Your pet’s bad breath may be more than just a nuisance—it might signify a severe health problem. Like humans, good dental hygiene is essential for maintaining your pet’s health. If you ignore your furry friend’s oral care, it could lead to costly vet bills .

Fortunately, some pet insurance plans include coverage for dental illnesses and accidents. But not all plans do, so it’s a good idea to compare pet insurance benefits when you’re choosing a plan.

What Pet Insurance Plans Cover Dental Problems?

If your pet insurance plan includes dental coverage, it will most likely fall under two coverage buckets: dental accidents and dental illnesses.

Here are some of the pet insurance companies that can cover both dental accidents and dental illnesses:

Make sure to look at the plan’s rules for dental accidents and dental illness. Here are a few examples:

Embrace covers dental accidents up to policy limits and dental illnesses up to $1,000 per year.

Nationwide’s Major Medical and Medical plans both cover dental illnesses and accidents. However, both plans exclude certain dental diseases, such as gingivitis, enamel hypoplasia and temporomandibular joint (TMJ), from coverage.

Pets Best’s Best Benefits plan covers periodontal disease for pets age 3 and older as long as a teeth cleaning was completed in the previous 13 months under general anesthesia and there were no signs or symptoms of periodontal disease. Pets age 2 and under do not require teeth cleaning to have periodontal coverage.

Trupanion’s pet plans include coverage for dental illness and accidents if your pet has an annual dental exam and you follow your veterinarian’s recommended dental care.

Related: Pet dental insurance explained

What’s Covered by Pet Dental Insurance?

If your pet insurance plan covers dental accidents and illnesses, here are some common dental problems that may be covered:

• Damaged teeth
• Crowns
• Gingivitis
• Gum disease
• Fractured teeth
• Periodontal disease
• Stomatitis
• Teeth removal

What’s Not Covered by Pet Dental Insurance?

Some pet insurance plans only cover problems related to dental accidents. For instance, if your dog needs a tooth extraction because of an accident, the procedure would be covered, but the tooth extraction would not be covered if it was caused by an illness such as gum disease.

For example, Lemonade pet insurance does not cover dental illness as part of its accident and illness plan. You would need to buy add-on coverage for dental illness-related problems like gingivitis and periodontal disease.

Here are some common pet dental insurance exclusions:

• Cosmetic, endodontic or orthodontic services such as caps, filings and implants
• Pre-existing pet conditions that occurred before coverage began
• Routine dental care such as teeth cleaning

You may be able to add coverage for routine dental cleanings, depending on the pet insurance company. For example, Lemonade offers a “Preventative+ package” as an add-on to a pet insurance plan that covers up to 90% for routine dental cleaning. ManyPets pet insurance will reimburse you up to $150 for dental cleanings as part of its optional wellness plan.

Types of Pet Dental Accidents

Roughly 10% to 20% of all pets experience a dental fracture, according to a report published by Embrace pet insurance and written by Dr. Patty Khuly. Dogs are more likely to suffer a dental fracture than cats.

The teeth most affected by dogs are the upper canine teeth (their fangs) and the two largest molars on their upper jaw. The teeth most affected by cats are their canine teeth. Cats also may suffer from complicated fractures as a result of “feline tooth resorption,” which is when a cat develops large cavities at the gumline and predisposes teeth to fractures.

Dental accidents usually fall into two buckets: complicated and uncomplicated dental fractures. In addition, the severity of the incident and location usually determines the type of treatment necessary.

Complicated dental fractures

Trauma is the main cause for complicated dental fractures, which includes rough play, chewing on hard toys or other objects, blunt trauma to the face, and falling from heights.

Signs of complicated dental fractures can be hard to detect. Look for subtle signs such as:

• Your pet tilts their head when they eat to try to chew on one side of their mouth.
• Your pet is eating messier than usual, such as food falling outside of the bowl.
• Your pet is regurgitating food, such as unchewed kibble that comes up soon after eating.

If you brush your pet’s teeth, here are some signs to look for:

• Your pet is missing a piece of a tooth
• Discoloration of all or part of a tooth
• A visible crack on the surface of the tooth’s crown (especially if the crack extends to the gumline and beyond)

Treatment can range from a simple extraction to a root canal for more severe cases. X-rays and anesthesia are typically required for these procedures.

Uncomplicated dental fractures

Uncomplicated dental fractures are less severe than complicated dental fractures. Examples of uncomplicated dental fractures include:

• Crack in the enamel
• Enamel fractures
• Minor crown fracture
• Minor fracture beneath the gum line (usually leaving at least 2 millimeters of attached gum)

Here are some signs to look for an uncomplicated dental fracture:

• Missing a piece of a tooth
• Discoloration of all or part of a tooth
• A visible crack on the surface of the tooth’s crown

Some uncomplicated dental fractures do not require any treatment. For example, an enamel infraction will not progress and does not require treatment. Similarly, an older pet may not need treatment for an uncomplicated crown fracture.

