What Is the Best Dental Savings Plan for Implants (and Crowns) in 2026?

1Dental price: $149/year for one member, all fees included, or $14.95/month plus a $30 setup fee.

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By The Dental Savings EditorsReviewed October 20266 min read
Short answer

Careington 500 Series is the best dental savings plan for implants for most people — $149 a year through 1Dental, the widest advertised range (20–60% off), one of the largest U.S. networks, no annual maximum and no waiting period. Seniors who need dentures should also compare Humana Dental Savings (20–40% off, $6.99 a month per person). Aetna has the most specialist locations (262,000+). All four cover implants and crowns — and because none has an annual cap, they beat dental insurance for expensive major work.

Searching for the best dental savings plan for implants? Careington 500 Series is the pick — the widest advertised discount range (20–60%) on one of the largest U.S. networks, at $149 a year through 1Dental, and, critically, no annual maximum. A single implant can exhaust a typical insurance annual cap; none of the plans here have that cap. Humana (20–40% off, $6.99 a month per person) is the one to compare for seniors and dentures. Aetna has the most specialist locations (262,000+) if you need an oral surgeon. All four cover implants and crowns.

Last updated: October 2026 | Prices and discount ranges checked against each plan's current data

Best for Implants & Crowns by Category

  • Best overall for major work: Careington (20–60%) — widest discount range on a broad national network, no annual max.
  • Best for seniors and dentures: Humana (20–40%) — restorative-focused, $6.99/mo per person.
  • Largest specialist network: Aetna (262,000+) — best for oral surgery/implants.
  • Best fee transparency: Cigna — confirm the exact implant/crown price first.

Best Plans for Implants & Crowns 2026: Ranked

Ranked by major-work discount depth, network size, and savings. Every plan below covers both implants and crowns, and none has an annual maximum. No paid placements.

#PlanFrom / moSavings
1CareingtonBest for Major Work$14.95/mo + $30 setup, or $149/yr20–60%
2Humana Dental SavingsBest for Seniors & Dentures$6.99/mo per person20–40%
3Aetna Dental SavingsLargest Specialist Network$14.95/mo + $30 setup, or $149/yr15–50%
4Cigna Dental SavingsBest Fee Schedules$8/mo equivalent ($96/yr)Up to 40%

For the all-purpose ranking, see the Best dental savings plans of 2026 →

Best Overall for Major Work: Careington 500 Series

Careington offers the deepest discount range — 20–60% — and pairs it with a broad national network, which matters for major work that may need an oral surgeon or prosthodontist. At $149 a year through 1Dental (or $14.95 a month plus a $30 setup fee) with no annual maximum and no waiting periods, it is the strongest value when the priority is minimizing the out-of-pocket cost of an implant or crown.

Its 2026 Sample Schedule 501 caps a porcelain-fused-to-high-noble-metal crown (D2750) at $524 at a participating general dentist. It lists no implant fee: participating specialists give 20% off their normal fees, so ask for a written implant quote before you enroll. Read the full Careington review.

Best for Seniors and Dentures: Humana Dental Savings

Humana is oriented around restorative and major work — implants, crowns and dentures. Discounts run 20–40% at $6.99 a month per person, and there is no annual maximum, so a full implant or a set of crowns keeps the discount all year instead of hitting an insurance-style cap.

Humana lists 135,000+ dentists and no waiting periods for major work. It prices each person separately, with no family tier. Read the full Humana Dental Savings review.

Largest Specialist Network: Aetna Dental Savings

Aetna Dental Savings has the most dentist and specialist locations of any plan here — 262,000+ — which is the practical advantage for implants and oral surgery that require a specialist rather than a general dentist. Discounts run 15–50% with no waiting periods and no annual maximum. Read the full Aetna Dental Savings review.

