How Much Is Dental Insurance, and Should You Get It? (2024)

Weighing the Costs of Dental Insurance

Taking care of your teeth can be expensive. You may be considering options like dental insurance to help curb those costs, especially if you’re facing upcoming treatments.

But how much is dental insurance exactly, and is it worth the investment? Take a closer look at key considerations for dental insurance and what you can expect from it in terms of cost.

What Is Dental Insurance?

Dental insurance can help you pay for and manage the cost of taking care of your teeth and gums. Depending on your plan and coverages, dental insurance can help you pay for preventive, basic and major dental care.

Should you get dental insurance? It’s worth noting that people without dental insurance are more likely to have their teeth pulled and require dentures. They also may not have their teeth restored or receive care for gum disease.

Additionally, your oral health can impact your overall health. Consider these potential health outcomes from poor oral health:

• 67% higher rate of heart disease

• 50% higher rate of osteoporosis

• 29% higher rate of diabetes

People without dental insurance visit the dentist less frequently than those with insurance, diminishing their chance of prevention and early treatment.

The majority of Americans get their dental insurance through their employer, but dental insurance typically is not included with health insurance and can be purchased separately.

How Much Does Dental Insurance Cost?

Out of the different types of health care, dental care has the highest cost barrier at 13%, compared to 4% to 5% for other health care services. You likely are among many who want to know: how much is dental insurance in general, and how much is dental insurance a month for a single person?

A monthly premium for full-coverage dental insurance costs between $20 and $50 for an individual and between $50 and $150 for a family. However, that’s just the premium you pay to the insurance company for your plan. You also may have out-of-pocket costs for copays, coinsurance and deductibles.

Your dental plan cost will depend on the plan you select, the coverage you choose and where you live. Here’s a look at the average dental insurance cost per month for an individual on an employer-sponsored plan:

• Dental Health Maintenance Organization: $16.64 to $18.31

• Dental Preferred Provider Organization: $28.70 to $30.71

• Indemnity Dental Plan: $35.97 to $37.35

• Dental Discount Plan: A few dollars to $10 or $12

A dental discount plan is not insurance. You pay a fee and receive discounted prices for dental care.

What Does Dental Insurance Cover?

If you purchase comprehensive dental insurance, or full-coverage dental insurance, your insurance may cover all or a portion of your preventive, basic and major dental care.

Preventive Care

This coverage includes routine exams and screenings, regular cleanings and X-rays. Many dental plans pay for preventive care 100%, intending to prevent any major oral health issues from developing and catch problems before they get out of hand.

Basic Care

Having a tooth filled, receiving a crown and getting a tooth pulled fall under basic care. Dental insurance typically covers basic dental care at 80% for in-network services and 60%—or none at all—for out-of-network services.

Major Care

Major dental care typically is more complex, restorative dental care, such as bridges, dentures, inlays, root canals and oral surgeries. Your dental insurance plan may cover these procedures at 50%, leaving you with higher copays and coinsurance.

Orthodontic Care

How much does dental insurance cover for orthodontics? Most dental insurance only covers orthodontics—aligners, braces and retainers—for children. However, you can find plans that may help cover part of the cost of orthodontics for adults.

Types of Dental Plans

There are four main types of dental insurance:

Dental Preferred Provider Organization (DPPO)

The DPPO is the most widely used type of dental insurance. You can visit an in-network doctor who has agreed to lower charges for dental services, and you don’t have to get a referral to see a specialist. You also don’t have to select a dentist.

Under a DPPO, you can see a dentist outside the network, but you may have to pay more or foot the entire bill.

Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO)

DHMOs use a network of dentists you can see at no cost or little cost. You also can select a primary dentist, whose referral you will need to see a specialist. Seeking dental care outside the network won’t be covered, except in emergencies.

Dental Indemnity Plan

A dental indemnity plan is a fee-for-service insurance. You don’t have a network, and you don’t have to select a doctor. That also means you don’t have lower negotiated prices. However, you can negotiate the price with your dentist.

You receive dental services where you prefer, and your insurance company pays a dentist what is “usual, customary and reasonable.” If the charge is more than what the insurer deems usual, customary and reasonable, you can end up paying the difference.

Discount Dental or Dental Savings Plan

Discount dental or dental savings plans aren’t insurance. They are plans that provide you membership in a group that receives dental services at a discount. Discounts can range from 10% to 60%, and you pay the dentist directly.

The availability of different types of dental insurance or discount plans gives you choices on how to meet your dental health needs.

Talk to ConsumerShield About Your Insurance Needs Today

The cost of dental procedures without insurance can quickly add up. Securing some type of dental insurance can help you keep those costs in check. At ConsumerShield, we can answer questions you might have about dental insurance. Get in touch with us to learn more today.