Best Dental Savings Plans in Pennsylvania (2026)

Pennsylvania has over 1.4 million uninsured adults — many of them in working-class communities in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh metros, and in rural central PA, where dental access is consistently rated among the worst in the Northeast. With dental insurance in PA running $40–$70/month for individuals and significant limitations on major work, dental savings plans at $99–$179/year offer a practical alternative.

Top Dental Savings Plans in Pennsylvania

1. Aetna Dental Savings — Best Overall for PA

Cost: $8–$14/month individual · $16–$24/month family PA network: 10,500+ participating locations

Aetna is particularly well-positioned in Pennsylvania. Their insurance market share is strong in both Philly and Pittsburgh, which means their dental savings network benefits from deep provider relationships. Coverage in suburban Philadelphia (Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, Delaware counties), the Main Line, and Pittsburgh's North Shore and South Hills is excellent.

Typical PA savings:

• Routine cleaning + X-rays: save $110–$190
• Crown: save $280–$520
• Root canal (molar): save $280–$480

2. Cigna Dental Savings — Best for Philadelphia

Cost: $10–$18/month individual · $20–$30/month family PA network: 8,000+ participating locations

Philadelphia is Cigna territory. Their HQ is in nearby Bloomfield, CT, and their Northeast insurance footprint makes them particularly strong in Philly, the surrounding suburbs, and the Lehigh Valley. The fee schedule transparency — you can verify exact costs by procedure and zip code before buying — is valuable for higher-cost Philly area dentists.

3. Careington 500 Series — Best Budget Option

Cost: $99/year individual · $149/year family PA network: 8,000+ participating locations

Careington is the flat-price winner in Pennsylvania, with solid coverage across major cities and reasonable mid-state and rural coverage. For Pennsylvanians who just need routine care and want to pay as little as possible, $99/year is hard to beat.

4. DentalPlans.com — Best for Central and Rural PA

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

Central Pennsylvania — Harrisburg, Altoona, State College, Williamsport — and the rural northern tier have significant variation in which savings plans are accepted. DentalPlans.com's dentist-first search lets you confirm coverage before buying, which is especially important in markets where networks thin out.

Pennsylvania Dental Costs: With and Without a Plan

Pennsylvania dental costs vary significantly between Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and the rest of the state. Philadelphia prices are 20–30% above the PA average.

| Procedure | Philly Avg (No Plan) | PA Avg (No Plan) | With Savings Plan | |---|---|---|---| | Cleaning + exam + X-rays | $240–$400 | $185–$310 | $120–$220 | | Composite filling | $210–$350 | $150–$260 | $90–$160 | | Root canal (molar) | $1,050–$1,650 | $830–$1,300 | $575–$910 | | Crown (porcelain) | $1,300–$2,100 | $1,000–$1,600 | $650–$1,050 | | Implant (full) | $4,000–$6,500 | $3,100–$5,000 | $2,000–$3,200 | | Full dentures | $2,800–$4,500 | $2,000–$3,500 | $1,300–$2,200 |

Rural Pennsylvania: The Coverage Gap Problem

Central and northern Pennsylvania have a persistent dental access problem — not just coverage, but actual provider availability. The HRSA lists multiple PA counties as dental health professional shortage areas.

What this means practically: in rural PA, the question isn't just "which savings plan covers me" — it's "is there a dentist within 30 miles who accepts any plan." Before purchasing, verify with the plan's provider locator that dentists are actually available in your area.

Aetna (217K+ network) and Careington (200K+) generally have the most coverage in underserved PA counties. For rural central PA, it's worth checking both first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Pennsylvania Medicaid cover dental for adults? Yes. Pennsylvania's Medical Assistance (Medicaid) program covers dental services for eligible adults, including preventive care, basic restorative work, and some major services. The program has income limits — if you qualify, it may provide better coverage than a savings plan. Check Pennsylvania's MA portal at dhs.pa.gov.

Are there dental schools in Pennsylvania? Yes. Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry (Philadelphia) and the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine both offer discounted public dental services. Penn Dental Medicine is also highly regarded. These are useful for complex, expensive procedures.

Bottom Line for Pennsylvania

1. Philadelphia metro: Cigna's Northeast network is deepest in the Philly suburbs and the Lehigh Valley
2. Pittsburgh and western PA: Aetna has the strongest network west of Harrisburg
3. Budget-first: Careington at $99/year is solid across most of PA's populated areas
4. Rural and central PA: Check Humana's provider search — their large national network gives better rural coverage than most

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 →