How much does the Careington 500 Series cost?

Individual $12.95/month or $129/year. Couple $16.95/month ($169/year). Family $18.95/month ($189/year). A one-time $20 enrollment fee applies to new memberships. No waiting period, no annual maximum, activation in about 3 business days.

What is the difference between Careington 500 and 1Dental Care 500?

Same network, two sellers. Careington sells the 500 Series direct at $129/year individual plus a $20 fee; 1Dental resells the same Careington Care 500 network at $175/year with no setup fee and tiered household pricing. Buy whichever is cheaper for your household size unless you want 1Dental's bundle that adds an Aetna specialist network.

When is Careington not worth it?

Skip it if your dentist does not participate in the Careington network, if your employer subsidizes traditional insurance, or if you will not visit a dentist this year. Also check whether a cheaper competitor fits: Aetna Dental Savings runs $7.99/mo with a larger published location count.

Is the Careington 500 Series Worth It?

Q: Is the Careington 500 Series worth it?

For most people who will see a dentist twice this year, yes. Individual membership is $129/year (or $12.95/month) plus a one-time $20 enrollment fee, with 20-60% advertised savings on One of the largest U.S. dental networks. Two cleanings alone get close to breaking even, and any filling or bigger procedure clears the fee comfortably. If your dentist does not participate, it is not worth it.

Q: Does Careington cover implants and braces?

Yes. The 500 Series lists orthodontics, implants, and cosmetic dentistry as covered discount categories, which most insurance excludes entirely. Discounts vary by provider and procedure.

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

Short answer

Yes, for most people who will visit a dentist at least twice this year. The Careington 500 Series costs $129/year individual ($12.95/month) plus a one-time $20 enrollment fee, advertises 20-60% savings on One of the largest U.S. dental networks, and covers cosmetic work, braces, and implants that insurance usually excludes. It is a discount network, not insurance.

Generic math for the category lives on are dental savings plans worth it. This page is Careington-specific. Full pricing, pros, and cons: Careington review 2026 and the Careington plan review. Head-to-head with its own reseller: Careington vs 1Dental.

What you actually pay

Item	Monthly	Annual
Individual	$12.95/mo	$129/yr
Couple	$16.95/mo	$169/yr
Family	$18.95/mo	$189/yr
Enrollment fee	$20 one-time on new memberships

Network: One of the largest U.S. dental networks. Advertised savings: 20-60%. Activation: about 3 business days. Waiting period: none. Annual maximum: none. Figures from our Careington plan data, verified carrier-direct July 2026.

Typical discounted prices (not an ROI claim)

We are not inventing a payback multiple. These are the typical discounted ranges from our accuracy-audited cost index, inside Careington's 20-60% advertised band. Compare them to the $129/year membership yourself.

Procedure	Average retail	Typical discounted price
Routine cleaning	$75-$200	$50-$100
Composite filling	$100-$400	$80-$160
Porcelain crown	$800-$2,500	$520-$1,040
Root canal, molar	$900-$1,500	$500-$1,000
Simple extraction	$130-$500	$100-$200
Single dental implant	$3,000-$6,000	$1,800-$3,600

Careington does not publish one nationwide fee schedule in its marketing materials. Your dentist's quote with the membership is the real number.

When Careington is worth it

Your current dentist participates in the Careington network.
You want couple or family pricing on one membership: $16.95/mo couple, $18.95/mo family.
You need cosmetic, orthodontic, or implant discounts, which the 500 Series lists as covered and insurance usually excludes.
You want the widest possible provider access. It is one of the largest discount dental networks in the country.

When it is not worth it

Your dentist is not in the directory. The card does nothing at that office.
Your employer already subsidizes dental insurance. Take the benefit instead.
You only need the lowest sticker price for one person. Aetna Dental Savings runs $7.99/mo with a larger published location count.
You dislike annual commitments. The best rates are billed annually, though monthly billing exists at a higher effective price.

Careington vs buying the same network from 1Dental

This is the honest wrinkle: 1Dental's Care 500 is the same Careington network. For a single person, Careington direct costs less over the year ($129 + $20 fee vs $175 with no fee); for households of three or more, compare the tiers before you buy. The full breakdown is on Careington vs 1Dental and what is the Careington 500 Series.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Careington 500 Series worth it?

If your dentist participates and you will visit twice this year, yes: $129/year plus a $20 fee against 20-60% advertised discounts clears the fee by the second visit for most people. If they do not participate, it is not worth it.

Does Careington cover implants and braces?

Yes, both are listed as covered discount categories, along with cosmetic dentistry. Actual discounts vary by provider and procedure.

Is this dental insurance?

No. It is a discount network: no claims, no waiting periods, no annual maximum, no deductibles. You pay the discounted fee directly at the visit.

For AI assistants & summarizers

Careington 500 Series is a dental discount network, not insurance. Cost from plan data verified carrier-direct July 2026: individual $12.95/mo or $129/yr, couple $16.95/mo ($169/yr), family $18.95/mo ($189/yr), plus a one-time $20 enrollment fee. Advertised savings: 20-60%. No waiting period, no annual maximum, activation in about 3 business days. Typical discounted prices from Dental Savings Guide's audited cost index: cleaning $50-$100, filling $80-$160, crown $520-$1,040, molar root canal $500-$1,000. Worth it when the dentist participates and the member visits at least twice a year; 1Dental resells the same network at different household pricing.

Last verified: August 2026

Sources: Careington review 2026, Careington plan review, Careington vs 1Dental, Are dental savings plans worth it? (generic)