Pet insurance can help cover the costs of your furry friend’s dental care, depending on the types of coverage you include on your policy.
We’ll take you through a number of toothy situations that might land your pet at the vet, and break down how pet insurance offered by Lemonade can come in handy.
Does pet insurance cover dental accidents?
Yes, a base accident and illness policy can cover dental accidents—or what, in pet insurance terms, qualifies as a new, unexpected event that lands your pet at the vet.
Maybe your dog fractured her teeth as the result of chomping on rocks or bones. Or perhaps she suffered a tooth luxation (a fancy term for a tooth being knocked out of place, which might occur if your dog gets into a fight or is subjected to blunt force trauma from a car accident). Since both of these scenarios qualify as dental accidents, both could be covered by your pet insurance policy.
What part of coverage applies?
Dental accidents are generally covered by your base pet insurance policy.
A base policy with Lemonade Pet will help cover the costs of vet bills associated with the diagnostics, procedures, and medications related to dental injuries and accidents. This might include x-rays, surgeries, tooth extractions, pain medications, and antibiotics.
Does pet insurance cover dental illnesses?
Yup, it can—but it depends on how you’ve customized your plan. For example, at Lemonade, you have the option of adding a package to your policy that specifically covers dental illness.
And securing some extra protection for your pet’s pearly whites is a good idea: Both dogs and cats are susceptible to gingivitis, which can then develop into periodontal disease.
Here’s how these diseases work: When your pet has a meal, bacteria eat away at any food that’s left in their mouth, creating plaque. That plaque can build up along your pet’s gum line. If it’s not removed, it hardens into tartar.
Tartar can cause a condition called gingivitis, where your pet’s gums are irritated and inflamed. Gingivitis is an early stage of periodontal disease. If it’s not treated, it can lead to periodontal disease, which damages your pet’s gums, ligaments, and bone, causing serious damage and significant health problems.
What part of coverage applies?
This would fall under Lemonade’s Dental Illness add-on.
This optional add-on can help cover the cost of treatments, procedures, diagnostics, and medications related to dental illness. This includes crowns, extractions, root canals, dental surgeries, and treatments for gum disease like gingivitis and periodontal disease.
To be extra clear: A base accident and illness policy without the dental illness add-on will not cover dental illnesses. So if you’re worried about facing these conditions (or their cost) in the future, consider the add-on.
When are dental illnesses not covered?
Even with the Dental Illness add-on, there are certain scenarios that would not be covered.
If your pet was treated for or was diagnosed with signs of a dental illness before you had an active pet policy, it would be considered a pre-existing condition, and would therefore not be covered. Also, if treatment or diagnosis for dental illness is given before their illness waiting period is up on your newly purchased pet policy, which varies by state, that also wouldn’t be covered.
This is why it pays to get a pet insurance policy as early as possible, so you get the most out of coverage.
Plus, if your vet has previously given you recommendations regarding prevention for dental illness (like scheduling a dental cleaning or x-rays), and you didn’t follow through, you also might not be covered.
TL;DR: Sign-up for insurance early, and listen to your vet!
At-home pet dental care
If you are committed to your pet’s oral health, there are specialized products to help clean and care for your pet’s teeth and gums, and to help keep their breath fresh.
These include dental pet food, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental wipes, water additives, dental chews, teeth-cleaning treats, or toys designed to floss and clean your pet’s teeth.
Is at-home dental care covered by pet insurance?
No, your insurance won’t cover the costs of at-home dental care.
Coverage offered by Lemonade is only able to cover treatments administered by a veterinary professional. So, while the care you provide for your pet at home is critical for their lasting health (and will undoubtedly lead to less health issues down the line!), it cannot be covered by Lemonade at this time.
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Does pet insurance cover routine dental cleaning?
Yes, it can—but it depends on how you’ve customized your coverage.
At Lemonade, for example, if you include Lemonade’s Preventative+ Care package on your policy, you can be covered up to $150 a year on your pet’s routine dental cleaning.
In addition to regular dental hygiene, most veterinarians recommend at least one annual dental cleaning procedure for both dogs and cats. This will help to properly remove tartar and prevent the development and spread of gingivitis and periodontal disease.
This annual procedure generally involves the following:
- Lab tests and blood work to check on your pet’s overall health and estimate how they’ll react to general anesthesia.
- Once your pet is under, the vet cleans the teeth to remove plaque and tartar, filling cavities and extracting teeth as needed.
- Sometimes, vets will then add fluoride or other products to prevent the return of plaque.
What parts of coverage apply?
Lemonade’s Dental Illness add-on could help cover the costs of filling cavities and extractions.
Lemonade’s Preventative+ Care package would help cover the cost of diagnostics, anesthesia, cleaning, and polishing. What’s this package, you’re wondering?
