Careington 500 Series is the best dental savings plan for most people — $99/year, 200,000+ in-network dentists, no waiting periods, and 20–60% off every procedure. It's also the cheapest national plan. DentalPlans.com wins on selection (30+ plans filtered by zip). The right plan depends on whether your existing dentist is in-network.
Careington 500 Series at $99/year is the best dental savings plan for most people. It has a 200,000+ participating-dentist network, 15M+ existing members, no waiting periods, and consistent 20–60% discounts on every covered procedure — and at $99/year it's also the cheapest national plan. DentalPlans.com is best for browsing 30+ plans filtered by zip code.
Last updated: June 2026 | Recommendations verified against current plan websites
Ranked by lowest individual price, network size, and savings percentage. All prices verified from each carrier's own enrollment pages. No paid placements.
| # | Plan | From / mo | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Careington 500 SeriesBest Overall | $8.95/mo($99/yr) | 200,000+ |
| 2 | Aetna Dental SavingsLargest Network | from $8/mo | 217,000+ |
| 3 | Humana Dental SavingsBest for Seniors | from $9/mo | ~140,000 |
| 4 | Cigna Dental SavingsBest Transparency | from $10/mo | ~110,000 |
| 5 | 1DentalBest for Families | $16.95/mo | 100,000+ |
For the full breakdown with pros, cons, and a per-plan verdict, see the complete best dental savings plans guide →
Careington wins the overall recommendation because it scores high on every dimension that matters. At $99/year ($149 family), it costs less than two months of individual dental insurance premiums. Its 200,000+ dentist network is the largest in the industry — meaning your current dentist is more likely to already accept it. The plan has been operating since 1979 with 15M+ members, giving it the operational scale that newer plans lack.
Activation takes 3 business days. There are no waiting periods for any procedure, no claim forms to file, no copays, no deductibles, and no annual maximum. You pay the discounted fee directly to your dentist. Cleanings drop from $150–250 retail to roughly $50. Fillings drop from $200–400 to $95–145. Crowns drop from $1,000–1,800 to $600–900. The math is straightforward and predictable.
Careington also powers several white-label plans sold under brand names like Humana Dental Savings — meaning you may already be using a Careington-backed plan without realizing it. Read the full Careington review.
At $99/year, Careington is also the cheapest national dental savings plan — and unlike cheaper-looking options with thin networks, it pairs that low price with the largest dentist network in the category (200,000+ providers). That combination is why it wins on cost without sacrificing coverage.
For young adults with healthy teeth who just need routine care and the occasional small filling, Careington is the lowest possible cost with broad acceptance. Read the full Careington review.
Humana Dental Savings at $99/year is explicitly designed for the senior and Medicare-adjacent market. Medicare doesn't cover dental, so seniors face the full retail cost of implants, dentures, crowns, and bridges — the exact procedures that get expensive in retirement. Humana's plan emphasizes discounts on these high-cost procedures and pairs cleanly with Medicare Supplement coverage.
Humana's network of ~140,000 dentists overlaps significantly with Careington (they share underlying network infrastructure), so dentist availability is comparable. The decision between Humana and Careington often comes down to which brand you trust more. Read the full Humana Dental Savings review.
DentalPlans.com isn't a single plan — it's a marketplace where you enter your zip code and compare 30+ different plans available in your area. Prices range from $79–$199/year individual, $119–$299/year family. The marketplace shows fee schedules for specific procedures so you can compare apples-to-apples for whatever work you actually need.
DentalPlans.com is the best choice when (a) you want to see every option in your specific area before committing, or (b) you have specific procedure needs (implants, ortho, dentures) and want to filter for plans that cover them at the steepest discounts. Read the full DentalPlans.com review.
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For most uninsured Americans, Careington 500 Series at $99/year is the best dental savings plan. It pairs the lowest national price with a large network, the longest track record, and the most consistent discounts. Edge cases shift the answer: Humana wins for seniors, DentalPlans.com wins for selection.
All four options are dramatically cheaper than individual dental insurance ($360–720/year before deductibles), and all pay for themselves with a single cleaning. The cheapest plan that includes your existing dentist is almost always the right choice.
No single plan is "best" universally — it depends on your dentist's network participation and the specific procedures you need. For most uninsured Americans without specific needs, Careington wins because of its 200,000+ network. For specific cases, the answer shifts.
No. Dental savings plans are not insurance and aren't regulated by state insurance commissioners. They're discount membership programs governed by contract law. The trade-off: less consumer protection, but no claim denials, no waiting periods, no annual caps, and immediate activation.
Yes. Many people stack them — use insurance for major work that hits the annual cap, then use the savings plan discount on additional procedures. Coordinate with your dentist's billing office to make sure they apply correctly.
Most plans activate in 3 business days. Careington and Aetna both publish 3-day activation. There are no waiting periods for procedures — you can use the discount on day 4.
Yes — avoid any plan advertised as "free" (these are lead-gen traps), any plan that requires monthly billing only with no annual option, and any plan that doesn't publish a searchable dentist directory. Stick to the established names: Careington, Humana, Aetna, Cigna, DentalPlans.com.
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