Does Pet Insurance Cover Teeth Removal
Pet Insurance Cover Teeth Removal
Hi, friends! My dog has been chewing on his old favorite toy all week, and I couldn’t help but wonder what happens if those canines need a little extra care? Let’s explore if pet insurance covers tooth extractions.
It is important to keep your pet healthy and this includes getting them dental care. But extraction, sedation and other treatment costs can quickly snowball.
If you’re like most pet owners, you’re probably wondering whether your pet insurance policy includes dental coverage. However, depending on your plan, you may have coverage for some types of dental care, but each plan has limitations that you should be aware of.
Below, we explain pet dental insurance and what’s generally included so you can make an informed decision for your fur baby.
Does Pet Insurance Always Cover Dental Care?
Not necessarily, dental care coverage is not included with all pet insurance plans. Some complete pet insurance plans will also cover dental injuries and illnesses. However, routine dental care like cleanings and preventive treatments typically need a wellness add-on to be covered.
And it’s essential to carefully review the details of your policy to know what is and isn’t covered so that you aren’t surprised by unexpected charges and that your pet gets the dental care they need.
What Pet Insurance Policies Cover Dental?
Pet dental insurance isn’t usually sold as a standalone policy. Instead, you’ll have to purchase a pet insurance plan that covers dental care.Typical cost, Comprehensive pet insurance costs about $680 a year for dogs and $380 a year for cats. These plans typically cover illnesses and accidents involving teeth, but check your policy for the details on coverage.
Before purchasing pet insurance, it’s wise to look at the different coverage levels and see which is right for you. Here are the tiers of pet insurance:
- Basic Plans (Accident-Only): These plans usually are limited to accidents and often do not include dental coverage.
- Comprehensive Plans (Accident And Illness): These plans typically cover accidents and illnesses. If there are no such exclusions, they usually include coverage for dental problems like periodontal disease coverage, injuries, and emergency dental procedures.Your pet might have to undergo requirements and receive routine teeth cleaning in some cases.
- Routine Or Preventative Care Plans: Not as common, but this plan might cover dental cleanings and check-ups intended to prevent and screen for dental issues.
- Wellness Add-Ons: These can be added to any of the above plans, and help cover routine dental care like cleanings and preventive treatments.
What Does Pet Dental Insurance Generally Include?
Pet dental insurance coverage varies and can include most dental problems, although it usually will not cover treatment of preexisting conditions. Generally, there are two broad types of policies for pet dental coverage, accident and illness.
If you want pet dental cleanings covered, look for comprehensive plans that offer wellness add-ons specifically for preventive care. They can also purchase coverage for dental cleanings, exams and preventive treatments through these add-ons. Wellness add-ons be in a range of prices depending on the provider — but they generally have an additional cost of $10 to $20 per month.
If your pet requires dental work and you have a comprehensive pet insurance plan that covers dental here’s a closer look at what’s typically included:
- Periodontal Disease: Care of gum disease and related problems, including gingivitis and stomatitis.
- Extraction: Removing damaged or infected teeth from cavities, periodontal disease, etc.
- Dental Damage: Treating teeth that have been damaged by an injury or accident.
- Infections: Treatment for dental abscesses and other forms of oral infection.
- Emergency Dental Problems: Prompt medical attention for unforeseen dental crises.
Because insurance companies’ coverage might differ greatly, it’s critical to study your policy to see what is and isn’t covered. For instance, extractions and restorations of teeth destroyed in an accident are covered by Healthy Paws pet insurance. It does not, however, cover regular dental care, such as cleanings, which are necessary to keep teeth healthy.
Dental care for accidents and illnesses is covered under the ASPCA’s Complete Coverage plan. Dental extractions brought on by unanticipated injuries are covered if you purchase the accident-only coverage. You would have to pay extra for preventative care coverage in order to receive regular dental cleanings.
What Does Pet Dental Insurance Typically Not Cover?
Although pet dental insurance plans can differ greatly, the following are some typical exclusions and restrictions:
- Preexisting Dental Conditions: Generally speaking, conditions that were present prior to the start of the coverage are not covered.
- Cosmetic Dental Procedures: Generally speaking, coverage does not extend to procedures like teeth whitening that are performed to improve a dog's dental look. Braces and other orthodontic treatments are typically not covered.
- Regular Dental Care: Without a wellness add-on, standard plans frequently do not cover routine cleanings.
- Nonmedical Costs: Generally speaking, supplies like toothpaste and toothbrushes are not reimbursed, even if a veterinarian recommends them.
- Dental Problems Unique To A Breed: Some insurance plans limit or prohibit coverage for dental disorders that are prevalent in particular breeds.
What Is The Price Of Having Your Teeth Cleaned If You Don't Have Pet Dental Insurance?
You should budget for dental cleanings if you decide against purchasing a wellness add-on. Depending on the intricacy of the surgery, the expense of anesthetic, and the veterinary clinic’s location, the price of a dog or cat’s teeth cleaning can vary from $100 to more than $1,000.
Why Does Pet Dental Care Cost So Much?
There are few reasons why pet dental care can become costly:
- Specialized Equipment: The dentists also need their fancy, expensive equipment, such as dental X-ray machines and ultrasonic scalers.
- Anesthesia: Most dental procedures must be done under general anesthesia to keep pets still and pain-free, which increases costs.
- Procedures Can Be Complex: Dental treatments can be complicated, and they may require a lot of time a root canal or an extraction, for example, can take a long time.
- Before And After The Dental Surgery: Blood work, monitoring during a procedure, and post-operative care to ensure proper healing all add to the overall total for dental surgery.
Conclusion
You can save thousands of dollars on dental care if you get pet health insurance. If you’re searching for a comprehensive plan that includes dental treatment, the average annual cost of insurance for a dog is $680, and for a cat, it’s $380.
Treatment for previous diseases and cosmetic operations are examples of coverage restrictions that should be taken into account when purchasing a plan so that you may make appropriate plans. To select a policy that fits the needs, breed, and age of your pet, be sure to compare plans and read the fine print.
FAQ
Without further procedures or extractions, a dog or cat’s regular dental cleaning typically costs between $300 and $700. Because larger pets require more anesthesia and require longer procedures, the cost will be higher. Any further dental procedures will incur additional fees.
Yes, in order to ascertain whether there are any pre-existing conditions to exclude, the majority of pet insurance policies typically call for an examination.
Yes, there is a waiting time for the majority of pet insurance plans, including dental coverage. Therefore, for example, your pet’s tooth breakage on day 10 of a 30-day waiting period coverage would not be covered.