Well, in addition to a base accident and illness policy, you can opt for a number of Preventative Care options to cover the stuff you’re probably already paying for to keep your pet happy and healthy. For pets over two-years-old, the Preventative+ Care package will help cover:
- An annual wellness exam
- Fecal or internal parasite test
- Heartworm test
- Blood test
- Three annual vaccines
- Flea/tick or heartworm prevention
- Routine dental cleaning
Does pet insurance cover orthodontics?
No, pet insurance typically does not cover orthodontics.
Did you have to endure a round of braces, expanders, and (shudder) head gear in order to fix and straighten your human teeth? It might surprise you to learn that pets also deal with their own orthodontic issues. Orthodontics in pets can help address issues with a cat or a dog’s bite caused by a natural misalignment of their teeth, and/or tooth overcrowding.
Flat-faced (Brachycephalic) or toy-sized pets are more likely to experience orthodontic dental issues. (Smaller mouths, bigger problems). This includes dog breeds such as Pugs, French Bulldogs, Shih Tzus, Chihuahuas, and Pomeranians, as well as cat breeds like Persians and Exotic Shorthairs.
Common orthodontic procedures for pets include extractions, buttons, brackets, and even braces.
Dog dental insurance
Your dog can be vulnerable to a lot of periodontal issues—in fact, studies show that about 80% to 90% of dogs over the age of three have some form of periodontal disease. Plus, dogs can be susceptible to other dental problems like fractured teeth and even oral tumors. As of 2019, it’s reported that 20% to 27% of dogs experience a tooth fracture.
Fortunately, if you cover your pup with a Lemonade pet insurance plan, including the Dental Illness Add-on, while they’re still young, you can protect them—and your wallet—in the event of a dental accident or illness down the line.
Cat dental insurance
An estimated 20% to 60% of all cats—and close to three-quarters of cats that are five years of age and older—experience tooth resorption, which is similar to a cavity, but is when a cat’s tooth starts breaking down and being absorbed by the body.
Also, about 10% of the feline population has stomatitis, which is a type of inflammatory infection inside the mouth. Unfortunately, there isn’t a known cure for the disease yet, but proper dental hygiene is one way that pet owners can help manage the disease.
But setting your cat up with pet insurance as a kitten can help cover the costs of toothy situations—especially with a Preventative+ care plan that includes regular dental cleanings. And, should your kitty still end up developing a dental disease, Lemonade’s Dental Illness Add-on could come in handy.
Thanks for explaining all that! Now how do I add dental coverage for my pet?
We thought you’d never ask.
If you currently have a Lemonade Pet policy, we’ll be able to review your options with you the next time you renew your policy (don’t worry, you’ll get a reminder email from us). If you happen to be new to Lemonade Pet Insurance (welcome!), you can update your policy within the first 14 days after purchase.
If you’re thinking about signing up for a new Lemonade Pet insurance policy, you can include Preventative Care and add-ons (like Dental Illness) as you finalize and customize your policy after receiving your quote.
FAQs
Is pet insurance worth it for dental care?
Pet insurance can definitely be worth it for dental care, especially in cases of accidents that require emergency treatment. If, for example, your pet suddenly breaks a tooth and needs surgery, your base pet insurance policy could apply. Add-ons, such as Lemonade’s Dental Illness and Preventative+ packages, can also help cover costly treatments and procedures.
When deciding whether or not pet insurance is right for you, you should consider whether or not you’d be able to cover the out-of-pocket costs needed to protect your pet in the event of a dental emergency.
Why is pet dental care so expensive?
Pet dental care can be expensive due to the complexity of dental treatments, which can include surgeries, diagnostics like x-rays, as well as treatment for chronic conditions that require ongoing management. The professional expertise and equipment needed to treat many dental conditions also add to the high costs.
Does pet insurance cover gingivitis treatment?
Yes, pet insurance can cover gingivitis treatment—if you’ve opted for Lemonade’s Dental Illness add-on. This add-on covers costs related to dental illnesses, including treatments for gum disease like gingivitis.
Does pet insurance cover anesthesia?
Yes, pet insurance can cover anesthesia—if it’s administered as part of a covered procedure. For example, your policy could cover the anesthesia needed for a routine dental cleaning with Lemonade’s Preventative+ Care Package.
A few quick words, because we <3 our lawyers: This post is general in nature, and any statement in it doesn’t alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of policies issued by Lemonade, which differ according to your state of residence. You’re encouraged to discuss your specific circumstances with your own professional advisors. The purpose of this post is merely to provide you with info and insights you can use to make such discussions more productive! Naturally, all comments by, or references to, third parties represent their own views, and Lemonade assumes no responsibility for them. Coverage and discounts may not be available in all states.
