7 Best Dental Insurance Plans of 2024

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Since 2016, Money’s editorial team has spent thousands of hours researching and vetting the best dental insurance providers. We assess these companies by the breadth of their coverage options, premiums, annual and lifetime limits, and customer satisfaction. Based on this information, we present the top dental insurers on the market, including Guardian Direct, Humana and Spirit Dental.

Money’s Main Takeaways

• The best dental insurance companies offer a high reimbursement limit, comprehensive coverage and no waiting periods for basic care.

• Depending on the type coverage and your oral health needs, an individual policy can be expensive — especially when you factor in deductibles, copays and premiums.

• However, dental insurance can lower the cost of expensive restorative or emergency work such as crowns, fillings and implants.

Our Top Picks for Best Dental Insurance Plans

• Guardian Direct – Best for Major Dental Work
• Delta Dental – Best for Braces
• Humana – Best for Variety of Plan Options
• DentaQuest – Best for Affordable Premiums
• Spirit Dental – Best for No Waiting Periods
• United HealthCare Dental – Best for Short Waiting Periods on Major Work
• Cigna – Best for Nationwide Coverage

Best Dental Insurance

Why we chose it: Guardian Direct stands out because it includes 50% major dental work coverage on every plan type except the Starter (its preventive-only plan.)

Guardian Direct's Core plan covers procedures such as crowns, oral surgery, implants and dentures. Annual maximum limits start at $500 and go up to $1,000 by year three, while dental implants have a separate lifetime maximum of $700.

The Achiever plan adds orthodontic benefits for people under 19 years of age and increases the maximum benefit limits. The plan starts with a $1,000 limit and goes up to $1,500 by the third year.

Why we chose it: Delta Dental’s nationwide availability, comprehensive dental benefits and no upper age limit for braces make it an excellent choice for families and individuals in need of orthodontic care.

• Delta PPO Premium covers 100% of routine care and 20 to 50% of basic and major procedures. Orthodontic treatment has 50% coverage, up to a $1,500 lifetime maximum (varies by state).

• DeltaCareUSA (HMO) sets fixed copayment rates for preventive, basic and major services (including orthodontia) without deductibles or annual limits. The downsides are that policyholders must pay an upfront annual premium and the provider network is limited.

Readers interested in Delta Dental should note that, although Delta lists a total of five dental plans on its main website, the benefits and availability of each plan differ per zip code.

To see which plans are available to you, select your state from the company’s drop down menu, which includes all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Why we chose it: Humana offers seven dental plans. There are five plans that cover in-network and out-of-network dentists, a dental savings plan and a low-cost HMO plan with a limited provider network.

Humana dental’s plan options start with five policies that cover in-network and out-of-network dental care:

• Preventive Value PPO works for people looking for preventive care at a low cost

• The Bright Plus PPO plan adds coverage for basic procedures such as fillings and simple extractions and includes veteran discounts for prescriptions and vision and hearing care.

• The last two policies, Complete Dental PPO and Loyalty Plus PPO, provide the most comprehensive coverage with benefits for preventive, basic and major procedures.

We particularly liked the Loyalty Plus PPO plan because there are no waiting periods on any covered benefit, including major work. The downside is that the plan sets a high deductible ($150) and policyholders have to wait until the third year of enrollment to get the highest annual limit allowable ($1,500).

Humana also offers a dental savings plan and a Dental Value HMO plan. Dental Value HMO covers preventive, basic and major procedures without waiting periods, deductibles, or annual limits. This policy works best for people who prefer affordable premiums and don’t mind a limited provider network or fixed copayment fees.

Why we chose it: For under $15 a month, DentaQuest’s Personal Dental Plus covers 100% of preventive services, 50% of basic care and 30% of major procedures.

DentaQuest offers preventive-only and comprehensive dental care at a significantly lower price than its competitors.

• Personal Dental Plan covers preventive care (annual cleanings, X-rays and evaluations)

• The following plan tiers — Personal Dental Plan Basic and Personal Dental Plus — add more coverage for minor and major restorative services such as extractions, fillings, denture repairs and oral surgery.

