# Dental + periodontal disease — clause matrix across NZ pet insurers > The most common chronic condition in NZ vet clinics. Small breeds, brachycephalic dogs, and many cats develop periodontal issues by age 3-4. Sub-limits + scope vary wildly across insurers. **Why it matters:** Dental cover is the most variable feature in NZ pet insurance — excluded entirely / accident-only / illness-included / preventive-included. The annual sub-limit is typically well below the policy's overall cap. **Vertical:** pet · **Condition:** dental-disease · **Species:** both · **Snapshot:** 2026-05-18T08:27:31.134Z **Source:** Each product's policy wording PDF (linked per row). License: CC BY 4.0 — attribute https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz. --- ## AA Pet Insurance — AA Pet Insurance Policy **Wording version:** 2025-04-05 · **Confidence:** verified · **Key:** `dental_cover` > Dental illness sub-limit of $600 per policy period at 80% benefit percentage. Cover restricted to eligible vet expenses for scaling, polishing, dental x-rays and tooth removal for: gingivitis; abscesses; odontoclastic resorptive lesions; dental disease arising from infection; retained deciduous teeth; cavities; or fractured teeth. Not covered: any dental illness treatment unless the pet has been insured under this policy for at least 6 months and in this period the pet has not shown signs of or been treated for any dental illness; orthodontic treatment, crowns, root canal, cosmetic dental surgery or corrective treatment. Traumatic tooth fractures are covered under accidental injury cover except where resulting from dental disease or where treatment involves root canal therapy or dental crowns. Waiting period: 6 months. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/aa-pet/pet-policy/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/aa-pet/pet-policy/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.aa.co.nz/content/dam/nzaa/02-services/insurance/pet-insurance/documents/AAPetInsurancePolicyDocument.pdf --- ## Cove Pet Insurance — Cove Pet Insurance **Wording version:** 2026-05-18 · **Confidence:** verified · **Key:** `dental_cover` > Dental illness is an optional add-on for the Major + Minor plan only. Sublimit of $500 per policy period. 100% benefit percentage (no customer co-payment). Benefit excess of $100. Covers: Gingivitis, abscesses, removal of teeth where medically necessary due to dental disease arising from infection, retained deciduous teeth, cavities, tooth fracture. Not covered unless pet has been insured under this policy for at least 6 months and has not shown signs of or been treated for any dental illness in that period; requires history of annual routine dental check-ups by a vet. Excludes: orthodontic treatment, crowns, root canal, cosmetic dental surgery or corrective treatment, odontoclastic resorptive lesions, elective dental treatment, checks or cleaning. Dental illness is also excluded from illness conditions cover unless the optional dental illness benefit is selected. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/cove-pet/pet-insurance/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/cove-pet/pet-insurance/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.coveinsurance.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Pet-Insurance-Policy-CovePet012022.pdf --- ## Petcover (Petplan NZ) — Petcover Catastrophe Plan **Wording version:** 2026-05-17 · **Confidence:** verified · **Key:** `dental_cover` > Annual dental examination required; any Treatment recommended as a result must be carried out as soon as possible. Excluded: periodontics, dental check-ups, COHAT, dental x-rays, dental prophylaxis, dental scale and polish or teeth cleaning, gingival curettes, gingival hyperplasia, removal of plaque or calculus or periodontal surgery; prosthodontics, removal or repair of misaligned or retained deciduous teeth, orthodontic appliances, crowns, caps or splints, luxation, horizontal bone loss, impacted teeth or embedded teeth; orthodontics, malocclusion, wry bite, supernumerary teeth, reverse scissor bite, posterior cross bite, anterior crossbite, overbite, brachygnathia, open bite or level bite. Any Treatment for dental disease is excluded if an annual dental examination has not been undertaken within the twelve (12) months preceding the problem requiring Treatment and any Treatment a Vet recommended resulting from that had not been carried out. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/petcover/catastrophe/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/petcover/catastrophe/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.petcovergroup.com/nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/12/PCNZ-PDS_SOV-SN_Catastrophe-v14112022.pdf --- ## Southern Cross Pet Insurance — AcciPet (Accident-only) **Wording version:** 2023-12-01 · **Confidence:** verified · **Key:** `dental_cover` > We cover dental treatment if your pet requires it because of an accidental injury. However, we won't cover dental treatment from an accidental injury that results directly from your pet eating or chewing an object. We don't cover treatment for dental care generally. