The full picture
Embrace, Trupanion, Pets Best, ASPCA, Nationwide, MetLife, Fetch, and Spot cover dental illness as part of standard accident + illness plans. Healthy Paws and Figo (base plans) exclude all dental. Routine cleanings are NEVER covered under base plans — you need a wellness/preventive rider ($10–$25/mo extra). Periodontal disease must be addressed within 6–12 months of enrollment per most policy language (or it becomes pre-existing).
Coverage matrix
| Dental injury (broken tooth) | Covered by most |
| Extraction for disease | Covered by 80% of carriers |
| Root canal | Covered by 60% |
| Routine cleaning | Only with wellness rider |
| Pre-existing periodontal | Excluded universally |
Frequently asked questions
- Does pet insurance cover dental?▾
- Yes for dental illness (extractions, root canals, broken teeth) at most carriers — but cleanings require a wellness add-on, and pre-existing dental disease is universally excluded.
- What if my pet had dental issues before I enrolled?▾
- Pre-existing dental issues are excluded by every US carrier. Embrace, ASPCA, MetLife, and Nationwide can re-cover curable conditions after 6–12 months symptom-free — Trupanion, Healthy Paws, and Spot generally cannot.
- Which carriers offer the strongest dental coverage?▾
- Based on our 2026 carrier audit: Embrace, ASPCA, Pets Best, and Trupanion consistently lead. See our /report-cards for the full scoring.
- How do I appeal if my claim was denied?▾
- Use our /appeal builder to generate an insurer-specific appeal letter in 5 minutes. Most appeals succeed because the original denial cited the wrong policy clause.
Researched against insurer policy documents, state insurance code, and the NAIC Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act. Drafted by a former insurance claims analyst, medically reviewed by a licensed veterinarian, and legally reviewed by a consumer-protection attorney. Read our editorial policy, research methodology, and medical-review process. PetClaim is not a law firm or insurance company; generated letters are document drafts, not legal advice.