Why a Savings Plan Beats Insurance for Implants

Dental insurance typically caps payouts at $1,000–$2,000 per year — less than the cost of a single implant — and often excludes implants entirely or imposes a 6–12 month waiting period for major services. A dental savings plan has no annual maximum and no waiting period: the discount applies to every procedure, all year, with no ceiling. For one or more implants, or several crowns in a year, the savings plan almost always costs less out of pocket.

  1. Confirm the specialist is in-network. Implants often need an oral surgeon or periodontist — check the plan directory for the specialist, not just a general dentist.
  2. Get the exact fee by CDT code. Major-work discounts vary by procedure code; confirm the implant or crown fee before enrolling (Cigna publishes these online).
  3. Compare total cost, not the discount %. A 20% discount on a fair retail fee can beat 50% off an inflated one.
  4. No waiting period means act now. All plans here activate in ~3 business days.

Or skip the research and use our free advisor — answer 6 questions and we'll match you to the plan that fits your procedure and budget.

The Bottom Line

For implants and crowns, Careington 500 Series is the best dental savings plan for most people — the widest advertised range (20–60%) at $149 a year through 1Dental, with no annual maximum. Choose Humana (20–40%) if you are a senior who needs dentures, and Aetna for the most specialist locations.

The deciding factor for major work is the absence of an annual maximum — every plan here beats dental insurance on an expensive implant precisely because there is no yearly cap and no waiting period.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best dental insurance for major dental work?

For implants, crowns and dentures, a dental savings plan often costs less than dental insurance because it has no annual maximum and no waiting period, while many insurance policies cap benefits at $1,000 to $2,000 a year and make you wait 6 to 12 months for major services. Our pick for major work is Careington 500 Series at $149 a year through 1Dental, with the widest advertised range, 20–60%. Seniors who need dentures should also compare Humana Dental Savings at $6.99 a month per person with 20–40% advertised savings. A savings plan is not insurance: you pay the participating dentist the member price at the visit.

What is the best dental plan for seniors who need implants or dentures?

Humana Dental Savings: $6.99 a month per person, 135,000+ dentists, no annual maximum and no waiting period. It is a discount plan, not insurance or a Medicare benefit. If your dentist takes Careington instead, its 2026 Sample Schedule 501 lists complete dentures at $752 upper and $755 lower at a participating general dentist, on a $149 yearly membership through 1Dental.

What is the best dental savings plan for implants?

Careington 500 Series — $149 a year through 1Dental, the widest advertised range (20–60%), no annual maximum, no waiting period. Its 2026 Sample Schedule 501 lists no implant fee; participating specialists give 20% off their normal fees, so get a written implant quote. Humana (20–40%, $6.99 a month per person) for seniors and dentures; Aetna if you need the largest specialist network. Confirm the oral surgeon participates before you enroll.

Do dental savings plans cover implants?

Yes. Humana, Careington, Aetna, and Cigna all include implant discounts (advertised ranges between 15% and 60%), unlike many insurance policies that exclude implants. Careington’s Sample Schedule 501 lists no implant fee; participating specialists give 20% off their normal fees. With no annual maximum, a savings plan is often the practical way to afford an implant.

Is there an annual maximum?

No. None of the plans ranked have an annual maximum — the key advantage over insurance for major work, since insurance caps payouts and a single implant can exhaust the year's benefit.

Are there waiting periods for major work?

No. Dental savings plans have no waiting periods for implants, crowns, or any procedure. Activation takes about 3 business days, unlike insurance which often imposes 6–12 month waits for major services.

How much can I save on a crown?

Careington’s 2026 Sample Schedule 501 caps a porcelain-fused-to-high-noble-metal crown (D2750) at $524 at a participating general dentist. Other plans and materials price differently, so ask for the member fee on your exact CDT code. Multiple crowns keep the discount all year — no annual cap.

Savings plan or insurance for implants?

Usually a savings plan, because there is no annual maximum or waiting period and implants aren't excluded. If your insurer does cover implants, compare premiums + deductible + the amount above the annual cap against the savings plan's discounted fee.

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