DentaQuest adds orthodontic benefits to its major work coverage with the following policies:

• Personal Dental Plan Comprehensive Ortho 15000 covers 100% preventive, 80% basic and 50% major work up to an annual benefit limit of $1,500

• Personal Dental Plan Comprehensive Ortho 2000 covers 100% preventive, 80% basic and 50% major work up to an annual benefit limit of $2,000

As with other providers, plan availability varies by state. Enter your zip code on DentaQuest’s search tool to see the plan options in your area.

Why we chose it: Spirit Dental is one of the few providers that waive waiting periods on all its dental policies and across all benefit categories, including major and restorative work.

Spirit Dental’s plan options are split into two groups:

• Network plans offer the best rates with in-network providers

• Choice plans allow beneficiaries to pick their preferred provider with no network requirements. However, this flexibility comes at the expense of higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

Two of Spirit Dental’s plans — Pinnacle Choice and Pinnacle Network — also offer a calendar year annual maximum of up to $5,000 (except in Connecticut, Illinois and New York). This benefit is a significant jump from the usual limit of $1,500, which is a big relief for policyholders who need to finance major procedures such as implants or dentures. However, beneficiaries must pay high premium rates and wait until year three of enrollment to qualify for the full $5,000.

Feel free to download Spirit Dental’s brochure for more details about coverage benefits in specific states.

Why we chose it: While most providers enforce a 12-month waiting period for major work such as crowns, bridges and oral surgery, United HealthCare’s Premier Choice plan has no waiting period for major work.

Additionally, United HealthCare’s Premier Elite plan offers a six-month waiting period to meet the needs of patients who can’t wait the standard 12 months for procedures such as crowns, bridges and dentures.

Here’s what Premier Elite coverage looks like:

• Preventive coverage - 100% coverage for routine cleanings and exams from day one

• Basic coverage - Includes fillings and extractions. The policy covers 50% from day one up to $2,000 annually. Coverage will increase to 80% by year two.

• Major work coverage - 15% coverage after six months; 50% by year one; 60% coverage by year two.

In addition to the Premier Elite plan, UnitedHealthOne offers an additional seven dental insurance policies divided into Primary and Premier plans. The Premier category includes policies with no waiting periods, high annual payout limits and high coinsurance for major dental care, while Primary policies offer comprehensive benefits at lower premium rates and better coverage for out-of-network providers.

Why we chose it: Cigna’s availability combined with a provider network of over 92,700 dentists in more than 309,000 locations make it our top choice for nationwide coverage.

Cigna offers its beneficiaries in all 50 states two dental insurance plans with preventive, basic and major care coverage, and one preventive coverage policy:

• Cigna Dental Preventive — covers 100% of preventive care. No deductible or annual limits apply.

• Cigna Dental 1000 — covers 100% of preventive care. There is a $50 individual and $150 family annual deductible for basic and major restorative services. The payout limit is set at $1,000 per calendar year.

• Cigna Dental 1500 — covers 100% of preventive care with the same deductible as Dental 1000. The annual limit is set at $1,500 and covers orthodontia for children and adults up to $1,000 per lifetime.

Other dental insurance plans we considered

The following companies didn’t meet the requirements for any of our “Best for” categories, including dental insurance marketplaces and discount plans. That said, they’re still worthy of consideration, especially for readers who may want an alternative to traditional dental insurance or the convenience of purchasing insurance through a marketplace.

1Dental

1Dental offers a different way to pay for dental care through its dental discount membership program. The company negotiates discounted rates with participating providers and passes these savings onto its members.

1Dental offers two membership plans for a yearly fee of $119 or a bundle of both for $169. Because these aren’t traditional dental plans, there are no waiting periods, exclusions, annual limits, or deductibles.

DentalPlans.com

DentalPlans.com is a marketplace where you can find both dental discount plans and dental insurance. Once you provide your zip code, the platform lists various dental plan options from providers such as Aetna, Humana, Delta and Renaissance Dental.

