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

By The Dental Savings EditorsReviewed July 20266 min readWe earn commission when you enroll. We don't get paid to rank plans.
Short answer

Humana Dental Savings is the best dental savings plan for implants and crowns — 15–50% off major restorative work, no annual maximum, no waiting periods. Careington (20–60% off, 200,000+ dentists) wins if you want the deepest discounts and largest network. Aetna has the most specialist locations (217,000+). All four cover implants and crowns — and because none has an annual cap, they beat dental insurance for expensive major work.

Humana Dental Savings is the best dental savings plan for implants and crowns — built around major restorative work with 15–50% discounts and, critically, no annual maximum. Careington (20–60% off) offers the deepest discount range and the largest network (200,000+ dentists). Because no plan here has an annual cap, any of them beats dental insurance for a multi-thousand-dollar implant.

Last updated: July 2026 | Major-work coverage verified against each plan's current data

Best for Implants & Crowns by Category

  • Best overall for major work: Humana — restorative-focused, no annual max.
  • Deepest discounts: Careington (20–60%) — largest network too (200,000+).
  • Largest specialist network: Aetna (217,000+) — 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
1Humana Dental SavingsBest for Major Workfrom $9/mo15–50%
2CareingtonDeepest Discounts$9.95/mo20–60%
3Aetna Dental SavingsLargest Specialist Networkfrom $8/mo15–50%
4Cigna Dental SavingsBest Fee Schedulesfrom $10/mo20–50%

For the all-purpose ranking, see the best dental savings plan answer →

Best Overall for Major Work: Humana Dental Savings

Humana wins for implants and crowns because the plan is oriented around restorative and major work — the exact procedures (implants, crowns, dentures) that get expensive fast. Discounts run 15–50%, 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.

The ~140,000-dentist network overlaps heavily with Careington's underlying infrastructure, so specialist availability is comparable. There are no waiting periods for major work. Read the full Humana Dental Savings review.

Deepest Discounts: Careington

Careington offers the deepest discount range — 20–60% — and pairs it with the largest network in the category (200,000+ dentists), which matters for major work that may need an oral surgeon or prosthodontist. At $9.95/month 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. Read the full Careington review.

Largest Specialist Network: Aetna Dental Savings

Aetna Dental Savings has the most dentist and specialist locations of any plan here — 217,000+ — 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–$1,500 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, Humana Dental Savings is the best dental savings plan — restorative-focused with 15–50% discounts and no annual maximum. Choose Careington for the deepest discount range and largest network, 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

Do dental savings plans cover implants?

Yes. Humana, Careington, Aetna, and Cigna all include implant discounts (typically 15–50% off), unlike many insurance policies that exclude implants. 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?

Crowns retail around $1,000–$1,800. With a 20–60% plan discount you might pay roughly $600–$900 depending on the plan and 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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