How Much Is Dental Insurance?

Dental insurance premiums range from around $7 per month to $87 per month, according to our review of quotes across 17 dental insurance companies. Your location, deductible, copays, coinsurance amounts, and annual maximum benefit will all impact your premium. The cost of dental insurance also depends on the company you choose.

Keep reading for more details about the cost of dental insurance and helpful tips for saving money on your coverage.

Cost of Dental Insurance

Because dental insurance rates vary significantly, it’s a good idea to compare quotes and plan details of the best dental insurance companies to determine how much coverage you want and can afford. The table below shows the costs we found for preferred provider organization (PPO) plans from some of the largest insurers.

These quotes were collected for a 30-year-old female in El Paso County, Texas, and Los Angeles County, California. For each company, we gathered cost information for the lowest-priced PPO plan that covers preventive, basic, and major dental care. (These are the three major categories for dental insurance coverage; generally, plans pay the highest percentage of costs for preventive care and the lowest for expensive major care, such as bridges and crowns.) 

The table also shows the annual maximum benefit—the limit on how much a plan will pay for coverage—in the first year, and the first-year waiting period for coverage of major procedures.

Of the companies we received quotes from, the list above includes three insurers with the lowest premiums, four with middle-of-the-road premiums, and three with the highest premiums. 

If you’re looking for a more affordable dental insurance plan, a dental HMO, also known as a DHMO, can be a good option. Compared to PPO plans, DHMO plans typically have much lower premiums. Most DHMO plans don’t have an annual maximum, deductible, or waiting periods for covered services. The downside is that you must go to a provider within the insurer’s network; unlike PPO plans, there is no coverage for out-of-network providers.

Dental HMO plans have a copay, a flat fee for certain types of dental work. This differs from PPO plans, which have coinsurance—the percentage of a covered dental service you pay out-of-pocket after hitting your deductible. 

These DHMO quotes were collected for a 30-year-old female in El Paso County, Texas, and Los Angeles County, California. The only exception is Anthem BCBS’s DHMO plan, which is only available in California. We collected rate information for each insurer for the lowest-cost DHMO plan that covers preventive, basic, and major dental care.

If you think a DHMO plan might be right for you, begin shopping by looking at our lists of the best dental insurance companies with no waiting periods or with no annual maximum coverage limits.

Factors Influencing Cost

Much like health insurance premiums, dental insurance premiums are impacted by multiple factors. Here are some of the criteria that can affect your dental insurance rate.

Type of Dental Policy 

Plan type is one of the biggest factors that impact prices. In general, dental PPO plans are more expensive than dental HMO plans. Some of the most common dental plans include:

• Dental preferred provider organization (DPPO): This plan provides the most coverage for in-network care and partial coverage for out-of-network care. These plans typically have a deductible, coinsurance, and no referral requirements.
• Dental health maintenance organization (DMHO): One of the biggest benefits of a DHMO plan vs. a PPO plan is that premiums are usually low. In addition, HMOs typically don’t feature annual maximums, deductibles, or waiting periods. However, you must work with a primary care dentist, get a referral to see specialists, and generally pay a copay with each visit. 
• Dental indemnity: You can visit any provider you wish, and dentists are reimbursed for services provided. 
• Dental savings plan: These plans (also called dental discount plans) are not true insurance. Instead, dentists within the plan offer enrollees a discount on normal pricing. If you only need cleanings, a savings plan might be right for you.

Deductible

A deductible is the amount you must pay out of pocket before your benefits kick in. In our survey of dental insurance companies, deductibles were typically $50 or $100. Some insurers charge $150 or more or charge a higher out-of-network deductible. Dental insurance plans with higher deductibles generally have lower monthly premiums and vice versa. 

Copay

A copay is the dollar amount you pay your dental provider for certain services, like x-rays or an office visit. For example, if your plan has a $20 copay for cleanings, you must pay the $20 fee upfront at the dental office. Then, your insurance company pays the rest. Some companies don’t require copays for preventive or diagnostic services. 

Coinsurance

Coinsurance is the out-of-pocket money you pay for covered dental services after reaching your deductible, usually expressed as a percentage. If you have a 75% coinsurance share for major services, like oral surgery, you will pay 75% of the total cost. Some companies use copays instead of coinsurance.

Annual Maximum

Many dental plans have an annual maximum. That’s the dollar limit your insurance pays for all covered dental services in one year. In general, the higher the annual maximum is, the more expensive the premium will be. Some benefits may instead have a lifetime maximum. For instance, many dental plans that cover braces impose a lifetime limit on how much they’ll pay.

What Does Dental Insurance Cover?

Dental insurance provides comprehensive coverage for most dental services, including the following.

Preventive Care 

Many plans cover preventive care at 100%, including cleanings, full-mouth X-rays, sealants, and fluoride treatments. However, most plans cover a limited number of routine services, such as two cleanings per year or one set of X-rays per year.

Basic Services 

Basic dental care includes services beyond routine care, such as fillings and simple extractions. However, some plans consider X-rays as a basic service instead of a preventive service, which means they’re not covered at 100%.

Major Services 

Major services are typically the most expensive dental procedures, such as: 

• Root canals
• Surgical extractions 
• Dental implants
• Gum disease treatment
• Dentures  
• Crowns 

Most plans have a waiting period before major services are covered. If you need coverage sooner, choose a dental plan with no waiting period.

What Doesn’t Dental Insurance Cover?

While every dental insurance plan is different, most plans don’t provide coverage for the following services:

• Cosmetic dentistry
• Bonding
• Adult orthodontics
• Teeth whitening

How to Save Money on Dental Insurance

While some dental insurance plans are relatively affordable, plans with more coverage and better benefits can be more expensive. Here are some ways to potentially get a lower dental insurance premium.

Get Multiple Plan Quotes

Dental insurance premiums depend on many factors, including your chosen insurance company. It’s a good idea to shop around and get quotes from various insurers to find the most affordable plan. Choosing a plan with a higher deductible or lower annual maximum may offer savings—just ensure you won’t lose money with the plan. (You can do this by comparing the cost of dental procedures without dental insurance to the amount you’d pay for premiums, deductibles, and copays or coinsurance with insurance.)

Choose a Discount Plan 

Dental savings plans aren’t true insurance plans but give you access to discounted dental care from participating providers. Instead of a premium, you usually pay a membership fee. This option is good if you don’t need frequent dental care.

Get Care at a Dental School 

If you live near a dental school, consider having your dental work done there. Dental schools often offer discounted services, which could help you save significant money, depending on the care you need. Students in the dental program usually staff dental school clinics, but a practicing dentist oversees their work.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Bottom Line

The cost of dental insurance can vary widely depending on the type of policy, the provider network, the provider network, and the insurance company. Before signing up, make sure you understand both what will be covered by a policy and your possible out-of-pocket fees. You should also make sure your dentist is on the plan network. Don’t rush and sign up for the lowest premium plan without understanding the possible limitations. An insurance broker representing multiple companies can help you properly compare your options.