
- Fetch Pet Insurance — Up to 90% back, full-mouth coverage for injuries and disease, 24/7 tele-vet access, customizable annual limits.
- Lemonade — 70–90% back; dental illness requires a paid add-on (up to $1,000/year); base policy covers dental accidents only; 2-day accident waiting period; available in 42 states.
- Pumpkin — 80% or 90% back; dental illness included in standard plan (excluding cosmetic/endodontic procedures); no upper age limit; PumpkinNow urgent-pay feature.
- Spot — 70–90% back; dental illness included in accident-and-illness plan; 14-day waiting period for all conditions; no direct vet pay; optional wellness add-on for routine cleanings.
- Trupanion — 90% back; dental illness and injuries covered; no annual or lifetime payout caps; per-condition deductible; VetDirect Pay at partner clinics; annual vet dental exam required to maintain dental coverage.
- Embrace — 70–90% back; $1,000/year dental illness sub-limit; Healthy Pet Premium Discount for low-claim years; optional Wellness Rewards ($300–$700/year allowance) for routine care.
- Figo — 70–100% back (100% not available with unlimited annual limit); dental illness included in base plan for pets without prior periodontal disease history; 1-day accident waiting period; no direct vet pay; 24/7 Live Vet via app.
Deep Dives—The Best Pet Dental Insurance
1. FetchPet Insurance (Editor’s Pick for Comprehensive Coverage)
Fetch aims squarely at owners who never want to wonder, “Is that tooth covered?” Fetch covers injury and disease in every adult tooth and your pet’s gums up to the policy’s annual limit. Adjustable reimbursement rates (70%, 80%, 90%) and deductibles make it easy to dial premiums to your budget.
- Coverage for injuries and disease in every adult tooth and gums, up to the policy’s annual limit
- Up to 90% reimbursement, plus 24/7 online vet visits covered at 100% up to $1,000 annually.
- Behavioral therapy reimbursed 100% up to $1,000 annually
- Qualifying medications purchased through Fetch Pet Rx may be reimbursed 100%, subject to deductible and policy limits
- Fetch offers limited coverage for certain common pre-existing conditions for pets adopted from partner shelters, subject to policy terms and waiting periods.
For breeds prone to dental problems, Fetch’s broad oral care coverage could help reduce out-of-pocket costs for expensive procedures like extractions or oral surgery. Optional wellness add-ons can also help offset routine veterinary expenses and make ongoing care costs more predictable throughout the year.
2. Lemonade (Best for Low Base Premiums)
Lemonade’s base accident-and-illness policy covers dental accidents (broken teeth, tooth luxation from trauma) but a base accident and illness policy without a dental add-on will not cover dental illnesses. Owners wanting disease coverage — periodontal disease, gingivitis — must purchase the dental illness add-on separately. This add-on covers dental procedures and treatments for dental diseases up to $1,000 annually.
- 70%, 80%, or 90% reimbursement; annual limits up to $100,000
- Dental accidents: covered in base plan. Dental illness: paid add-on, capped at $1,000/year
- Two-day waiting period for accidents; 14-day waiting period for illness
- Available in 42 states plus Washington, D.C.; upper enrollment age of 14
Lemonade’s premiums are among the lowest in the market, but owners of dental-disease-prone breeds should budget for the dental illness add-on and understand its annual cap before enrolling.
3. Pumpkin (Best All-In Standard Plan)
Unlike some pet insurance plans, Pumpkin plans cover dental illnesses (including periodontal disease), along with any exams, X-rays, treatment, surgery, and prescription meds used to diagnose or treat them. Pumpkin plans also cover tooth extractions for dental injuries. However, aesthetic, cosmetic, endodontic, or orthodontic dental services such as caps, crowns, amputation, fillings, implants, and root canals are excluded.
- 80% or 90% reimbursement; annual coverage limits of $5,000, $10,000, $20,000 or unlimited for dogs; deductibles of $100, $250, $500, or $1,000
- Dental illness included in base plan; routine cleanings excluded (available via Wellness Club add-on)
- 14-day waiting period for all conditions; no upper age limit
- PumpkinNow urgent-pay service can fast-track eligible claims and pay up to 90% of covered expenses in minutes for bills over $1,000
Pumpkin is one of the more comprehensive standard plans for dental disease, but note that root canals and crowns are explicitly excluded — a meaningful gap for breeds prone to serious dental fractures.
4. Spot (Best for Dental Illness in Base Plan at Competitive Price)
Spot’s accident-and-illness plan covers dental diseases, including gingivitis, gum disease, and periodontal disease. That said, Spot is not a speed leader on waiting periods: Spot insurance plans have a 14-day waiting period for both accidents and illness — the same window as illness-only periods at many rivals. Spot also does not offer direct vet pay.
- 70–90% reimbursement; annual limits from $2,500 to unlimited; deductibles $100–$1,000
- Dental illness (periodontal disease, gingivitis) included in accident-and-illness base plan
- Routine cleanings available via optional Gold or Platinum preventive care add-on, with no waiting period once added
- Cosmetic, endodontic, or orthodontic dental services excluded; no direct vet pay
Spot’s strength is broad coverage in a customizable, competitively priced package. Just don’t expect rapid coverage activation or a check sent straight to your vet’s office.
