Did you know cats have 30 teeth? Like humans, cats require proper dental care to prevent tooth decay and other dental diseases. Unfortunately, cats are vulnerable to several dental conditions but you can help them have good dental hygiene by signing them up for pet insurance and monitoring their health with the help of your vet.
Dental disease can cause severe pain and discomfort in cats, reducing their quality of life and could even contribute to a shorter life. If a cat has dental problems, he may stop eating, which can lead to a multitude of other health issues. This is why monitoring your cat’s oral health and following your vet’s advice for good oral hygiene is essential.
We’ve read through all of the pet insurance companies’ sample policies that we review in this article to help distinguish what’s covered and excluded by each provider. Let’s discover which company offers the best dental coverage for your cat.
Best Dental Insurance For Cats At A Glance
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What Are The Most Common Dental Issues For Cats?
Below are some of the most common dental diseases found in cats. Some of these illnesses are preventable with proper dental care, including tooth brushing (with a cat-friendly toothpaste) and regular vet checkups.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is a form of gum disease that occurs when the gums are inflamed due to bacterial plaque. The ligaments and bone are unaffected by gingivitis. Symptoms include:
- Swollen gums
- Bad breath
- Red or purple gums
- Gums bleeding on contact
Other diseases can cause gingivitis as well, such as feline leukemia virus, severe kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune disease, feline immunodeficiency virus, and feline calicivirus. If caused by one of these diseases, gingivitis can be accompanied by stomatitis, which is inflammation or sores in the mouth.
Fortunately, gingivitis can be reversed through proper teeth cleaning, but it can lead to periodontitis if left untreated.
Periodontitis
Periodontitis is an irreversible disease that causes permanent damage if gingivitis festers and goes untreated. Cats who suffer from periodontitis experience the weakening of tissues attached to the gums and bone due to the damage caused by bacteria and inflammation. Cats that eat kibble are less vulnerable to this disease because the kibble helps clean the teeth as they chew.
Treatment includes professional teeth cleanings, and your cat may require x-rays of the jaw area to be taken frequently to determine bone health. Teeth extractions are common, and a precise oral hygiene plan may be instructed to you by your vet. The plan may include daily tooth brushing, diet changes, plaque prevention gel, and oral rinses.
Tooth Resorption
Tooth resorption is when the tooth breaks down from the inside and works its way outward. It’s commonly identified as a pink defect in the tooth where it meets the gums. By the time this defect is noticed, the tooth is extremely damaged.
Tooth resorption can be very painful and is the most common cause of tooth loss in cats. It’s estimated that between 30% and 70% of cats show signs of tooth resorption throughout their lives.
Treatment consists of managing the cat’s pain and attempting to prevent further damage to the tooth and restore the tooth’s function. However, in some cases, the tooth may need to be extracted.
Best Cat Dental Insurance
We read through a sample policy for each pet insurance company listed in this article to share specific coverage and exclusion details regarding cat oral health. Remember that any dental illness or injury that occurs before the policy’s effective date or during the waiting period is excluded from coverage and considered pre-existing.
We chose our winners for this review based on dental coverage alone. However, if you’d like to see our top picks for the best cat insurance overall, considering many other factors, we suggest reading our best cat insurance reviews.
Finally, the information below was obtained through each company’s sample policies. Actual policies may vary from state to state and year to year, so we encourage you to read through the company’s specific policy that you’re considering to understand what you are signing up for before you enroll and pay your first premium.
Best Overall: Pets Best Review
- Optional wellness plan to help cover dental cleanings
- Covers periodontal disease, tooth extraction, and trauma to the teeth, face, jaw, etc.
- Developmental abnormalities are covered if the cat is enrolled before 6 months old
- Canines and carnassials are covered for endodontic disease
Coverage
- Beginning at 3 years of age, your pet’s teeth must have been cleaned and examined under general anesthesia by a veterinarian in the 13 months before the date of service for the periodontal disease claim with Pets Best. Any periodontal disease found during the exam must be treated before periodontal disease coverage becomes available for your pet.
