Best Dental Savings Plans 2026
We compared 7 dental savings plans — also called dental discount plans — on price, network size, and what actually gets discounted. Here’s how they stack up, and which one fits your situation.
7 plans reviewed · Verified carrier pricing · No paid placements
Careington is the best overall dental savings plan for most people — one of the largest national dentist networks, the widest savings range (20–60%), clear couple and family tiers at $12.95/mo ($129/yr), and it works in about 3 days with no waiting periods.
Want the lowest price for one person? Humana is $6.99/mo and Aetna is $7.99/mo ($75/yr) — both under Careington. Senior, or need major work like implants or dentures? Humana is the better pick — a broad national network (135K+) and strong major-procedure discounts. Want the largest network of any plan? Aetna Dental Savings covers 262,000+ locations. All plans activate in about 3 business days, with no annual cap. The single-plan pick is spelled out on the best dental savings plan answer. To price the procedures you actually need, run the dental savings calculator.
Careington from $12.95/mo · Free advisor if you’re unsure · We may earn a commission at no cost to you
Some people call these dental discount plans, others say dental discount cards — it’s the same product either way: a membership card that unlocks a pre-negotiated discount at the dentist’s office, not an insurance policy.
If you've been offered Aspen Dental's in-house savings plan, see our Aspen Dental vs a national savings plan before signing up.
Deciding between two of the plans above? Our Aetna vs. Cigna comparison and Cigna vs. Humana comparison break down price, network size, and coverage side by side.
Careington and 1Dental both run on the Careington network but price by household differently — see our Careington vs. 1Dental comparison for which one costs less for your family.
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 — broadest network, clearest family tiers
From/mo
$12.95/mo
Network
One of the largest in the U.S.
Rating
4.4★
Annual
$129/yr
Humana Dental Savings
Seniors and anyone needing major restorative work
From/mo
$6.99/mo
Network
135,000+
Rating
4.0★
Annual
—
1Dental
Families — one membership covers everyone
From/mo
$19.08/mo
Network
Careington network — one of the largest in the U.S.
Rating
4.3★
Annual
$229/yr household
Aetna Dental Savings
People who want a nationally recognized brand
From/mo
$7.99/mo
Network
262,000+
Rating
4.2★
Annual
—
| Plan | From / mo | Network | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CareingtonTop Pick | $12.95/mo | One of the largest in the U.S. | Enroll → |
| Humana Dental Savings | $6.99/mo | 135,000+ | Enroll → |
| 1Dental | $19.08/mo | Careington network — one of the largest in the U.S. | Enroll → |
| Aetna Dental Savings | $7.99/mo | 262,000+ | Enroll → |
| Cigna Dental Savings | $8/mo | ~110,000 | Enroll → |
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.
Ready to enroll in our #1 pick?
Careington — broad national network, 20–60% off, from $12.95/mo ($129/yr). Activates in about 3 days.
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 of one of the largest networks, the widest savings range, and clear couple and family tiers — not because it’s the cheapest, because it isn’t. Humana and Aetna both cost less for one person. If a different plan fits you better, we say so.
Our Top Picks, Explained
Careington
Best Overall- Widest savings range we reviewed — 20–60% off, and it discounts cosmetic work
- One of the largest U.S. dental networks
- 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 $129/year it pays for itself in roughly one cleaning, and the broad national network means you’ll almost always find an in-network dentist nearby.
Not sure this is the one? Ask the Advisor →
Humana Dental Savings
Best for Seniors- Broad national network — 135,000+ dentists
- Strong discounts on dentures, implants, and restorative work
- Trusted Medicare-era brand — easy transition off employer coverage
- Lowest individual monthly price we reviewed — $6.99
- No couple or family tier — every person is priced separately
- No cosmetic-procedure discounts
- 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.
Most readers do better with Careington
Careington rates 4.4★ — the highest of any plan we review — with One of the largest U.S. dental networks, so you’re likelier to find an accepting dentist near you. From $12.95/mo, 20-60% savings, no waiting periods.
Humana still fits if you’re a senior focused on dentures or major restorative work — that’s where its plan is strongest.
Enroll →Not sure this is the one? Ask the Advisor →
1Dental
Best for Whole Households- One household membership covers the whole family — no per-person family upcharge
- Runs on the Careington network — one of the largest in the U.S.
- No waiting periods, no annual maximum, and no separate setup fee (all fees included)
- 30-day money-back guarantee lets a family try it risk-free
- Optional Preferred Plan (from $247/yr) adds the Aetna specialist network for implants, braces, and oral surgery
- Household tiers cost more than a bare individual plan if you only need to cover one person
- Specialist discounts run deepest on the Preferred Plan bundle
Bottom line: Most plans here charge more once you add a spouse and kids. 1Dental doesn’t — one household membership (3+ members, $229/yr) covers the whole family on the Careington network, all fees included, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. For a family of three or more, that single-membership structure is the simplest way to get everyone covered.
Aetna Dental Savings
Best Big-Brand Option- 262,000+ dentist locations nationwide
- Strong urban coverage
- Same Aetna name as major employer plans — familiar network
- Cheapest plan on a national network — $7.99/mo ($75/yr)
- 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.
