Pet Insurance with Dental Cover UK 2026 — Best Policies Compared

Dental disease is one of the most common and most expensive conditions affecting UK pets. Over 70% of cats and 80% of dogs over the age of three have some form of dental disease, yet the majority of budget pet insurance policies exclude dental cover entirely. A single dental procedure — cleaning, x-rays and extractions under anaesthetic — can cost £400–£1,200, and complex cases requiring multiple extractions can exceed £2,000. In this guide we compare the pet insurance policies in the UK that include dental cover as standard and identify which offers the best protection for your pet’s teeth. Our top pick is ManyPets →.

Why Dental Cover Matters

Dental disease in pets is not just about bad breath. Untreated dental disease leads to pain, difficulty eating, weight loss, systemic infections (bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream and affect the heart, liver and kidneys), and in severe cases, jaw fractures in small dogs and cats where the bone has been eroded by infection.

The cost of treatment escalates rapidly:

• Dental scale and polish — £200–£400
• Single tooth extraction — £300–£600
• Multiple extractions with dental radiographs — £600–£1,200
• Complex surgical extraction (e.g. canine tooth) — £1,000–£2,000+

For a pet that needs annual dental cleanings and occasional extractions over a 15-year lifespan, the lifetime dental cost can easily reach £5,000–£10,000. Without insurance cover, this is entirely out of pocket.

What Dental Cover Should Include

A good dental policy should cover both:

1. Dental illness — periodontal disease, tooth decay, gum disease, feline FORL (resorptive lesions), tooth root abscesses.
2. Dental injury — fractured teeth from accidents, chewing, or road traffic collisions.

Some insurers cover only dental injury and exclude dental illness — this is a common limitation. The policies in our comparison that include dental cover both illness and injury.

Pet Insurance with Dental Cover Comparison Table

Only three of the five providers in our comparison include dental cover. Direct Line and Admiral exclude both dental illness and dental injury.

#1 — ManyPets (Best for Dental Cover)

ManyPets is our top pick for pet insurance with dental cover because it includes both dental illness and dental injury as standard on its lifetime policies — with no additional premium, no sub-limit, and no separate dental excess. Dental treatment is covered up to the full £15,000 annual vet fee limit.

This is the most generous dental cover in the UK market. ManyPets covers:

• Routine dental scale and polish when clinically necessary
• Dental x-rays
• Tooth extractions (single and multiple)
• Treatment for periodontal disease
• Treatment for feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (FORL)
• Tooth root abscess treatment
• Fractured teeth from accidents or chewing
• Oral surgery for dental tumours

The combination of comprehensive dental cover, the £15,000 annual limit, the low £60 excess, the 15% multi-pet discount and no age limit makes ManyPets the standout choice for owners who want to ensure their pet’s dental health is protected throughout life. Get a ManyPets quote with dental →

#2 — Petsure (Bought By Many)

Petsure also includes both dental illness and dental injury as standard, up to its £15,000 annual limit. The cover is equivalent to ManyPets, but the policy costs slightly more at £20/month with a £70 excess and a 10% multi-pet discount. If ManyPets is not available for your pet, Petsure is the best dental-inclusive alternative. Read our Petsure review →

#3 — PetPlan (Covered Plus)

PetPlan’s Covered Plus tier includes dental illness and injury up to its £12,000 annual limit. The cover is solid, but the annual limit is £3,000 lower than ManyPets and Petsure, and the excess is higher at £80. PetPlan is a good choice if you value brand reputation, but for dental specifically, ManyPets offers better value.

PetPlan Essential and Budget — Dental Exclusions

Note that on PetPlan’s lower tiers (Essential and Budget), dental cover is reduced or excluded. If you are considering PetPlan, ensure you are on the Covered Plus tier for full dental protection.

#4 and #5 — Direct Line and Admiral (No Dental)

Direct Line and Admiral do not include dental cover on their standard policies. This means all dental treatment — cleaning, extractions, gum disease treatment — is excluded from your vet fee claim. If your pet develops dental disease, you will be paying entirely out of pocket.