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/accipet/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/accipet/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.southerncross.co.nz/society/-/media/Southern-Cross-Pet-Insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Policy-docs/AcciPet-Policy-Doc.pdf --- ## Southern Cross Pet Insurance — FreeCover (Trial) **Wording version:** 2025-09-01 · **Confidence:** verified · **Key:** `dental_cover` > We cover dental treatment if your pet requires it because of an accidental injury during your FreeCover period. However, we won't cover dental treatment from an accidental injury that results directly from your pet biting, eating, or chewing an object. Dental care for illness (e.g. treating dental and oral diseases such as gingivitis, cleaning and scaling teeth, providing orthodontics, removing deciduous (baby) teeth) is excluded. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/freecover/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/freecover/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.southerncross.co.nz/society/-/media/Southern-Cross-Pet-Insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Policy-docs/freecover-policy-Doc.pdf --- ## Southern Cross Pet Insurance — PetCare (Comprehensive) **Wording version:** 2023-12-01 · **Confidence:** verified · **Key:** `dental_cover` > Base policy covers dental treatment only if caused by an accidental injury (excluding dental treatment from an accidental injury that results directly from your pet eating or chewing an object). Dental care (illness-related) is otherwise excluded from the base policy. Optional dental care extra covers 80% of vet charges up to $300 per policy period for: treatment for gingivitis; treatment for dental abscesses; scaling and polishing teeth; removing teeth where medically necessary due to dental disease arising from an infection, deciduous (baby) teeth not falling out, cavities, or tooth fractures. A 90-day stand-down applies to dental care extra. A 20% co-payment applies to dental care extra claims; no excess applies to extra cover. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/petcare/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/petcare/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.southerncross.co.nz/society/-/media/Southern-Cross-Pet-Insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Policy-docs/PetCare-Policy-Doc.pdf --- ## SPCA Pet Insurance — Big Stuff Cover **Wording version:** 2026-05-17 · **Confidence:** verified · **Key:** `dental_cover` > Excluded. Dental procedures, dental diseases, gingivitis, teeth fractures, teeth cleaning/scaling, orthodontics, removal of deciduous and any oral disease (with the exception of oral tumours) are not covered. Dental Treatment is also excluded under Accidental Injury Cover. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/big-stuff/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/big-stuff/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.spcapetinsurance.co.nz/documents/spca-pet-insurance-big-stuff-cover-policy-document.pdf --- ## SPCA Pet Insurance — The Works (Comprehensive) **Wording version:** 2026-05-17 · **Confidence:** verified · **Key:** `dental_cover` > Excluded. Dental procedures, dental diseases, gingivitis, teeth fractures, teeth cleaning/scaling, orthodontics, removal of deciduous and any oral disease are not covered (with the exception of oral tumours). Additionally, any dental Treatment is excluded under Accidental Injury Cover. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/the-works/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/the-works/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.spcapetinsurance.co.nz/documents/spca-pet-insurance-the-works-cover-policy-document.pdf --- ## Tower Pet Insurance — Pet Comprehensive + Essentials **Wording version:** 2026-05-18 · **Confidence:** verified · **Key:** `dental_cover` > Dental treatment is excluded under Section 1 – Vet Expenses unless: (a) treatment is described in the policy definition of routine care (Comprehensive Plan only), or (b) a serious and traumatic accident occurs and the dental treatment is carried out directly to repair serious injuries to your pet's face. Optional Benefit (Dental Care) under Section 3 (additional premium required, added/removed at renewal only, 90-day waiting period, upper age limit 8 years for all breeds) covers: Gingivitis, Abscesses, Dental disease, Cavities, Tooth fracture, Retained deciduous teeth — up to $350 per period of cover (Comprehensive and Essentials), subject to 20% co-payment. Routine dental check-ups and dental scale and polish are excluded unless required to treat a listed covered dental condition. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/tower-pet/pet-comprehensive-essentials/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/tower-pet/pet-comprehensive-essentials/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.tower.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Pet_Comprehensive_Essentials.pdf --- **9** of 11 indexed products have on-file cover language for this condition. **Canonical URL:** https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/conditions/dental-disease/