- If you comply with the above, the following is covered by Pets Best for periodontal disease:
- Endodontic treatment for canine and carnassial teeth
- Extractions
- If you comply with the above, the following is covered by Pets Best for periodontal disease:
- Endodontic treatment for canine and carnassial teeth and extraction for all teeth due to traumatic dental fractures and other oral traumas are covered as long as they aren’t caused by inappropriate chewing behavior that presented prior to the policy effective date or during the waiting period.
- Your pet must be enrolled with Pets Best prior to 6 months of age for coverage to include extractions for deciduous teeth, dentigerous cysts, enamel hypoplasia, and unerupted teeth.
Exclusions
- Prophylaxis (defined as scaling, cleaning, and polishing of the teeth) or associated fees (including, but not limited to: anesthesia, pre-anesthetic blood work, and fluids), toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental foods, chews, preventive sealants, or rinses at any time or for any reason.
- Endodontic treatment for teeth other than the canines and carnassials.
- Open or closed root planing at any time for any reason.
- Any treatment for supernumerary teeth, absent teeth, and malocclusion.
- Preventative care (unless you purchase a Pets Best Wellness plan).
Wellness Plan
Pets Best also offers its BestWellness plan for $26 per month ($30 in Washington state) that includes $150 that can be used for teeth cleaning or other routine care items. Note: Wellness Plans are not insurance products.
Best For Vet Direct Pay: Trupanion Review
- Can pay the vet directly and eliminate the claim processing wait time
- Covers tooth extractions
- Developmental abnormalities are covered if the cat is enrolled before 6 months old
- Canines and carnassials are covered for periodontal disease and endodontic disease
Coverage
In order to obtain dental illness coverage with Trupanion, you must do the following:
- Your pet’s teeth must be examined by a veterinarian at least once every 12 months.
- If for any reason your pet’s teeth have not been examined by a veterinarian within the 12 months prior to the policy enrollment date, dental coverage starts from the date of your pet’s first dental examination after the policy enrollment date. In addition to all other terms and conditions, any illnesses or injuries found at such an examination or signs prior to such an examination will not be eligible for dental coverage.
- You must follow your veterinarian’s advice about dental care, and if recommended, your pet must undergo dental prophylaxis performed by or under the direct supervision of a veterinarian within the recommended time frame. If your veterinarian does not provide a recommended time frame, then the specified treatment must be completed within 3 months of the date of the recommendation.
If you do those things, then veterinary treatment required due to dental illness and injury, subject to all other terms and conditions of your policy are included in Trupanion’s coverage.
Exclusions
- Dental prophylaxis at any time or for any reason.
- Toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental foods, chews, rinses, or preventive dental care at any time or for any reason.
- Open or closed root planing at any time or for any reason.
- Any veterinary treatment related to retained deciduous teeth if your pet was enrolled at or after 6 months of age.
- Veterinary treatment costs for teeth other than canine and carnassial teeth will be limited to the estimated extraction cost.
Best For Wellness Coverage: Embrace Review
- Optional wellness plans to help cover dental cleanings, toothbrushes, dental chews, and more
- Covers periodontal disease, tooth extractions, and trauma to teeth, face, and jaw
- Developmental abnormalities are covered if they’re not pre-existing
- Endodontic disease is covered for all teeth
Coverage
- Accidents resulting in dental trauma, burns, and fractures; (if shown as applicable on the schedule page(s)).
- Accidental dental fractures that occur or first show signs after the end of the accident waiting period.
- Embrace will reimburse you for eligible veterinary treatment expenses caused by dental illness in excess of the deductible amount, subject to co-payment requirements and a $1,000 annual maximum sub-limit, for all treatment(s) except dental prophylaxis, for conditions that started after the waiting period and during the policy period.
- Endodontic treatment for dental injuries, such as root canals and crowns, where deemed medically necessary.