Some owners try to work around this by purchasing a separate “dental add-on” from a third-party provider, but these are rarely good value and usually have low limits (e.g. £500/year). It is far better to choose an insurer that includes dental as standard.

How to Keep Your Pet’s Teeth Healthy

Insurance covers treatment, but prevention is always better (and cheaper). Here are the steps that genuinely reduce dental disease:

1. Daily brushing — the single most effective intervention. Use pet-safe toothpaste (never human toothpaste, which is toxic to pets). Aim for daily, but even 3x weekly significantly reduces plaque.
2. Dental diet — prescription dental kibble (e.g. Hill’s t/d) mechanically cleans teeth as the pet chews. Proven to reduce plaque and tartar.
3. Dental chews — for dogs, VOHC-accepted chews (Greenies, DentaStix) help reduce plaque. Use sparingly to avoid weight gain.
4. Annual vet dental check — have your vet examine your pet’s teeth at their annual health check. Early intervention prevents costly extractions.
5. Professional cleaning — even with home care, most pets need a professional scale and polish under anaesthetic every 1–3 years. With ManyPets or Petsure, this is covered by insurance.

Pros and Cons of Dental-Inclusive Policies

ManyPets — Pros

• Dental illness and injury both covered
• No dental sub-limit (uses the full £15,000 annual limit)
• No separate dental excess
• Low overall excess (£60)
• 15% multi-pet discount
• No age limit

ManyPets — Cons

• Newer brand
• Some breed-specific premium loading (brachycephalic breeds with dental issues)

Petsure — Pros

• Dental illness and injury both covered
• No dental sub-limit
• Best app-based claims
• No age limit

Petsure — Cons

• Higher excess (£70)
• 10% multi-pet discount

PetPlan — Pros

• Dental included on Covered Plus
• Universal vet acceptance
• No age limit

PetPlan — Cons

• Highest premium
• Highest excess (£80)
• Lower annual limit (£12,000)
• Dental excluded on Essential and Budget tiers

Frequently Asked Questions

Does pet insurance cover dental?

Some policies do, some do not. ManyPets, Petsure and PetPlan (Covered Plus) include dental illness and injury as standard. Direct Line and Admiral exclude dental entirely. Always check the policy wording — if “dental” is not explicitly listed as covered, assume it is excluded. Get a ManyPets quote with dental →

How much does pet dental treatment cost?

A routine scale and polish costs £200–£400. A single tooth extraction costs £300–£600. Multiple extractions with dental x-rays cost £600–£1,200. Complex surgical extractions can exceed £2,000. Over a pet’s lifetime, dental costs can reach £5,000–£10,000 without insurance.

Is dental cover worth it?

Yes, emphatically. Dental disease affects the majority of pets over 3 years old, and the costs escalate rapidly. A policy that includes dental (like ManyPets) costs roughly the same as one that excludes it (like Direct Line), making dental-inclusive cover clearly better value.

Does ManyPets cover dental?

Yes. ManyPets includes both dental illness (gum disease, tooth decay, FORL, abscesses) and dental injury (fractured teeth) as standard on all its lifetime policies, with no additional premium or sub-limit. It is the most generous dental cover in our comparison. Get a ManyPets quote →

Can I add dental cover to Direct Line or Admiral?

Not on their standard policies. Some insurers offer dental as a paid add-on, but these typically have low sub-limits (£300–£500/year) and are poor value compared to choosing an insurer that includes dental as standard, like ManyPets or Petsure.

Our Verdict

If dental cover matters to you — and for any pet owner being honest about long-term costs, it should — then the choice is between ManyPets, Petsure and PetPlan. ManyPets is our clear winner: it includes both dental illness and injury as standard, with no sub-limit, the highest annual vet fee cover (£15,000), the lowest excess (£60), the best multi-pet discount (15%) and no age limit. Petsure is a strong alternative; PetPlan is solid but more expensive. Direct Line and Admiral should be avoided if dental cover is a priority.

Get a ManyPets quote with dental cover today →

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Ready to protect your pet? Get a quote from our recommended providers:

• Co-op Pet Insurance - Comprehensive cover from a trusted UK brand. Awin verified.
• PetPlan - The UK’s most recognised pet insurer.