If treatment is necessary, it can range from smoothing out the edges of a fracture, crown restoration or removal of the unattached gum. X-rays may be required.

Types of Pet Dental Illness

Pets can develop many of the same oral conditions as humans. Some common conditions include:

Malocclusion

Malocclusion is a misalignment of teeth between the upper and lower dental arches. Any pet can suffer malocclusion, but it is more common in purebred dogs. Most cases of malocclusion are mild and usually don’t require treatment. Severe conditions may cause pain resulting from lip, gum or palate trauma.

For more painful cases of malocclusion, your veterinarian might recommend extraction of the tooth (or teeth), moving a tooth or teeth through orthodontic means, or removing the tooth and part of the gum line in more severe cases.

Feline tooth resorption syndrome (TR)

TR was formerly referred to as feline odontoclastic resorption lesion or cervical line lesion. TR is a disease that causes erosion to a cat’s teeth (or tooth).

Most pet owners will have difficulty detecting TR. Some signs to look for include messier-than-usual eating, tilting of the head while eating and regurgitation of food shortly after a meal.

Treatments include tooth extraction and crown reduction if the root is reabsorbed. Anesthesia and pain relieving medications are required for these procedures.

Periodontal disease

Also known as periodontitis, periodontal disease is the most prevalent disease in pets. It is often attributed to poor dental hygiene but can occur regardless of hygiene for most pets.

Periodontal disease is a gradual process in which the structures that surround the teeth become inflamed, including the bone, cementum, gums and periodontal ligament. The first stage of periodontal disease is gingivitis, which is usually the only phase that is 100% curable.

The four stages of periodontal disease are:

• Stage one (gingivitis). This is the only curable stage of the disease and is detected by red, puffy gums.
• Stage two (early disease). Less than 25% loss of attachment to tooth roots.
• Stage three (moderate disease). Some exposure of tooth roots and 25% to 50% of attachment loss. The space between the roots will become visible at this stage.
• Stage four (severe disease). More than 50% loss of attachment to roots. The space between the roots is highly visible.

Some common signs of periodontal disease include:

• Bleeding gums
• Blood, kidney, liver or heart valve infections
• Excessive salivation
• Mouth irritation
• Puffy and/or red gums
• Reduced food consumptions and messy eating
• Wound under the eye for pets with a tooth abscess in the upper molars or premolars

Since periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that slowly progresses, treatment will depend on how advanced the disease is. Treatments may include routine tartar and film removal, root planing, antibiotic gels, surgical extraction and antibiotics if the disease spreads to the bloodstream.

Dental Epulis

Dental epulises are growths or tumors that appear in your pet’s mouth. While most tumors are benign, treatment depends on the type, size and location of the growth. Surgery is typically required to remove the epulis, though radiation may be an option if the tumor is small.

A dental epulis can appear as a smooth and shiny or bumpy and ulcerated growth in your pet’s mouth. X-rays may be necessary to see the extent of tissue damage, and a biopsy may be taken to determine the full diagnosis.

Cost of Pet Dental Treatment

The cost of dental treatment for your four-legged friend depends on the type of accident or illness, the severity of the issue and your location. Here are some dental care cost averages so you can know what to expect when oral issues occur.

Tips for Keeping Your Pet’s Teeth Healthy

Proactive dental care is key to helping your pet from developing severe dental problems. Here are some tips for keeping your pet’s mouth as clean and healthy as possible.

Brush your pet’s teeth. “Nothing is better than brushing your dog’s teeth at least twice weekly, daily if possible,” says Chris Roth, DVM and in-house veterinarian at Pets Best Insurance. Make sure you use toothpaste specifically designed for dogs. “Human toothpaste can cause negative side effects like an upset stomach and more,” Roth says.

Use enzymes, sprays or dental chews. “If brushing is too difficult at home, there are enzymatic chews and water additives to help with dental disease. Some toys also provide mechanical cleaning of the teeth,” says Roth.

Pay close attention to signs of dental disease. Look for signs that may point to dental health problems. For example, if your pet has bleeding gums or an oral growth, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with your vet for further examination. Early directions may help mitigate further issues.

Schedule regular dental cleanings. Regular dental cleanings protect your pet’s mouth from injury and disease. Most dogs need oral exams and cleaning annually, but certain breeds such as Bulldogs, Dachshunds and Yorkshire Terriers, are prone to dental disease and may require dental cleanings every six months.