5. Trupanion (Best for Unlimited Payouts and Direct Vet Pay)
Trupanion covers dental illness and injuries with no payout limits — no annual limits, no lifetime limits. Its VetDirect Pay setup means if your veterinarian has Trupanion’s VetDirect Pay software, they can submit your claim from the office and you won’t have to pay and then wait for reimbursement.
There is one critical condition to maintaining dental coverage: your pet’s teeth must be examined by a vet once a year. If your pet hasn’t been seen in the year prior to enrollment, dental coverage won’t start until the day they receive an exam. You also must follow all dental care advice from your vet.
- 90% reimbursement; no annual or lifetime caps; per-condition (not annual) deductible of $0–$1,000
- Dental illness and injuries covered; routine cleanings not covered
- Five-day waiting period for accidents; 30-day waiting period for illnesses
- Trupanion’s sample average monthly rates are the highest among major providers; no wellness plan available
Trupanion’s unlimited payouts and direct-pay network are genuinely best-in-class, but the mandatory annual dental exam requirement and premium cost make it a better fit for owners who already prioritize routine dental checkups.
6. Embrace (Best Reward for Healthy Pets)
Every Embrace accident-and-illness policy covers dental issues for up to $1,000 per policy term, including broken or chipped teeth, gingivitis, and periodontal disease. Embrace’s standout benefit is its Healthy Pet Premium Discount: if owners are reimbursed less than $300 in a given year, they receive a 5% discount on the following year’s premiums, climbing to 10% in the second qualifying year.
- 70%, 80%, or 90% reimbursement; annual limits of $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, or unlimited; deductibles of $100, $250, $500, $750, or $1,000
- Dental illness capped at $1,000/year — a meaningful limitation for serious dental work
- Optional Wellness Rewards provides a flat annual allowance of $300, $500, or $700 usable for any routine care including cleanings, with no per-item caps
- 2-day waiting period for accidents; 14-day for illness; enrollment up to age 14
Embrace is a smart long-term pick for owners of healthy pets, but the $1,000 dental sub-limit is a real constraint — breeds like Yorkies or Greyhounds that are prone to expensive dental disease may hit that ceiling quickly.
7. Figo (Best Reimbursement Flexibility)
Figo includes non-routine dental treatment in its base accident-and-illness plan, covering abscesses, broken teeth, root canals, and oral cancer. Figo covers non-routine dental work as long as your dog has had proper dental care and no history of periodontal disease. That pre-condition is important: pets with a documented history of periodontal disease before enrollment may find dental illness claims denied.
On reimbursement, Figo is one of the only pet insurers with a 100% reimbursement option available, though per NerdWallet, you cannot combine 100% reimbursement with an unlimited annual coverage limit.
- 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% reimbursement (100% requires a capped annual limit); annual limits of $5,000, $10,000, or unlimited
- One-day waiting period for accidents; 14-day for illness — among the fastest accident activation in the industry
- No direct vet pay; claims typically close in under three business days
- No upper age limit; 24/7 Live Vet access via Pet Cloud app; 5% multi-pet discount
Figo suits owners who want maximum reimbursement flexibility and fast accident coverage, but go in understanding the dental illness exclusion for pets with prior periodontal history, and that the 100% reimbursement option requires accepting a capped annual payout.
What Dental Procedures Are Actually Covered?
Insurers on our list generally pay for extractions, treatment of periodontal disease, diagnostic imaging tied to oral disease, and oral tumors. Most exclude cosmetic orthodontics (braces, caps, implants) and routine dental cleaning unless you add a wellness rider. Pumpkin and Figo also explicitly exclude root canals in most circumstances.
Remember: The average cost of professional cleanings for dogs and cats ranges from $300 to more than $700.
Crunching the Numbers: Two Real-World Scenarios
- Labrador Retriever, age 4, fractured premolar
• Uninsured cost: $1,250 extraction + $250 meds = $1,500
• With a Fetch policy configured for 80% reimbursement and the deductible already met, eligible covered expenses could reduce out-of-pocket costs to roughly $300.
- Senior Yorkie, chronic periodontal disease
• Annual deep cleaning + extractions: $2,800
• With Embrace (80% reimbursement and $1,000 dental sub-limit), the dental claim alone would cost roughly $1,800 out of pocket—a reminder that dental sub-limits matter for dental-heavy breeds.
Even the budget plan slashes bills by more than half; comprehensive policies do better still.
FAQs About Pet Dental Insurance
Can I add dental coverage later?
Most carriers let you upgrade during renewal, but waiting periods reset—bad news if symptoms pop up while you wait.
Do wellness add-ons help?
Yes, if you already pay for annual cleanings. They rarely cover disease treatment but do offset preventative costs.
What about pre-existing oral disease?
As with most pet insurance policies, conditions documented before enrollment are generally excluded from coverage. However, Fetch does offer limited coverage for certain common pre-existing conditions for pets adopted from eligible shelters, subject to policy terms and waiting periods.
Final Verdict: Is Pet Dental Insurance Worth It?
If over 80% of dogs develop periodontal disease by age 3, dental coverage is less a luxury than a statistical inevitability. Plans on this list shift the financial risk—from you to the insurer—without skimping on the very teeth most policies ignore.
Compare quotes while your dog’s mouth is still healthy; once a vet flags trouble, that tooth is yours to fund.
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