Tennessee divides into three grand divisions, and each runs a different dentist market: Memphis in the west, Nashville in the middle, Knoxville and Johnson City in the east, with rural gaps in between. Statewide rankings flatten that reality, so this page leans on the tool that respects it, the ZIP-code directory search.
Careington 500 Series is the best dental savings plan for most Tennesseans: $12.95/mo ($129/yr plus a one-time $20 fee), one of the largest U.S. dentist networks, no waiting periods, 20–60% off covered procedures. Cheapest: Humana at $6.99/mo, strongest for seniors needing dentures or implants. Largest published network: Aetna at 262,000+ locations nationwide.
Same plans and prices nationwide. Ranking reflects value for most buyers: price, network usefulness, and savings depth.
| # | Plan | From / mo | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Careington 500 SeriesBest Overall | $12.95/mo($129/yr) | One of the largest in the U.S. |
| 2 | Humana Dental SavingsBest for Seniors | $6.99/mo | 135,000+ |
| 3 | 1DentalBest for Families | $14.58/mo($175/yr) | Careington network, one of the largest in the U.S. |
| 4 | Aetna Dental SavingsLargest Network | $7.99/mo($75/yr) | 262,000+ |
| 5 | Cigna Dental SavingsBest Transparency | $8/mo($96/yr) | ~110,000 |
Network counts above are national figures published by the carriers. None of them publish a Tennessee-only dentist count, so run each plan's ZIP search before you commit.
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Prices never do, whatever state-guide pages promise. None of the five reviewed plans sells a Tennessee product, fee schedule, or rate; all five bill nationally whether you live in Memphis or Johnson City. What Tennessee does change is which strengths deserve top billing. Medicare does not cover routine dental, and anyone paying cash feels insurance's design flaws hardest: 6–12 month waits for major work and $1,000–$2,000 annual caps that one root canal can erase.
That pushes 1Dental up the shortlist for this state's most common buyer, the household: $175/year for one member, $211/year for two, and $229/year for a household of 3+, all on the Careington network with no setup fee and a 30-day guarantee. The trade is structural rather than hidden: billed annually, so budget for the year at once. Careington stays the overall pick for its breadth and record back to 1979.
Three divisions mean three different directories. The growing Nashville and Memphis metros support deep participation, Knoxville and Johnson City run their own healthy markets, and rural gaps sit between them, with participation decided office by office throughout. Search your ZIP code in each plan's directory before enrolling, and if you get care in more than one division, search each ZIP.
The catch, stated plainly once more: these plans shrink bills instead of paying them. Even a steep discount leaves real money out of pocket on big cases, and savings vary by procedure and office. For most cash-paying Tennesseans, immediate uncapped discounts still beat waiting out an insurance clock, in all three grand divisions.
We publish audited national ranges instead of invented Tennessee fee schedules. Nashville and Memphis offices often sit above these figures; small-town practices below them. Ask any office for the plan's member rate before you book.
| Procedure | Typical retail | Typical with a plan |
|---|---|---|
| Composite filling | $200–$400 | $95–$145 (published Careington member price) |
| Single crown | $1,300 avg ($800–$2,500 range) | $520–$1,040 after a 20–60% discount |
| Routine cleanings and exams | Varies by office | Discounted the same way under every plan listed |
Filling numbers per our filling cost breakdown and filling cost without insurance. Crown numbers per our crown cost breakdown.
Want the short version? Our free advisor matches you across all seven reviewed plans in about a minute, or read our Tennessee statewide guide for more depth.
For most uninsured Tennesseans, Careington 500 Series at $12.95/month ($129/year plus a one-time $20 sign-up fee) is the best dental savings plan. It pairs one of the largest U.S. networks with an operating record back to 1979. Retirees needing dentures or implants should weigh Humana at $6.99/month first, and option-hunters across Nashville and Memphis fit Aetna's 262,000+ locations.
Prices are identical across state lines, so treat this as a ZIP-code decision: the best plan in Tennessee is the cheapest one that includes a dentist you can actually reach.
Not among the plans we review. All five are national discount memberships sold at the same price in Tennessee as elsewhere. Any page advertising exclusive Volunteer State rates invented them.
Participation varies office by office and no carrier publishes counts for Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, or any other Tennessee market. Search the plan's dentist directory by ZIP before enrolling, or call the office and ask whether they accept the plan by name.
No. They are discount memberships: no claims, no deductibles, no waiting periods, no annual maximums. You pay the discounted fee directly to the participating dentist at each appointment.
Yes. Prices, terms, and activation times are identical statewide, so East, Middle, and West Tennessee all run on the same national directories. Only the participating dentist lists differ by address, which is why the ZIP search settles it.
Yes. Once insurance reaches its annual maximum, the plan discounts additional work beyond the cap. Coordinate with the billing office before treatment so both apply correctly.