Best Dental Savings Plans in California (2026)
California has the second-highest dental costs in the country. An LA or San Francisco cleaning can run $350–$500 without coverage. A dental savings plan on this page cuts those costs 25–40% for $99–$189/year. Careington is $129/year individual. Aetna is $7.99/month. Cigna is $8/month. California cash prices here: cleaning + exam + X-rays $300–$550, or $190–$350 with a 25% plan discount.
- CA cleaning + exam + X-rays: $300–$550 cash; $190–$350 with a 25% plan discount
- CA porcelain crown: $1,200–$2,000 cash; $760–$1,268 with a 25% plan discount
- Careington 500 Series: $129/year individual, $189/year family
- Aetna Dental Savings: $7.99/month individual, $10.99/month family
- Cigna Dental Savings: $8/month individual, $11/month family
California has the second-highest dental costs in the country — only behind New York. An LA or San Francisco cleaning can run $350–$500 without coverage. A dental savings plan cuts those costs 25–40% for $99–$189/year. For Californians paying out of pocket, it's often the best available option. See the national ranking of best dental savings plans of 2026, or price a crown or implant in the dental savings calculator.
California also has the country's most competitive dental marketplace — you'll find strong networks from all major plans across most of the state.
Top Dental Savings Plans for California
1. Careington 500 Series — Best Overall
Cost: $129/year individual · $189/year family
California network: 15,000+ locations
Careington's California network is among its strongest nationwide. Every major metro is saturated — Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, San Jose all have thousands of participating dentists. The 500 Series discounts all procedures from day one with no restrictions.
Full Careington review →2. DentalPlans.com — Best for Specific Dentists
Cost: $79–$199/year
California network: Search by your dentist
California has a large number of independent practices that may participate in some networks but not others. DentalPlans.com's dentist-first search is particularly useful here — enter your dentist's name and find every plan they accept.
Full DentalPlans.com review →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.
DentalPlans.com still fits if you want to browse many carriers’ plans in one marketplace before committing — but if you already know you want the widest network with clear couple and family tiers, Careington is the plan most people land on anyway.
Enroll →3. Aetna Dental Savings — Best PPO-Quality Network
Cost: $7.99/month individual · $10.99/month family
California network: 12,000+ locations
Aetna's dental savings network overlaps significantly with their insurance PPO network — meaning it includes many high-quality group practices and specialists. In San Francisco and LA, Aetna often has better specialist (periodontist, oral surgeon) coverage than Careington.
Full Aetna Dental Savings review →4. Cigna Dental Savings — Best in Bay Area
Cost: $8/month individual · $11/month family
California network: Strong in Bay Area and LA
Cigna has deep Bay Area penetration with strong San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland networks. If you're in the Bay Area, compare Cigna's discounted fee schedule with Careington's at your specific dentist — Cigna sometimes offers better rates in dense urban markets.
California Dental Cost vs. National Average
California dental costs run 20–35% above national averages in most metro areas. Use the dental savings calculator with LA or Bay Area prices if you already know the procedure.
| Procedure | CA Average | With 25% Plan | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning + exam + X-rays | $300–$550 | $190–$350 | $110–$200 |
| Composite filling | $225–$380 | $143–$241 | $82–$139 |
| Root canal (molar) | $1,050–$1,700 | $665–$1,078 | $385–$622 |
| Crown (porcelain) | $1,200–$2,000 | $760–$1,268 | $440–$732 |
| Implant (full) | $3,500–$6,500 | $2,219–$4,118 | $1,281–$2,382 |
| Full dentures | $3,000–$6,000 | $1,900–$3,800 | $1,100–$2,200 |
| Deep cleaning (4 quadrants) | $1,400–$2,800 | $887–$1,774 | $513–$1,026 |
Denti-Cal vs. Dental Savings Plans
Medi-Cal dental (Denti-Cal) covers California adults with very limited benefits:
- Covered: emergency extractions, limited preventive care, limited restorative
- Not covered: implants, most crowns, orthodontics for adults
- Requires: Medi-Cal eligibility (income limits apply)
If you qualify for Medi-Cal, use Denti-Cal for what it covers. For everything else — particularly crowns, implants, orthodontics, and periodontal treatment — a dental savings plan covers what Denti-Cal doesn't.
California Dental Schools
UCLA School of Dentistry, UCSF School of Dentistry, USC Herman Ostrow School, and UC San Diego are all excellent options for heavily discounted treatment under faculty supervision. Wait times can be 1–3 months for new patients, but savings of 50–70% are common. Some accept dental savings plans for additional discounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Medi-Cal cover dental for adults? Medi-Cal covers comprehensive dental for enrolled adults under Denti-Cal, including preventive, restorative, and emergency services. Coverage is real but provider participation is limited in many areas — California has long-standing access problems for Medi-Cal dental. Many working Californians above income limits need private coverage.
Are dental schools in California available to the public? Yes. UCLA School of Dentistry, USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, UCSF School of Dentistry, Loma Linda School of Dentistry, and Western University College of Dental Medicine all offer public clinics at reduced rates. Wait times can be long but the savings are significant.
Bottom Line for California
Given California's above-average dental costs, a dental savings plan saves more here than in most states. A $700 crown in the Midwest becomes a $1,200–$1,800 crown in LA — and a 25% dental savings plan saves $300–$450 on that single procedure.
- Start with Careington — 15,000+ California locations, everything covered
- Bay Area specifically: Compare Cigna's fee schedules in your ZIP
- Already have a dentist: Use DentalPlans.com to find plans they accept
Also comparing chain dental offices? Aspen Dental runs its own in-house savings plan — see how it compares to a national network: Aspen Dental savings plan vs. a national plan →
Compare all plans and find what works in your California ZIP code →Not Sure Which Plan Fits?
Answer 5 quick questions and our advisor matches you to a plan that fits your dentist and budget: Find my plan (~1 min) →
Or see the full national ranking: Best dental savings plans of 2026 →
Weighing Cigna against Careington? Our Cigna Dental Savings review has the full pricing and network breakdown.
Compare Nearby States
Networks, costs, and Medicaid rules vary by state. If you live near a border or you're comparing a move: