Does Pet Insurance Cover Dental Cleaning?

Pet insurance base plans do not cover dental cleanings, but if you go for preventive add-on coverage, dental cleanings can be covered.

If you’re already satisfied with this answer, you can press back and start looking for reasonable dentists around for your pet, or search for insurers that offer a preventive add-on and do a cost-benefit analysis.

If you decide to keep reading, though, we can make the decision simpler for you by providing all the information you need on pet dental expenses and whether a preventive add-on is worth it.

Pets and Teeth: An Introduction

Let’s start with dogs –

Dogs have two sets of teeth – milk and adult (just like humans). They get 28 milk teeth by the time they are 6-8 weeks old, and by the time they are 6-7 months old, these are replaced by a strong 42 adult teeth. They are used for everything from wolfing down their dinners to snatching the sock away from the parents. ⁽¹⁾

The entire mouth, from incisors to canines to premolars and molars, gets involved in tearing, shredding, crushing, and eating the food.

Interesting fact – The upper and lower fangs, known as canines, are where the dog family gets its name from. ⁽¹⁾

When it comes to cats –

They are born with 26 milk teeth, which are then replaced by 30 adult ones once they reach adulthood. Cats are carnivorous, and their teeth are highly specialized to hunt, kill, and eat prey. They also help with self-defense and grooming. ⁽²⁾

They use their tiny incisors to grip the prey, and the canines (fangs, as they call it) to kill and shred it. The eight sharp premolars are used to cut the food into chunks, and the four molars are used to crush bone. ⁽²⁾

Interesting fact – Cats can only move their jaws up and down. They cannot chew food the way we do. ⁽²⁾

You may be thinking that teeth must be playing a big role during their wild times. Now that we have domesticated them and the fact that they are served all the delicious foods and treats in their favorite food bowls, they’ve lost their importance.

Our pets may not be using their teeth to eat wild prey anymore, but maintaining healthy teeth and gums is equally important even today. Dental hygiene not only makes teeth look good but also prevents many diseases that are otherwise possible.

Why is Dental Hygiene important for Pets?

Good dental hygiene can benefit pets in multiple ways. These include -

And the biggest benefit (especially for your bank account) is that you can get reimbursed a lot of money in the long run. Maintaining a good dental routine may cost you some time and money, but treating a severe disease will cost you way more money, time and most importantly, peace of mind.

How to clean your pet’s teeth at home?

It’s not that complicated. Here’s what you need to do –

Don’t forget to praise your pet and offer a treat. They need to associate the experience with something positive.

Now the question is, can you maintain a good dental hygiene routine at home, or do you need professional help?

Is Professional Dental Cleaning Important?

Do you see a difference when you wash your car vs when you give it to a professional for a deep clean?

If yes, then you’ll know why professional dental cleaning is important for pets. It’s not just a fancy spa day for your pet. Even the most diligent pet parents can’t reach every nook and cranny of their pet’s mouth. Plaque and tartar build-up can lead to major health issues as explained above. Professional dental cleaning helps remove these deposits before they create bigger problems.

How much does Dental Cleaning Cost?

A basic dental cleaning can cost anywhere between $100 and $200. But, if the cleaning is followed by a treatment, the costs will be much higher. Below are some examples - ^{(4) (5)}

If your pet needs anesthesia, you can expect to spend around $200-$300 more on the surgery, depending on the complication. Apart from these, there may be some diagnostics costs attached. An oral exam may cost you around $50-$90. X-Rays typically cost between $125-$250. Bloodwork will cost you around $100-$150.

Does pet insurance cover dental cleaning?

Standard pet insurance plans do not cover the cost of professional dental cleaning for dogs and cats, but some pet insurers offer an optional wellness add-on for a small fee, that can help cover it.

Spot Pet Insurance has a Platinum Preventive Care plan that you can add to your base-level plan. It can provide a total annual benefit of up to $450 for covered routine services, including dental cleaning. It also covers vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, nutritional consultations, and health screenings, including blood work, urinalysis, and fecal tests.

Spot Facts!*

We received 3,454 dental-related claims in the year 2024.

Cat breeds with the highest number of dental claims from the year 2019-2025 were Domestic shorthair and American shorthair.

Dog breeds with the highest number of dental claims for the same period were Yorkshire Terrier and Shih Tzu.

More about Spot Pet Insurance

Dog Insurance can help provide financial assistance for eligible veterinary care in case of unexpected accidents, illnesses, or injuries. Our plans can help pet parents manage the eligible costs of covered veterinary care and help ensure that their pets can receive the best treatment possible. Here are some ways that Spot pet insurance plans can help:

To learn more about Spot Plans or to get a free quote, click here.