Best Dental Savings Plans in Tennessee (2026)

Tennessee has one of the highest rates of dental uninsurance in the South — over 1.1 million adults without coverage. Tennessee did not expand Medicaid until 2023 (and with limitations), leaving a large coverage gap for working adults. Nashville's booming healthcare industry and music/entertainment sector has attracted a huge freelance and gig economy workforce that often goes without employer dental benefits. A dental savings plan at $99–$149/year with no waiting periods is frequently the best option for Tennesseans paying out of pocket.

Top Dental Savings Plans in Tennessee

1. Careington 500 Series — Best Overall

Cost: $99/year individual · $149/year family Tennessee network: 5,500+ participating locations

Careington has solid coverage across Tennessee's four major metros — Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga — with reasonable coverage in smaller cities like Murfreesboro, Clarksville, Jackson, and Kingsport/Johnson City. At $99/year, it's the most cost-effective plan for most Tennesseans.

Typical Nashville savings:

• Routine cleaning + X-rays: save $90–$165
• Crown: save $225–$430
• Root canal (molar): save $215–$400

2. Humana Dental Savings — Best for Memphis and Rural Tennessee

Cost: $9–$14/month individual · $18–$25/month family Tennessee network: 6,500+ participating locations

Humana has historically strong market presence in Memphis — Tennessee's most medically underserved major city — through its Medicaid managed care relationships. Their dental savings network in West Tennessee and rural East Tennessee (Appalachian corridor) is broader than Careington's. Worth the slight premium if you're in a rural county.

3. Aetna Dental Savings — Best for Nashville Healthcare Workers

Cost: $8–$14/month individual · $16–$24/month family Tennessee network: 6,000+ participating locations

Nashville is the healthcare capital of the US — HCA Healthcare, Community Health Systems, and dozens of other hospital networks are headquartered here. Aetna has deep employer insurance relationships with these companies, translating to a dense dental savings network in the Nashville metro, including Brentwood, Franklin, and Murfreesboro.

4. DentalPlans.com — Best for Knoxville and Chattanooga

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

East Tennessee's University of Tennessee-adjacent communities (Knoxville) and Chattanooga's growing tech/startup scene both have enough plan options that dentist-first searching is worthwhile. DentalPlans.com is the right tool for Tennessee buyers who want to verify coverage at a specific provider before committing.

Tennessee Dental Costs: With and Without a Plan

| Procedure | Nashville Avg (No Plan) | Tennessee Avg | With Savings Plan | |---|---|---|---| | Cleaning + exam + X-rays | $180–$305 | $165–$275 | $105–$185 | | Composite filling | $150–$250 | $135–$225 | $80–$145 | | Root canal (molar) | $800–$1,280 | $730–$1,150 | $540–$865 | | Crown (porcelain) | $975–$1,550 | $880–$1,400 | $650–$1,000 | | Implant (full) | $2,950–$4,900 | $2,700–$4,500 | $1,950–$3,200 |

Tennessee dental costs run slightly below the national average, particularly in smaller cities and rural areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Tennessee Medicaid (TennCare) cover dental for adults? TennCare covers emergency dental services for adult enrollees — primarily extractions. Comprehensive preventive and restorative dental is not broadly covered for adults. Tennessee's Medicaid expansion (implemented 2023) added coverage for some populations, but adult dental remains limited. Most working Tennesseans need private coverage.

Are dental schools in Tennessee available to the public? The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry (Memphis) and Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry (Nashville) offer discounted public dental services. Both accept most procedure types and are good options for expensive work.

Bottom Line for Tennessee

1. Nashville: Aetna for healthcare industry workers; Careington for everyone else at $99/year
2. Memphis and rural West Tennessee: Humana's broader network is the stronger pick in TN's most underserved areas
3. Knoxville and Chattanooga: DentalPlans.com lets you compare and verify your specific dentist
4. Budget-first: Careington at $99/year is the default for most Tennesseans

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 →