The best dental insurance depends on your needs, your situation and your location.
Your needs
Dental insurance covers a vast array of tooth issues and prevention. From cleanings to fillings, root canals to implants, dentures to braces, these procedures and services can add up. Which dental insurance plan you choose may depend on the need you have and the amount the insurance will cover.
Your situation
Do you need a dental procedure ASAP? Some dental plans offer no waiting periods. Are you thinking you’ll need dentures in a few years? Some plans offer increasing benefit coverage after year one. For family dental plans, some plans offer orthodontia coverage and major services for wisdom teeth.
Further, there are also full coverage plans that cost a bit more, but you’ll receive more dental benefits—multiple preventive cleanings covered 100%, major services coverage with no waiting periods, orthodontia, etc. Alternatively, there are also plans that have a limited network of dentists but offer low monthly costs and discounted rates for specific procedures.
Your location
When you shop for dental plans, you’ll find that plans have benefit-limits on which dentist you can visit. Some plans have large networks, and some plans have small networks. If you visit an in-network dentist with your plan, the benefits will be greater than if you see someone out-of-network. Your location may help you determine which plan is best for you.