Dental insurance
Individual and family dental plans — including options with no waiting period, so you're not stuck waiting a year for work you need now.
Adult dental care is almost never included in a medical plan. If you want it covered, it's a separate policy — and the differences between dental plans are bigger than most people expect.
Two plans at the same monthly price can behave completely differently once you actually need a crown. What matters is the waiting period, the annual maximum, and whether your dentist is in the network. Those three things decide what you really get.
We compare across the carriers we represent and tell you which plan fits the work you actually need done.
What dental plans cover
Most plans sort care into three tiers, and pay a different share of each.
Preventive care
Cleanings, exams and routine X-rays. This is the tier plans cover most generously, often in full, and usually with no waiting period. It's also the care that prevents the expensive work later.
Basic care
Fillings, simple extractions, and treatment for gum disease. Covered at a lower share, and often subject to a waiting period.
Major care
Crowns, bridges, root canals, dentures and oral surgery. Covered at the lowest share, and this is where waiting periods are longest.
Orthodontia is usually separate. When it's included at all, it's often limited to dependent children and carries its own lifetime maximum.
The waiting period is the first thing to check
Most dental plans won't pay for basic or major work right away. Waiting periods of six to twelve months are common, and they exist because otherwise people would buy a plan the week before a root canal.
Some plans have no waiting period, typically at a higher premium or with a lower first-year maximum.
Which is right depends entirely on your situation. If you're covered for cleanings and nothing is wrong, a standard plan is fine. If your dentist has already told you a crown is coming, a no-waiting-period plan will almost certainly save you money even at the higher premium. This is the single most useful thing to get right, and it's the first question we'll ask you.
Networks, maximums and deductibles
Dental PPO plans let you see any dentist, and pay more when you stay in network. DHMO plans cost less but require you to use a specific dentist or network, usually with no out-of-network benefit at all.
Nearly every dental plan has an annual maximum — a ceiling on what the plan will pay in a calendar year. Once you hit it, you pay the rest yourself. This is the opposite of medical insurance, where the plan takes over after you've spent enough. It's the detail that surprises people most.
There's also usually a small annual deductible before basic and major coverage begins, though preventive care is typically exempt from it.
Who this is for
- Self-employed people and anyone without employer dental benefits
- Families who want children's cleanings and exams covered predictably
- Anyone who has been putting off work because of cost
- People approaching retirement, since dental is not covered by Medicare
- Anyone who hasn't seen a dentist in years and expects to need work
How we help
We ask what work you need before we quote, because that changes which plan wins.
We check whether your current dentist is in network — for a DHMO plan, that's the whole decision.
We compare the annual maximum against the treatment you're expecting, so you know whether the plan will actually cover it or run out partway through.
And we'll tell you when a dental plan isn't worth it for you. If you only go for cleanings and nothing else, sometimes paying cash comes out ahead. We'd rather say so than sell you something that doesn't pay off.
What to have ready
- The name of your current dentist, if you have one
- Any treatment your dentist has already recommended
- Ages of everyone to be covered
- Whether anyone needs orthodontic care
Frequently asked questions
Doesn't my health insurance cover dental?
Adult dental is generally not included in a medical plan. Children's dental is covered as an essential health benefit on Marketplace plans. For adult coverage, you need a separate dental policy.
What does a dental plan actually cover?
Most plans cover preventive care most generously — cleanings, exams and X-rays — then pay a smaller share for basic work like fillings and extractions, and the smallest share for major work like crowns, root canals and dentures. The exact split varies by plan.
Is there a waiting period?
On many plans, yes — commonly six to twelve months before basic or major work is covered. Preventive care usually starts right away. Some plans have no waiting period at all, typically at a higher premium. If you already know you need work, this is the detail that matters most.
Can I keep my dentist?
With a PPO plan you can see any dentist, though you pay less in network. With a DHMO you generally must use a network dentist, and there's often no out-of-network benefit. We check your dentist before you enroll.
What is an annual maximum?
It's the most the plan will pay in a calendar year. Once you reach it, you cover the rest yourself. This is the opposite of how medical insurance works, and it's the detail that surprises people most — so we compare it against the treatment you're actually expecting.
Does dental insurance cover braces?
Sometimes, but orthodontia is usually separate coverage with its own lifetime maximum, and it's often limited to dependent children. We'll tell you exactly what a given plan includes before you enroll.
What if I already need work done?
You can still get covered, but check two things first: the waiting period for the type of work you need, and whether the plan has a missing tooth clause, which can exclude replacing a tooth you lost before the policy started. We read both with you before you buy.
Is it worth it if I only go for cleanings?
Sometimes, sometimes not. If preventive care is all you use, the premiums can add up to more than the cleanings would cost in cash. We'll run that comparison honestly — and if the plan doesn't pay off for you, we'll say so.
Request your free quote
Tell us your dentist and what work you're expecting. We'll compare plans against that — free, with no obligation.
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