Best Dental Savings Plans 2026
We compared 7 plans on price, network size, and what actually gets discounted. Here’s how they stack up — and which one fits your situation.
If you've been offered Aspen Dental's in-house savings plan, see our Aspen price list and coverage breakdown or the full comparison before signing up.
7 plans reviewed · Verified carrier pricing · No paid placements
Updated June 2026 — replaces our 2023 edition
Careington is the best overall dental savings plan for most people — lowest price ($8.95/mo, or $99/yr), a 200,000+ dentist network, and it works in about 3 days with no waiting periods.
Senior, or need major work like implants or dentures? Humana is the better pick — a broad national network (~140K) and strong major-procedure discounts.
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All 7 Plans at a Glance
Lowest verified individual price shown. “From” prices reflect the cheapest complete plan, not a teaser rate.
Careington
Top PickMost people — lowest price, huge network
From/mo
$8.95/mo
Network
200,000+
Rating
4.4★
Annual
$99/yr
Humana Dental Savings
Seniors and anyone needing major restorative work
From/mo
$9–14/mo
Network
~140,000
Rating
4.0★
Annual
—
Aetna Dental Savings
People who want a nationally recognized brand
From/mo
$8–14/mo
Network
217,000+
Rating
4.2★
Annual
—
Cigna Dental Savings
Existing Cigna customers, Northeast/Southeast
From/mo
$10–18/mo
Network
~110,000
Rating
4.1★
Annual
—
1Dental
Families — one membership covers everyone
From/mo
$16.95/mo
Network
100,000+
Rating
4.3★
Annual
—
| Plan | From / mo | Network | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CareingtonTop Pick | $8.95/mo | 200,000+ | See plan → |
| Humana Dental Savings | $9–14/mo | ~140,000 | See plan → |
| Aetna Dental Savings | $8–14/mo | 217,000+ | See plan → |
| Cigna Dental Savings | $10–18/mo | ~110,000 | See plan → |
| 1Dental | $16.95/mo | 100,000+ | See plan → |
Careington and Aetna Dental Access enroll through 1Dental, a direct reseller of both plans. Cigna and Humana enroll through DentalPlans.com, the marketplace that resells them.
How we evaluate plans
We rank dental savings plans on four things, in order: price (the real lowest complete rate, not a teaser), network size (how likely you are to find an in-network dentist near you), what actually gets discounted (routine cleanings vs. crowns, implants, and dentures), and speed to use (savings plans should work in days, not months). Every price on this page is pulled from the carrier’s own listings and re-checked each update.
We make money when you enroll through our links — but no plan pays us to rank higher. Careington tops the list because it’s the cheapest with one of the largest networks, full stop. If a different plan fits you better, we say so.
Our Top Picks, Explained
Careington
Best Overall- Cheapest plan we reviewed — $8.95/mo or $99/yr
- 200,000+ network dentists
- 15M+ members — the most proven plan in the category
- Works in 3 days, no waiting period on any procedure
- Discounts vary by provider — confirm before booking
- No standout family-pricing advantage
Bottom line: The default choice for most uninsured Americans. At $99/year it pays for itself in roughly one cleaning, and the 200K+ network means you’ll almost always find an in-network dentist nearby.
Humana Dental Savings
Best for Seniors- Broad national network — ~140,000 locations
- Strong discounts on dentures, implants, and restorative work
- Trusted Medicare-era brand — easy transition off employer coverage
- Competitive couple and family pricing
- A bit pricier than Careington for individuals
- Member tools feel dated next to competitors
Bottom line: Humana is tuned for seniors. If you need dentures, implants, or significant restorative work, its major-procedure discounts are consistently strong, which is why it’s our pick for older adults navigating Medicare gaps.
Aetna Dental Savings
Best Big-Brand Option- 217,000+ dentist locations nationwide
- Strong urban coverage
- Same Aetna name as major employer plans — familiar network
- Individual pricing starts at $8/mo
- Less compelling in rural areas
- No clear edge over Careington for routine care
Bottom line: A solid mid-tier choice. Brand recognition matters to some buyers — especially people coming off Aetna employer coverage who want to stay in the same network ecosystem.
Cigna Dental Savings
Best for Northeast/Southeast- Strong coverage in Northeast and Southeast markets
- Familiar brand for former Cigna employer members
- Good preventive-care discounts
- ~110K network is among the smallest here
- Pricier than Careington for similar routine coverage
- Thinner in rural areas
Bottom line: Makes the most sense if you’re already in the Cigna ecosystem from a former employer plan. The smaller network is a real limit for rural users, but urban Northeast/Southeast coverage is solid.