Dental savings plans purchased through DentalPlans.com are eligible for a 30-day money-back guarantee. That said, the marketplace charges a $20 enrollment fee that’s non-refundable.

Physicians Mutual

Physicians Mutual’s dental plans cover over 400 preventive, basic and major dental procedures at the provider of your choice. What sets each plan apart is the monthly premium rate and the dollar amount that’s reimbursed to the policyholder for each eligible service.

Standard waiting periods apply to basic and major dental services, but there are no annual maximum limits, no deductibles and no network requirements.

Dental Insurance Guide

The cost of dental care varies widely. Routine cleanings and X-rays generally run from $40 to $97. But more complex procedures like root canals and implants can run into the thousands of dollars. Dental insurance is particularly useful in lowering the cost of these expensive fixes.

In this section we’ll explain how dental insurance works, the most common types of plans available, how much it costs and where to purchase it. By the end, you should have all the information in order to make an informed decision on dental insurance.

Table of contents

• How does dental insurance work?
• What isn't covered by dental insurance?
• Types of dental insurance plans
• How much is dental insurance?
• Additional costs to consider
• Is dental insurance worth it?
• How to get dental insurance

How does dental insurance work?

A dental insurance policy covers expenses for checkups, routine cleanings and other dental restorative work such as fillings, implants and crowns. Many providers such as Humana, Cigna and UnitedHealthOne also offer dental, hearing and vision bundles.

Providers are regulated at the state level, meaning plan availability, benefits and rates may vary per state.

Dental insurance waiting periods

Once you have an active policy, insurers may enforce a waiting period on certain services. Although this ultimately depends on the plan type and company, standard waiting periods look a bit like this:

• Preventive services: 0 months
• Basic procedures: 3 to 6 months
• Major services: 12 to 24 months

Dental plans without waiting periods on basic and major services exist, but they’re expensive. Coverage also starts small and increases yearly. For example, implants are immediately covered, but the company will only pay 15% of the total cost, which is very little considering that a single implant can cost over $1,600. The company will pay 50% of the same procedure if a patient waits six months or more.

Although it’s technically major work, orthopedic treatment is considered a separate category for insurers. It’s easier to find coverage for child orthodontia than for adults, but coverage is capped at 50% regardless of the patient's age.

Companies also enforce a lifetime benefit limit, meaning they will only pay for braces or aligners once for the duration of the policy, up to $1,000 to $1,500.

If you are considering orthodontic treatment, take a look at our article on how much Invisalign costs and the choices available.

What isn't covered by dental insurance?

Pre-existing conditions

Pre-existing conditions clauses are commonplace in dental insurance plans. Missing teeth, for example, are typically excluded from coverage. This means that if you had a tooth extraction prior to enrollment, your plan won't pay for implants or bridges to replace missing teeth. Some providers might lift the clause after a certain amount of time and offer coverage for the pre-existing issue, but this depends on the policy's terms.

Cosmetic dentistry

Dental insurance carriers usually won’t cover cosmetic procedures. Examples of cosmetic dentistry include teeth whitening, dental veneers and orthodontic treatment that isn't deemed medically necessary.

You'll also find limited coverage when it comes to tooth fillings. Amalgam, or silver fillings are covered while ceramic and composite fillings might not be, despite being the better option in terms of looks and longevity.

Types of dental insurance plans

The three types of dental plans on the market today are dental preferred provider organization (DPPO or PPO) plans, dental health maintenance organization (DHMO or HMO) plans and fee-for-service plans:

Dental preferred provider organization (DPPO)

DPPO plans have a wider network of dentists, and patients have more flexibility when choosing their doctors. You can see providers both in-network and out of network, but you’ll find the best rates within the dental provider network.

This flexibility comes with a higher price tag — premiums for DPPO plans are more expensive and have higher out-of-pocket costs.

