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. Spirit Dental wins on raw price ($79/year). 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 is the best dental savings plan overall at $99/year — 200,000+ network dentists, 15M+ members since 1979, no waiting periods, immediate activation. Spirit Dental ($79/year) is best for raw cost. Humana Dental Savings ($99/year) is best for seniors. DentalPlans.com is best for plan selection (30+ plans by zip). All major plans dramatically undercut individual dental insurance, which averages $360–720/year before deductibles and waiting periods.
Careington 500 Series at $99/year is the best dental savings plan for most people. It has the largest network (200,000+ participating dentists), 15M+ existing members, no waiting periods, and consistent 20–60% discounts on every covered procedure. Spirit Dental at $79/year wins on raw price for people whose dentist accepts it. DentalPlans.com is best for browsing 30+ plans filtered by zip code.
Last updated: February 2026 | Recommendations verified against current plan websites
Careington wins the overall recommendation because it scores high on every dimension that matters. At $99/year ($179 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.
Spirit Dental at $79/year is the cheapest mainstream dental savings plan, and it's the only sub-$100 plan that includes orthodontia and implant discounts. Spirit's network is smaller (~100,000 dentists vs. Careington's 200,000+), so the savings only matter if your dentist participates. Check the Spirit Dental directory by zip code before enrolling.
For young adults with healthy teeth who just need routine care and the occasional small filling, Spirit is the lowest possible cost without sacrificing core coverage. Read the full Spirit Dental 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 200,000+ 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 has the largest network, the longest track record, and the most consistent discounts. Edge cases shift the answer: Spirit Dental wins on cost, 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. Spirit Dental and Careington 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, Spirit, Humana, Aetna, Cigna, Ameritas, DentalPlans.com.
6 questions, personalized recommendation based on your dentist, budget, and procedure needs.