Does pet insurance cover dental?
Almost every pet insurance policy will pay if your dog breaks a tooth in an accident. Dental illness, such as gum disease, is where policies really differ: some cover it as standard, some only if you keep up yearly dental check-ups, and some only on their higher cover levels or as an optional extra. Here's what each insurer we've read says, so you can check before your dog needs it.
What's the difference between dental accident and dental illness cover?
Dental accident cover pays if your dog damages a tooth in an accident, for example by breaking it. Dental illness cover pays for disease, such as gum disease, which builds up over time. Almost every policy covers accidents; illness is where they differ.
13 of the 18 UK insurers we compare cover dental illness on every policy; 4 only on some levels or as an add-on; 1 only after an accident.
- 1Dental illness covered
- 12Covered if you keep up dental checks
- 4Only on some cover levels or as an add-on
- 1Only after an accident
From each insurer’s own policy documents, read in October 2026. See the US version
Which insurers cover dental?
Grouped by what the policy does, with each insurer’s answer in plain English. Click an insurer’s name for everything its policy covers.
Dental illness covered
- ManyPetsDental illness and accidents covered, with a limit by plan (£1,000 on Standard Care).
Covered if you keep up dental checks
- PetplanInjury and illness covered if a vet checked the teeth in the 12 months before symptoms and recommended treatment was done within 6 months.
- Waggel Up to £1,000Up to £1,000, if it isn't pre-existing and your dog had a dental exam in the last 12 months.
- AgriaDental and gum illness covered only if your dog had a dental check in the 15 months before, and recommended treatment was done within 12 months.
- Sainsbury'sDental illness covered only if your dog has a history of yearly check-ups and any advice was followed within 6 months.
- John LewisDental illness covered only if your dog has a history of yearly check-ups and any advice was followed within 6 months, and the treatment relieves suffering from illness.
- TescoDental illness covered only if your dog has a history of yearly check-ups and any advice was followed within 6 months.
- PDSADental illness covered only if your dog has a history of yearly check-ups and any advice was followed within 6 months.
- Marks and SpencerDental illness covered only if your dog has a history of yearly check-ups and any advice was followed within 6 months, and the treatment relieves suffering from illness.
- RSPCADental illness covered only if your dog has a history of yearly check-ups and any advice was followed within 6 months.
- ArgosDental illness covered only if your dog has a history of yearly check-ups and any advice was followed within 6 months.
- Post OfficeDental illness covered only if your dog has a history of yearly check-ups and any advice was followed within 6 months.
- LV=Dental injury and illness covered if a vet or vet nurse checked the teeth in the 12 months before, and recommended treatment was done within 6 months. No routine scale and polish.
Only on some cover levels or as an add-on
- Direct Line Up to £1,000 (Advanced)Not on Essential. On Advanced, up to £1,000, with a yearly dental check and recommended treatment done within three months.
- Animal Friends Up to £1,000None on £1,000; accidents only (up to £750) on £2,000 and £3,000; illness and accidents up to £1,000 on £4,000 and £5,000, with a yearly dental exam.
- More Than Up to £2,000 (Premier)Accident damage on every level; dental illness only on Premier, up to £1,000 or £2,000.
- AdmiralAccident damage on all levels; dental illness only on Lifetime Platinum, after a check-up and any recommended work.
Only after an accident
- ChurchillTooth and gum disease isn't covered. Teeth are covered after an accident, or when another illness directly causes the problem and your dog had a dental check in the past 12 months.
Your questions answered
Does pet insurance cover dental cleaning?
Not as routine care, in the policies we read. Some insurers will pay for a clean when it's part of treating a covered dental illness, and Lemonade covers routine cleaning only with its Preventative+ package (US). Several others ask you to keep up yearly dental checks, at your own cost, before they'll cover dental illness at all, so it's worth booking them in.
Is there separate dental insurance for dogs?
Not usually. In the policies we read, dental cover is part of the main pet insurance policy rather than a separate product, although some insurers only include it on their higher cover levels or as an optional extra.
Every answer is a plain-English summary of the insurer’s own policy wording, read in October 2026. Policies change and terms can differ by plan, so check the policy before you buy. Each insurer’s page shows the exact section we read. Barklopedia doesn’t arrange UK insurance.
More guides to dog insurance: Pet insurance for older dogs · Third party liability insurance for dogs · Dog insurance by breed · Multi dog insurance · Lifetime pet insurance · Pet insurance for pre-existing conditions · What does dog insurance cover? · Pet insurance excess