Not sure this is the one? Ask the Advisor →
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
- No cosmetic-procedure discounts
- 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.
Not sure this is the one? Ask the Advisor →
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 | Covered at the network rate — deepest specialist discounts on the Preferred Plan |
1Dental runs on the same Careington network and covers implants and braces at the network rate; the deepest specialist (oral surgeon / periodontist) discounts come from its Preferred Plan, which adds the Aetna Dental Access network.
| 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 doesn’t cover braces; 1Dental covers them at the network rate (deepest on its Preferred Plan).
- Family of three or more? 1Dental’s household membership (3+ members, $229/yr, all fees included) is the simplest way to cover everyone on the Careington network — no per-person upcharge and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- 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. See the best dental savings plans for seniors, what a dental implant costs with a savings plan, or how a savings plan cuts denture costs.
- Want the largest possible network? Aetna publishes the largest figure at 262,000+ locations. Careington publishes no dentist count, so we can’t rank it against Aetna on size.
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. Full breakdown: what a dental crown costs with a savings plan.
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 — and with 1Dental’s household membership (3+ members, $229/yr, all fees included), the savings grow once a third family member is added under the same membership.
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 household tiers cost more than a bare individual plan if you only need to cover one person — the value shows up once you’re covering a spouse and kids under the same membership.
- If you only see a dentist once a year for a cleaning, the math is thin. A $129/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 is cheaper than Careington, on a smaller network. At $8/month vs. Careington’s $12.95/month it undercuts on price, but runs ~110,000 dentists against one of the largest networks in the U.S. It wins 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 $12.95/mo is hard to beat. Planning implants, a crown, or a root canal? Look at Humana, where major-procedure discounts run deeper.
Careington costs $129/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?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best dental savings plan?
Careington is the best dental savings plan for most people — one of the largest national provider networks, the widest savings range (20–60%), clear couple and family tiers, and no waiting periods, at $12.95/mo ($129/yr). Cheaper plans exist: Humana is $6.99/mo per person and Aetna is $7.99/mo ($75/yr). For seniors or anyone needing implants or dentures, Humana’s dental savings plan offers a broad national network (135K+) with strong major-procedure discounts.
What are the best dental savings plans?
Our 2026 ranking: Careington (best overall), Humana (seniors and major work), 1Dental (household membership), Aetna Dental Savings / Vital Savings (largest published network), Cigna Dental Savings (published fee schedules). “Dental savings plan” and “dental discount plan” are the same product.
What are the best dental discount plans?
Same ranking as dental savings plans. Careington is the best dental discount plan for most people ($12.95/mo, 20–60% off). Humana is the cheapest individual discount plan at $6.99/mo. Aetna Vital Savings has the largest published dentist network (262,000+ locations).
Are dental savings plans worth it without insurance?
Yes, for most people. Careington costs $129/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 (135K+) 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 $8/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’s cheaper than Careington but 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?
Cigna is cheaper ($96/year vs. Careington’s $129/year), but Careington has a much larger network 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. 1Dental covers braces at the Careington network rate, and its Preferred Plan adds the Aetna specialist network for deeper orthodontic discounts.
Which dental savings plan has the smallest network?
Cigna Dental Savings has the smallest network here, at ~110,000 dentists — versus Aetna’s 262,000+ locations and Humana’s 135,000+. Careington publishes no dentist count, so it can’t be ranked here. Coverage is still strong in the Northeast and Southeast, so check your zip code before ruling it out.
Is a dental discount card the same as a dental savings plan?
Yes — dental discount card, dental discount plan, and dental savings plan are three names for the same product. You pay a flat membership fee and get a pre-negotiated discount rate at participating dentists. Most plans today don’t mail a physical card; you just give the dentist your membership ID at check-in.
Are dental discount plans worth it?
Yes, for most people without employer dental coverage. Careington, our top pick, costs $129/year — about the price of one cleaning, and Humana comes in lower still at $6.99/month. Since a single cleaning without a plan runs $100–150, it usually pays for itself in one visit, and the value climbs fast on fillings, crowns, or other major work.
How much does a root canal cost with a dental savings plan?
A root canal without a plan runs $900–$1,500 on the procedure table above. Applied savings: Careington and 1Dental (20–60%) save $180–$900; Humana and Aetna (15–50%) save $135–$750; Cigna (20–50%) saves $180–$750. Your dentist’s fee schedule sets the exact number.
How much does a dental crown cost with a dental savings plan?
A crown without a plan runs $800–$2,500 on the procedure table above. Applied savings: Careington and 1Dental (20–60%) save $160–$1,500; Humana and Aetna (15–50%) save $120–$1,250; Cigna (20–50%) saves $160–$1,250. Cigna is the only plan here that also publishes verified member prices — a crown runs $580–$920 on its fee schedule.
How much does a dental implant cost with a dental savings plan?
A single implant without a plan runs $3,000–$6,000 on the procedure table above. Applied savings: Careington (20–60%) saves $600–$3,600; Humana and Aetna (15–50%) save $450–$3,000; Cigna (20–50%) saves $600–$3,000. 1Dental covers implants at the Careington network rate, with the deepest specialist discounts on its Preferred Plan.