Aspen Dental Savings Plan: How It Works, Costs & What’s Covered
The Aspen Dental in-house membership costs $49/year for the primary member (plus $29/year per additional household member) and includes free exams, X-rays, and procedure discounts — but only at Aspen offices. It’s a discount plan, not insurance. Here’s the full price list and how it stacks up against open-network alternatives.
Best for: patients already going to Aspen Dental who want to lower their out-of-pocket costs.
Skip if: you want network flexibility or the best price per procedure.
What the Aspen Dental savings plan is
The Aspen Dental savings plan is an in-house membership program — meaning it’s offered directly by Aspen Dental, not through an insurance company or a third-party discount network like Careington. It is not insurance: there’s no claims process, no deductible, and no annual coverage maximum. You pay a flat annual fee — $49/year for the primary member, plus $29/year for each additional household member — and in return get two cleanings and two exams/X-rays per year at no additional charge, plus fixed discounts on most other procedures (30% off cleanings, 20% off crowns, bridges, implants, and dentures, 10% off in-office clear aligners).
The catch: the plan only works at Aspen Dental offices. There are 1,000+ locations across the U.S., so coverage is broad — but if you move, prefer a different dentist, or need a specialist referral (orthodontics, oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics), the membership doesn’t travel with you and those services aren’t discounted at all.
What’s included
- 2 dental exams per year, 100% off (included, no extra charge)
- Bitewing x-rays and full-mouth x-rays, 100% off (included)
- 30% off routine cleanings
- 20% off crowns, bridges, implants, dentures, and core buildup at Aspen offices
- 10% off clear aligners done in-office at Aspen
- No waiting period and no annual coverage maximum
What it does NOT cover
- Specialist services excluded entirely — endodontics, periodontics, orthodontics, and oral surgery get no discount, even when performed at an Aspen location
- No coverage at any non-Aspen dental practice
- Fillings and simple extractions aren’t on Aspen’s published discount schedule — pricing on those varies by office
- Traditional braces (which require an orthodontist) aren’t discounted; only in-office clear aligners get 10% off
- No portability if you switch dentists or move to an area without an Aspen office
Aspen Dental price list: what you’d pay with and without the plan
Aspen Dental doesn’t publish one fixed nationwide price list — costs vary by office. What’s fixed is the Savings Plan’s discount schedule. Below are typical U.S. cost ranges for common procedures, drawn from our national dental cost index, shown with and without the plan.
Ranges are typical U.S. costs, not Aspen-specific quotes — your exact price depends on the office and the dentist’s assessment. Root canals or implants referred to a specialist get no discount under the plan.
Aspen Dental savings plan vs Careington vs DentalPlans.com
The in-house plan makes the most sense when you’re already an Aspen patient. For anyone without a strong preference, the open-network alternatives offer more dentist choice at a lower cost. For a procedure-by-procedure price table and the full worth-it verdict, see our complete Aspen Dental Savings Plan comparison.
Careington is available through DentalPlans.com or directly. Discounts vary by dentist and procedure.
Most readers do better with Careington
Careington rates 4.4★ — the highest of any plan we review — with 200,000+ network dentists, so you’re likelier to find an accepting dentist near you. From $9.95/mo, 20-60% savings, no waiting periods.
Aspen still fits if you already use and like a nearby Aspen Dental office — but its plan only works at Aspen locations, so without one close by, Careington’s 200,000+ nationwide dentists are the better deal.
See Careington →Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Aspen Dental savings plan cost?
$49/year for the primary member, plus $29/year for each additional household member. It's billed as one annual fee — there's no monthly payment option. A family of four would pay $49 + (3 × $29) = $136/year.
Is the Aspen Dental savings plan insurance?
No. "Aspen Dental insurance" is a common search, but this is a discount membership, not insurance — no claims process, no deductible, no annual coverage maximum. You pay $49/year and get free exams and X-rays plus a fixed discount schedule at Aspen offices only.
What is Aspen Dental's price list?
Aspen doesn't publish one fixed nationwide price list — costs vary by office. What's fixed is the plan's discount schedule: 100% off exams and X-rays (2x/yr), 30% off cleanings, 20% off crowns/bridges/implants/dentures. See the price table above for typical cost ranges.
Is Aspen Dental insurance or a discount plan cheaper?
For someone paying out of pocket, Aspen's $49/year discount plan usually beats buying individual dental insurance ($30–60/month with a deductible and a 6–12 month wait for major work). If your employer subsidizes dental insurance, take the insurance instead.
Does the Aspen Dental savings plan work at all locations?
Yes — any Aspen Dental office accepts the in-house savings plan. With 1,000+ locations across the U.S., you can use your membership nationwide. The limitation is that it does not work at non-Aspen dental practices.
Can I use the Aspen Dental plan if I have insurance?
Yes. You can use the savings plan for procedures not covered by your insurance — for example, costs that exceed your annual insurance maximum. Most dentists process one benefit at a time, so use insurance first, then apply the savings plan to any remaining out-of-pocket costs.
Is the Aspen Dental savings plan worth it vs insurance?
It depends. If you already go to Aspen Dental regularly and just need cleanings plus minor procedures, the $49/year plan can lower your costs meaningfully. However, Careington costs $99/year (about $8.95/mo) and works at 200,000+ dentists — most people without a strong existing preference for Aspen Dental will get more value from Careington.
Does the plan cover braces or Invisalign?
Aspen's plan gives 10% off clear aligners done in-office. Traditional braces require an orthodontist (a specialist), and specialist services are excluded from the plan entirely. Confirm with your local office what an in-office treatment would involve before enrolling.
Explore your options
Already an Aspen patient? Their $49/year plan is a solid deal. If you want a plan that works at any dentist in your area, our full review and comparison pages will help you find the right match.