Wellness Plans
You can choose from three wellness plans (not insurance) offered by Embrace. Total benefits range from $250 to $650 annually and include the following routine dental care:
- Routine dental cleaning (with or without anesthesia)
- Toothbrushes & toothpaste
- Dental chews
- Annual dental checkups
- Teeth brushing by groomer or vet
- Dietary dental supplements
Figo
- Optional wellness plans to help cover dental cleanings
- Covers tooth extractions due to accident
- Doesn’t cover periodontal disease, endodontic disease, or developmental abnormalities
- Covers trauma to the teeth, face, and jaw
Coverage
To maintain full dental coverage, you must ensure that your pet receives an annual dental exam and, if recommended, prophylaxis. Dental coverage includes:
- Accidents resulting in dental trauma
- Endodontic treatment for dental Injuries, such as root canals and crowns, where deemed medically necessary. These treatments are subject to review and approval by Embrace’s medical director;
Exclusions
- Veterinary treatment for dental illness as specified below:
- Toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental foods, chews, rinses, or preventive dental care, including prophylaxis, at any time or for any reason;
- Open or closed deep cleaning at any time or for any reason; and
- Removal of deciduous teeth.
Healthy Paws
- No optional wellness plan to help cover dental cleanings
- Covers tooth extractions due to accident
- Developmental abnormalities are excluded
- Trauma to teeth, face, and jaw are covered
Exclusions
- Dental health care, however, if injury to teeth is caused by an accident, Healthy Paws covers the cost of extraction and/or reconstruction of damaged teeth.
- Claims arising from the lack of use and/or implementation of preventive healthcare products and/or methods when such products and/or methods would be in accordance with generally accepted veterinary standards.
- Routine healthcare includes: vaccinations, flea control, heartworm medication, de-worming, dental care, ear plucking, grooming, and prudent regular care.
Lemonade
- Optional wellness plans don’t help cover dental cleanings
- Periodontal disease, endodontic disease, and developmental abnormalities are excluded
- Tooth extractions are covered due to accident
- Trauma to teeth, face, and jaw are covered
Exclusions
- Any type of dental care; however, if the injury to teeth is caused by an accident, Lemonade does cover the cost of extraction and reconstruction of damaged teeth
Comparison Table
The table below gives a quick glance at how the pet insurance companies differ in their coverage and exclusions.
| Pets Best | Trupanion | Embrace | Figo | Healthy Paws | Lemonade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam Fees | Extra Fee |  |  | Extra Fee | | Extra Fee |
| Wellness Care* | | | | | | |
| Amount For Dental Cleanings w/ Wellness Plan | $150 | | $250, $450, or $650 | $40 or $75 | | |
| Non-Routine Dental Treatment | | | | | | |
| Periodontal Disease | | Canines & Carnassials Only | | | | |
| Tooth Extraction | | | | Due To Accident | Due To Accident | Due To Accident |
| Endodontic Disease | Canines & Carnassials Only | Canines & Carnassials Only | | | | |
| Developmental Abnormalities | Enrolled Before 6 Months Old | Enrolled Before 6 Months Old | | | | |
| Trauma To Teeth, Face, Jaw | | | | | | |
*Wellness care is available for an extra fee and is not an insurance product.
How To Choose A Pet Insurance Company
When finding the best pet insurance provider, there’s more to consider than dental coverage alone. Cats experience many other accidents and illnesses, including stomach issues, urinary tract infections, cancer, heart conditions, skin problems, and more. This is why selecting a well-rounded pet insurance company that covers your key concerns and is budget-friendly is crucial.
We compare these same pet insurance companies and rank them based on additional factors, including their reputation, customization options, overall coverage and exclusion details, pricing, claim processing timeline, and more, in our best cat insurance comparison. Before any commitment, you must be informed about what makes a pet insurance company a good option. That way, you’re less likely to regret your purchase decision and ensure that your needs are covered when an emergency happens.
