Does Pet Insurance Cover Dental Care for a Shih Tzu in Virginia

Standard accident and illness pet insurance covers dental injuries caused by accidents — a fractured tooth from trauma, a broken jaw, emergency dental surgery. It does not cover routine dental care: professional cleanings, periodontal disease treatment, or non-emergency extractions. For a Shih Tzu in Virginia, dental accident coverage is included in the base policy at $35–65/month. Routine dental coverage requires a separate wellness or dental add-on, typically $15–$30/month, which covers one or two professional cleanings per year and often includes extractions resulting from periodontal disease.

Under a standard accident and illness policy: emergency dental treatment for trauma (broken teeth, jaw fractures, lacerations to gums or tongue), anesthesia for emergency dental surgery, and post-operative medications for dental injuries. Under a wellness or dental add-on: professional dental cleanings under anesthesia, dental X-rays, polishing, and often simple extractions. Some wellness plans also cover dental sealants and fluoride treatments. What is never covered: cosmetic dental procedures, orthodontics, and in many policies, periodontal disease that was present before the wellness add-on was purchased.

A professional dental cleaning under anesthesia for a Shih Tzu in Virginia typically costs $300–$800. This includes pre-anesthetic bloodwork, the cleaning itself, dental X-rays, and polishing. If extractions are needed, the cost increases by $200–$600 per tooth depending on complexity. Shih Tzus typically need their first professional cleaning by age two to three, and annual or biannual cleanings thereafter. Over a 10–18-year lifespan, total dental costs can reach $3,000–$8,000 — a significant portion of the breed's lifetime vet costs.

A wellness add-on that covers dental cleanings costs $15–$30/month ($180–$360/year). A single professional cleaning costs $300–$800 in Virginia. If your Shih Tzu needs at least one cleaning per year — which most veterinary dentists recommend — the add-on pays for itself in the first cleaning and provides additional coverage for vaccines, wellness exams, and preventive care. For small breeds like the Shih Tzu, which face elevated periodontal disease risk, the dental component alone justifies the add-on cost.

Tooth extractions due to accidental injury (broken tooth from trauma) are covered under the standard accident and illness policy. Extractions due to periodontal disease or dental decay are not covered under the base policy — they require a wellness or dental add-on. For a Shih Tzu, extractions typically cost $200–$600 per tooth in Virginia, and multiple extractions in a single session can reach $1,500–$3,000. A wellness add-on that covers extractions resulting from dental disease can save significant out-of-pocket costs over the dog's lifetime.

Small breeds are disproportionately prone to periodontal disease due to dental crowding — teeth packed into a small jaw create plaque traps that accelerate gum disease. For Shih Tzus specifically, the breed's small build means periodontal disease can become advanced before age three, with tooth loss and infection spreading to the jawbone if untreated. Regular professional cleanings — covered by a wellness add-on — are the primary intervention for managing breed-specific dental risks.

Professional dental care should begin with the first veterinary dental exam at six months to one year of age, with the first professional cleaning typically recommended between ages one and three depending on the dog's dental health. For a Shih Tzu in Virginia, adding a wellness rider at enrollment ensures dental cleanings are covered from the start. Home dental care (brushing, dental chews, water additives) should begin as soon as you bring your Shih Tzu home and continue between professional cleanings. Early intervention prevents the progression of gingivitis to advanced periodontal disease, which is more expensive and complex to treat.