Best Dental Savings Plans in Colorado (2026)

Colorado's large freelance and outdoor industry workforce — ski resort employees, outdoor guides, remote workers, independent contractors — often goes without employer dental benefits. Over 700,000 Coloradans lack dental coverage. Individual dental insurance in Colorado runs $35–$65/month with the usual caps and waiting periods. A dental savings plan at $99–$149/year is the more practical answer for most.

Top Dental Savings Plans in Colorado

1. Careington 500 Series — Best Overall

Cost: $99/year individual · $149/year family Colorado network: 4,500+ participating locations

Careington performs well in the Front Range — Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Boulder — which is where most of Colorado's population lives. Coverage thins in mountain resort towns and rural western Colorado, but for the 85%+ of Coloradans along the Front Range, the network is adequate.

Typical Denver-area savings:

• Routine cleaning + X-rays: save $110–$190
• Crown: save $260–$490
• Root canal (molar): save $260–$460

2. Humana Dental Savings — Best for Mountain Towns and Rural Colorado

Cost: $9–$14/month individual · $18–$25/month family Colorado network: 5,500+ participating locations

Humana's large national network provides the best coverage in Colorado's mountain resort communities — Vail, Aspen, Steamboat Springs, Telluride — where dental care is expensive and other networks are thin. If you live or work in mountain Colorado, Humana's reach is significantly better than Careington or Cigna.

3. DentalPlans.com — Best for Denver Metro Comparison

Cost: From $7/month (varies by plan) Colorado network: Search by your specific dentist

Denver's large young professional and tech worker population is well-served by the DentalPlans.com marketplace. The Front Range has enough dental providers that plan selection genuinely matters — checking which plan covers your specific Denver, Boulder, or Fort Collins dentist before buying is worth the 10 minutes.

4. Aetna Dental Savings — Best for Existing Aetna Customers

Cost: $8–$14/month individual · $16–$24/month family Colorado network: 4,000+ participating locations

Aetna's Front Range network is solid, particularly in Denver's tech corridors where Aetna employer insurance has strong market share. For Coloradans who've transitioned from Aetna employer dental to individual coverage, the savings plan keeps them in the same provider network.

Colorado Dental Costs: With and Without a Plan

| Procedure | Denver Avg (No Plan) | Mountain Town Avg | With Savings Plan | |---|---|---|---| | Cleaning + exam + X-rays | $200–$340 | $260–$450 | $120–$230 | | Composite filling | $170–$280 | $220–$360 | $90–$170 | | Root canal (molar) | $900–$1,400 | $1,100–$1,800 | $600–$980 | | Crown (porcelain) | $1,100–$1,750 | $1,400–$2,200 | $700–$1,100 | | Implant (full) | $3,300–$5,200 | $4,000–$7,000 | $2,100–$3,500 |

Mountain town dental costs can run 25–40% above Denver metro prices, making savings plans especially valuable for resort community residents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Colorado Medicaid cover dental for adults? Colorado Medicaid (Health First Colorado) covers limited emergency dental for adults. Comprehensive preventive and restorative care is not broadly covered for adults. Most working Coloradans above the Medicaid threshold need private coverage.

Are dental schools available in Colorado? The University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine (Aurora, on the Anschutz Medical Campus) offers discounted public dental services. Good option for major or expensive procedures, though wait times apply.

Bottom Line for Colorado

1. Front Range (Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Boulder): Careington at $99/year is the default — solid network along the Front Range at the lowest price
2. Mountain towns (Vail, Aspen, Steamboat, Telluride): Humana's larger network is the better bet where other plans are thin
3. Existing Aetna customers: Stay in-network with the Aetna savings plan
4. Denver comparison shoppers: DentalPlans.com lets you verify your dentist and compare local options