1Dental
Best for Whole Households- One flat membership covers an entire household at the same price — no per-person family upcharge
- Runs on the Careington network — 100,000+ participating dentists
- No waiting periods and no annual maximum
- Optional Aetna Dental Access bundle ($24.95/mo) adds specialist discounts for implants, braces, and oral surgery
- $30 one-time setup fee on top of the monthly price
- Resells the Careington plan — compare the all-in cost vs. buying Careington direct
Bottom line: Most plans here charge more once you add a spouse and kids. 1Dental doesn’t — one $16.95/mo membership covers the whole household on the Careington network. For a family of three or more, that single-price structure usually beats per-person family pricing, even after the one-time $30 setup fee.
What You’d Actually Save, Procedure by Procedure
Monthly price only tells half the story. Here’s each plan’s published savings percentage applied to national average retail prices (sourced on our dental procedure price index) — a range, not a guarantee, since your actual discount depends on your dentist.
| Plan | Savings % | Cleaning ($75–200) | Crown ($800–2,500) | Root canal ($900–1,500) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Careington | 20–60% | save $15–$120 | save $160–$1,500 | save $180–$900 |
| Humana | 15–50% | save $11–$100 | save $120–$1,250 | save $135–$750 |
| Aetna | 15–50% | save $11–$100 | save $120–$1,250 | save $135–$750 |
| Cigna* | 20–50% | save $15–$100 | save $160–$1,250 | save $180–$750 |
| 1Dental | 20–60% | save $15–$120 | save $160–$1,500 | save $180–$900 |
*Cigna is the only plan here that publishes exact, verified procedure prices instead of an estimate — see the real numbers in our Cigna Dental Savings review (a cleaning runs $55–$80, a crown $580–$920). Want your own numbers for the procedures you actually need? Try the dental savings calculator.
| Plan | Filling ($100–400) | Extraction ($130–500) | Implant ($3,000–6,000) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Careington | save $20–$240 | save $26–$300 | save $600–$3,600 |
| Humana | save $15–$200 | save $20–$250 | save $450–$3,000 |
| Aetna | save $15–$200 | save $20–$250 | save $450–$3,000 |
| Cigna* | save $20–$200 | save $26–$250 | save $600–$3,000 |
| 1Dental | save $20–$240 | save $26–$300 | Not covered on the base plan — needs the $24.95/mo Aetna Dental Access bundle |
1Dental is the one exception on implants: its base household membership only covers the Careington network’s standard procedures. Implant, brace, and other specialist discounts require adding the Aetna Dental Access bundle at $24.95/mo.
| Plan | Full dentures ($2,500–5,000) |
|---|---|
| Careington | save $500–$3,000 |
| Humana | save $375–$2,500 |
| Aetna | save $375–$2,500 |
| Cigna | save $500–$2,500 |
| 1Dental | save $500–$3,000 |
Dentures are where Humana’s senior-focused pricing tends to matter most in practice — its discounts on restorative work are consistently strong even though its percentage range (15–50%) is the same as Aetna’s on paper.
Match Your Situation to a Plan
- Need cosmetic work (whitening, veneers)? Careington or Aetna — Cigna and Humana exclude cosmetic coverage entirely.
- Need braces or orthodontics? Careington, Aetna, or Cigna. Humana and 1Dental’s base plan don’t cover braces.
- Family of three or more? 1Dental’s flat $16.95/mo household rate usually beats per-person family pricing on the other plans, even after its one-time $30 setup fee.
- Want to verify your exact price before buying? Cigna is the only plan here with a published, lookup-able fee schedule by procedure code and zip code.
- Senior needing dentures or implants? Humana — its major-procedure discounts and Medicare-era brand recognition are built for that.
- Want the largest possible network? Aetna at 217,000+ dentists, narrowly ahead of Careington’s 200,000+.
Real-World Savings Scenarios
Routine care only — one cleaning, one filling
A Careington member who gets one cleaning ($75–200 retail) and one filling ($100–400 retail) this year saves $35–$360 combined (20–60% off $175–$600 in combined retail cost) — often enough by itself to clear the $99 annual membership fee.
One major procedure — a crown
Anyone needing a single porcelain crown ($800–2,500 retail) saves $160–$1,500 with Careington or 1Dental, $120–$1,250 with Aetna or Humana, or $160–$1,250 with Cigna. In every case, one crown saves several times a year’s membership cost — the scenario where these plans pay for themselves fastest.
A family needing multiple visits
Two family members each getting one cleaning and one filling is $350–$1,200 in combined retail cost. At Careington’s 20–60% range, that’s $70–$720 saved — against 1Dental’s flat $16.95/mo household rate ($203.40/yr plus a one-time $30 setup fee), the math tends to favor 1Dental once a third family member is added.
The Honest Trade-Offs
- Savings vary by provider. The percentage on the label isn’t guaranteed at every dentist — confirm your dentist participates and check the fee schedule before assuming the top of any range.
- Cosmetic work isn’t always covered. Careington and Aetna discount cosmetic procedures like whitening and veneers; Cigna and Humana don’t.
- 1Dental’s flat family price carries a one-time $30 setup fee most single-plan options don’t charge — factor that into the first-year cost.