Dental health maintenance organization (DHMO)

A DHMO plan works within a dental provider network. There’s a fixed copayment for each visit, premiums are more affordable and there are no annual maximum limits.

Members of a DHMO plan have a smaller provider network to choose from, and they’ll also need to select a primary care dentist from the plan’s network. Lastly, there’s no coverage for out-of-network providers, and seeing a specialist requires a referral.

Fee-for-service plans

Fee-for-service plans pay a flat rate for eligible services. This plan type allows greater flexibility because patients can visit the provider of their choice.

On the downside, out-of-pocket expenses are higher. Patients can either make a copayment at the dentist’s office or pay upfront and then file a claim for reimbursement with their insurance provider.

Dental discount plans

A dental discount plan is not dental insurance. It’s a membership program that charges a monthly or annual fee in exchange for discounts on eligible dental services of participating providers.

There are no waiting periods on any services, and most procedures benefit from a discounted rate — even orthodontics. With dental discount plans, uninsured individuals can still access dental care at a reduced cost. However, discount rates vary from 10% to 60% and the network of participating dentists may be smaller.

Besides dental discount plans or preventive coverage, you can invest in additional products to brush up on your dental hygiene. Devices like electric toothbrushes and water flossers help keep cavities and gum disease at bay.

How much is dental insurance?

Dental plan premiums range from $17 to $96. Cost varies per plan type, coverage level and state of residence.

The plans with the lowest premiums cover preventive dental care and offer minimal or no coverage for basic and major services. On the other hand, the plans with the highest premiums tend to have shorter or no waiting periods, high annual limits and comprehensive coverage for preventive, basic and major work.

If purchasing a dental insurance plan doesn’t make sense for your financial situation, consider low-cost alternatives to dental health insurance such as dental school clinics and state assistance programs.

Cost of common dental procedures

The cost of dental care depends significantly on the provider, the location and whether the patient’s insured.

To give readers a general idea, we looked at the average cost of common dental procedures in the 2020 Survey of Dental Fees published by the American Dental Association (ADA). Then, we calculated how much that procedure would cost with an insurance policy that covers 100% of preventive care, 80% of basic dental work and 50% of complex procedures.

Here’s what we found:

Additional costs to consider

Policyholders pay monthly premiums for their coverage, but that’s not the only expense to keep in mind.

Deductibles

A deductible is the amount you pay before your insurance coverage kicks in. Most dental insurance companies set annual deductible rates at $50 per person and $150 per family. Other providers charge a one-time deductible, but plans with this type of deductible tend to have higher premium rates and a higher deductible ($100-$200 for individuals and over $400 for family plans)

Coinsurance

Coinsurance refers to the portion of dental care a policyholder must pay out-of-pocket after they meet the deductible and the insurance coverage kicks in.

Imagine you need a root canal that costs $300 and your dental insurance covers 80% of the procedure but charges a $50 annual deductible. If you already met this deductible on a previous visit, the coinsurance for the root canal would be $60 (20% of the total cost). However, if you haven’t yet met the $50 deductible, the procedure would set you back $100.

Copayment

A copay (or copayment) is a fixed fee that policyholders pay each time they seek specific services or products like prescriptions and office visits (no matter if they’ve met the policy deductible or not). Copay rates should be listed on your insurance card or policy document.

Annual maximum limits

A policy’s annual maximum limit establishes the highest dollar amount a provider will pay for dental care in a calendar year. Most policies set limits between $1,000-$1,500, depending on the plan type and service. Certain services like orthodontia have a separate payout cap.

Once you exceed the benefit maximum, all other dental expenses payments come out of your pocket. For family plans, the annual maximum limit applies to each individual separately.

Is dental insurance worth it?

Individual dental plans — those purchased by people instead of employer group plans — aren’t always worth it. You might end up paying more in premiums, deductibles and copays if the plan’s level of coverage doesn’t match your dental care needs.

Most plans offer 100% coverage for preventive care with no deductible, copays or annual limits and such benefits may be worth the cost of dental insurance. However, your savings are significantly reduced when it comes to basic and major work coverage.

