You never think you will need it until you do.
I have seen it happen so many times in practice. A pet comes in for what the owner thinks is a simple dental cleaning. Once we take dental radiographs, we discover a fractured tooth, an abscess, or advanced periodontal disease. What was expected to be a $500 to $1000 visit quickly turns into a bill that is well over $1500, and sometimes even more than $3,000.
For many families, that unexpected cost means making a difficult choice. They might delay treatment, choose to extract multiple teeth at once, or in some cases, skip dental care altogether. Pet insurance, especially a plan that includes dental coverage, can take away much of that stress. It gives you the ability to move forward with treatment knowing that most of the cost will be reimbursed. For many of these patients, the price will be unknown until a complete oral health assessment is completed.
What Is a Complete Oral Health Assessment?
A full oral health assessment is much more than a quick look at the teeth. It’s a comprehensive, systematic exam performed by a veterinarian under general anesthesia, designed to evaluate the entire oral cavity and detect problems that aren’t visible while the patient is awake.
Here’s what a veterinarian evaluates during a complete oral health assessment:
- Periodontal probing of each tooth
Each tooth is probed in 4–6 spots around the circumference to assess sulcus depth, looking for periodontal pockets, pseudo pockets, attachment loss, or abnormal findings in tooth anatomy like tooth resorption. - Evaluation of enamel and tooth structure
The surface of each tooth is examined for fractures, wear, enamel defects, resorptive lesions, pulp exposure, and mobility. - Gingival assessment
The gingiva is evaluated for recession, hyperplasia, inflammation, ulceration, and bleeding. - Examination of soft tissues
Includes inspection of the tongue (dorsal and ventral), lips, buccal mucosa, gingiva, hard and soft palate, tonsils, and oropharynx for masses, swelling, ulcers, or asymmetry. - Subgingival and supragingival cleaning
While not part of the assessment alone, scaling is often performed before probing to allow for accurate evaluation. - Palpation of the jaw and temporomandibular joints (TMJ)
The veterinarian assesses jaw mobility, crepitus, joint pain, or asymmetry in range of motion. - Assessment of muscles of mastication
These muscles are palpated for atrophy, swelling, or asymmetry that could indicate chronic pain, TMJ disease, or neurological deficits. - Dental radiographs
Full-mouth dental X-rays are taken to evaluate root health, bone loss, endodontic disease, unerupted or impacted teeth, retained roots, and jaw pathology that can’t be seen above the gumline. - Occlusion and bite alignment
When appropriate, the patient’s bite is evaluated for malocclusions, traumatic tooth-on-tooth or tooth-on-soft tissue contact. - Documentation and charting
Every finding is documented tooth by tooth in a dental chart, creating a medical record of both current conditions and baseline for future comparison.
The Real Cost of Pet Dental Care
Pet dental procedures involve much more than simply brushing or polishing teeth. In veterinary medicine, a professional dental procedure requires general anesthesia, dental radiographs, ultrasonic scaling, polishing, and a full oral health assessment.
Here is what those costs might look like in a typical veterinary clinic:
Routine dental cleaning with radiographs: $400 to $800 or more depending on location and clinic.
Extraction of a fractured or diseased tooth: $100 to $600 or more per tooth depending on complexity and time it takes to extract.
Advanced oral surgery: $1,000 to $3,000 or more
Treatment for severe periodontal disease: $800 to $2,500 or more
These prices do not include follow-up visits, medications, or rechecks. Dental disease is progressive, so if it is not treated early, the costs and the risks to your pet’s health will continue to grow.
How Pet Insurance Works
Most pet insurance operates on a reimbursement system. You pay your veterinarian at the time of service, submit the invoice to the insurance company, and they send you a payment based on your coverage and deductible.
There are three main types of coverage:
Accident only
This covers injuries such as broken bones, lacerations, or tooth fractures caused by trauma.
Accident and illness
This covers most medical conditions, including dental disease, as long as it is not pre-existing.
Wellness plans
These are often add-on plans that cover preventive care such as vaccines, heartworm tests, and sometimes routine dental cleanings.
What Dental Coverage Really Means
Dental coverage is not the same across all insurance plans. It is important to read the details carefully.
Commonly covered dental treatments
Tooth extractions caused by injury or disease
Treatment for oral tumors
Root canals or advanced dental surgery
Medications related to dental procedures
Sometimes covered, usually with a wellness add-on
Routine dental cleanings
Preventive care
Rarely covered
Pre-existing dental disease
Cosmetic procedures
Any condition not clearly documented in the pet’s medical records
An Example of How Dental Coverage Saves Money
Imagine your dog breaks a canine tooth while chewing on a hard toy. Without insurance, the bill might look like this:
Exam and dental radiographs: $250
Surgical extraction: $500 to $800
Medications and a recheck: $150
Your total out-of-pocket expense could be $900 to $1,200.
With pet insurance that covers dental injuries, you might have a $250 deductible and then 80 to 90 percent of the remaining cost is reimbursed. You would only spend $300 to $400. That is a savings of close to $800, and the decision to treat your pet becomes much easier.
Why Dental Coverage Matters More Than Most Owners Realize
Dental disease is extremely common. More than 70 percent of cats and 80 percent of dogs show some form of dental disease by the age of three.
Dental pain often goes unnoticed. Pets hide discomfort well, so problems are usually advanced by the time they are found, which also makes them more expensive to treat.
Dental health affects the entire body. Untreated dental disease can contribute to kidney, liver, and heart problems.
Coverage encourages timely care. When cost is less of a concern, owners are more likely to move forward with recommended treatment before the problem worsens.
Choosing the Right Pet Insurance with Dental Coverage
When comparing plans, pay close attention to the dental coverage section. Ask these questions:
Does the plan cover both dental injury and dental disease?
Are routine cleanings included or only available with a wellness add-on?
What is the annual limit for dental care?
Are dental radiographs covered?
Is coverage reduced for older pets?
What are the exclusions for pre-existing conditions?
Some companies that often offer dental coverage include Trupanion, Nationwide, Healthy Paws, Embrace, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, and Spot. Always review the exact plan details before enrolling. Reaching out to the company and having them explain the plan in detail will decrease the chance of paying for insurance that does not cover what you and your pet need.
The Bottom Line
Dental coverage is one of the most overlooked parts of pet insurance. It is not just about saving money. It is about having the ability to say yes to the care your pet needs without the stress of wondering how to pay for it.
Your pet’s teeth are an important part of their overall health. With the right insurance plan, you can protect both their smile and their well-being. Talk to your veterinary team about what dental problems they see most often and use that information when choosing your plan. A small monthly premium now can save you thousands later, while keeping your pet comfortable and healthy for years to come.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (08/13/2025) Image by Martine Auvray from Pixabay