- If you only see a dentist once a year for a cleaning, the math is thin. A $99/year plan roughly breaks even on one $100–150 cleaning. The real value shows up the moment a filling, crown, or major procedure enters the picture.
- Cigna’s fee-schedule transparency costs more. At $10–18/month vs. Careington’s $8.95/month, Cigna is worth it mainly if you want to verify an exact procedure price before enrolling, or you’re already in its network from an old employer plan — see the full Cigna Dental Savings review.
How to Choose the Right Plan
Search each plan’s provider directory before signing up. If your current dentist isn’t in-network, you have two options: switch dentists, or pick the plan with the best coverage near you. Our find-a-dentist guide walks through it.
Routine care only? Careington at $8.95/mo is hard to beat. Planning implants, a crown, or a root canal? Look at Humana, where major-procedure discounts run deeper.
Careington costs $99/year. A single cleaning without any plan typically runs $100–150. If you go once a year, you break even in one visit — and save 20–60% on anything beyond that. See the full breakdown in are dental savings plans worth it?
Our advisor matches you to a plan based on where you live, the dentists you want, and the procedures you’re planning. No email required.
Dental savings plan vs. dental insurance
These get confused constantly, and the difference is the whole reason savings plans exist. Insurance pools premiums and pays out claims — slowly, with deductibles, waiting periods, and a hard annual cap. A savings plan is a flat membership that unlocks a pre-negotiated discount at the chair. No claims, no cap, no waiting.
| Savings plan | Dental insurance | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ~$99–215/yr | $300–600+/yr in premiums |
| Waiting period | None — works in ~3 days | 6–12 months on major work |
| Annual maximum | None | Usually $1,000–2,000 |
| How it pays | 20–60% off at the chair | % reimbursement after deductible |
Full breakdown: dental savings plan vs. insurance. On a budget? See the cheapest plans, or how much a plan costs.
Not sure which plan is right for you?
Have a short conversation with our advisor. A personalized recommendation in about a minute.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best dental savings plan?
Careington is the best dental savings plan for most people — lowest price ($8.95/mo, or $99/yr), a 200K+ provider network, and no waiting periods. For seniors or anyone needing implants or dentures, Humana’s dental savings plan offers a broad national network (~140K) with strong major-procedure discounts.
Are dental savings plans worth it without insurance?
Yes, for most people. Careington costs $99/year. One cleaning without any plan runs $100–150, so it usually pays for itself in a single visit — and it gets much better if you need any fillings, extractions, or major work, where discounts run 20–60%.
What is the best dental savings plan for seniors?
Humana. It has a broad national network (~140K) and the strongest discounts on the restorative work seniors need most — dentures, implants, and crowns — with no annual maximum and no waiting period.
Do dental savings plans work immediately?
Almost — every plan we reviewed activates in about 3 days, including for major procedures. There are no waiting periods and no claims to process, which is the biggest practical advantage over dental insurance.
What’s the difference between Careington and DentalPlans.com?
DentalPlans.com is a marketplace that sells multiple plans, including Careington. It’s the easiest place to compare options side by side and enroll. Careington is one specific plan sold inside it. If you already know you want Careington, you can enroll through the marketplace in a couple of clicks.
Can I use a dental savings plan with insurance?
Usually not at the same visit — most dentists process one or the other. But if your insurance has a low annual maximum (like $1,000), a common move is to use insurance until you hit the cap, then switch to a savings plan for additional work the same year.
Is Cigna Dental Savings a good plan?
Yes — we rate it 4.1/5. It costs $10–18/month, covers ~110,000 dentists, and saves 20–50%. It’s the only plan of the 7 we reviewed that publishes exact procedure prices by fee schedule before you enroll. It costs more than Careington and has a smaller network, so it fits best in the Northeast/Southeast or for former Cigna insurance customers.
How does Cigna Dental Savings compare to Careington?
Careington is cheaper ($99/year vs. Cigna’s $120–216/year) with a larger network (200,000+ vs. ~110,000 dentists) and a wider savings range (20–60% vs. 20–50%). Cigna’s advantage is published fee schedules — you can verify the exact discounted price for a procedure before you buy.
Does a dental savings plan cover cosmetic dentistry?
It depends on the plan. Careington and Aetna cover cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening and veneers. Cigna and Humana do not — check the coverage table on each plan’s review first.
Which dental savings plan covers braces?
Careington, Aetna, and Cigna all cover orthodontic work, including braces. Humana’s plan doesn’t, and 1Dental’s base membership doesn’t either — it requires the optional Aetna Dental Access bundle for orthodontic discounts.
Which dental savings plan has the smallest network?
Cigna Dental Savings has the smallest network here, at ~110,000 dentists — versus Careington’s 200,000+, Aetna’s 217,000+, and Humana’s ~140,000. Coverage is still strong in the Northeast and Southeast, so check your zip code before ruling it out.