Most providers only cover 50% to 80% of these procedures and set annual maximum limits that rarely exceed the $1,000-$2,000 range. A patient that needs major work may reach this limit fairly quickly and pay a significant amount on top of the monthly premiums. That said, enrolling in a dental plan grants you access to negotiated fees and rates at the dentist’s office that could save you money.

How to get dental insurance

Most people have access to dental insurance through their employer. However, those who are uninsured or underinsured – like Medicare beneficiaries – need to purchase a standalone policy if they want dental coverage.

Our guide on how to get dental insurance with Medicare can help you with this process.

You can also purchase a standalone dental plan directly with the insurance company or through a marketplace. Dental plans sold on Healthcare.gov have to meet the criteria set by the Affordable Care Act, which include offering coverage for pediatric dentistry, emergency services and prescription drugs.

Getting dental insurance is easy if you follow these guidelines to pick the best dental plan provider:

Identify your dental needs

A young adult with healthy teeth has very different dental care needs than a child with malocclusion or an older adult with tooth decay or gum disease. We recommend writing down the dental care needs of you and your family to make it easier to find providers that cover these procedures.

A general rule of thumb is to look for plans that cover 100/80/50: 100% preventive coverage, 80% basic work and 50% major work. However, it’s important to see what’s included in each percentage. A policy covering 50% of major work but excluding implants may be useless if your main concern is missing teeth.

Review the different types of dental plans

We go over common dental plans in our types of dental plans section. Revise each one to see which fits best in terms of coverage options and cost.

Check out which plans are available in your state

Providers don’t offer the same dental plans for every state. For example, Delta Dental offers five dental plans nationwide, but our sample quotes for California, New York and Miami returned only three options.

Check the provider network

Verify that your preferred dentist or specialist is part of the insurer’s provider network before enrolling.

If you have a preferred dentist or specialist, verify that they are part of the insurer’s provider network before enrolling. Even if you don’t have a dentist of choice, we recommend you look at the insurer’s dentist directory online to check how accessible the provider network is. You can search by name, specialty or location to see how many in-network dentists and specialists are nearby.

Compare cost vs value

Besides premium rates, deductibles, coinsurance and annual limits all factor into the overall cost of dental care. Sometimes, patients pay too much for dental insurance and get minimal coverage in return, especially on preventive and basic services.

To make sure the plan is worth it, tally up the insurance cost and compare it to the coverage benefits and an estimate of your yearly dental expenses.

Verify providers with regulatory agencies

Check the companies of your choice (and their subsidiaries, if applicable) with state regulatory agencies. You can also look up any licensed insurance provider with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which registers and analyzes consumer complaint data from across the country.

How We Chose The Best Dental Insurance Plans

To rank the best dental plans, we evaluated:

• Coverage benefits for preventive, basic and major services - Our top picks offer 100% coverage on all preventive services and offer at least one plan that covers 50% of basic and major procedures.

• Annual maximum limits - Most dental plans limit payouts to $1,500 or $2,000 per year. Providers that set annual limits under $1,000 didn’t make the cut.

• Premium rates - We excluded plans that charged high premium rates and didn’t offer more affordable options. Paying over $70 a month for dental insurance is not feasible for many, even if the plan offers unique benefits such as no waiting periods or high payouts.

• Multiple plan options - Dental care needs vary a lot per person. We selected providers that offer something for everyone, be it prevention-focused plans or more comprehensive benefits.

• Customer satisfaction - We reviewed the complaint index set by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and each company’s ranking in J.D Power’s 2023 U.S Dental Plan Satisfaction.

Summary of Money’s Best Dental Insurance Plans

• Guardian Direct – Best for Major Dental Work
• Delta Dental – Best for Braces
• Humana – Best for Variety of Plan Options
• DentaQuest – Best for Affordable Premiums
• Spirit Dental – Best for No Waiting Periods
• United HealthCare Dental – Best for Short Waiting Periods on Major Work
• Cigna – Best for Nationwide Coverage