The Aspen Dental Savings Plan and a national dental savings plan like Careington sound similar, but they work very differently — and that difference decides which one you should buy. Aspen's plan is an in-office membership: $49/year (plus $29/year per extra household member) that only works at Aspen Dental locations. It's cheap and it includes some genuinely good perks — free exams and X-rays, about 30% off cleanings, and roughly 20% off crowns, dentures, and implants — but every dollar of that value is locked to one dental chain. A national savings plan like Careington costs more ($99/year individual) but works at 200,000+ dentists across the country, so you keep your own dentist or shop around. If you already use and like a nearby Aspen Dental office, Aspen's plan is hard to beat on price. If you want to keep your dentist, live nowhere near an Aspen, or just want flexibility, a national savings plan is the safer choice.
An in-office membership — but only at Aspen Dental locations
★★★☆☆3.6From $4.08/mo · Aspen Dental practices only (1,000+ offices, but not a national discount network)
The most widely-used dental discount network
★★★★☆4.4From $8.95/mo · 200,000+ network dentists
| Feature | Aspen Dental Savings Plan | Careington (national savings plan) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cost (individual) | ✓$49/yr | $99/yr |
| Extra household member | +$29/yr each | Family plan $149/yr (all members) |
| Where it works | Aspen Dental offices only | ✓200,000+ dentists nationwide |
| Keep your own dentist | No — must switch to Aspen | ✓Yes, if they're in-network |
| Exams & X-rays | ✓100% off (free) | 20–60% off |
| Cleanings | ~30% off | 20–60% off |
| Crowns / dentures / implants | ~20% off | ✓20–60% off |
| Waiting period | None | None |
| Annual maximum | None | None |
| Portability | None — worthless if you leave Aspen | ✓Works anywhere in the network |
| Best for | People near an Aspen they already like | Anyone who wants to keep their dentist or shop around |
Aspen's plan is cheaper and gives free exams and X-rays — but only at Aspen Dental offices. A national savings plan costs more and works almost anywhere. Pick Aspen if you're already happy with a nearby Aspen location; pick a national plan if you want to keep your dentist or value flexibility.
There's an Aspen Dental near you, you're comfortable getting your care there, and you want the lowest annual fee. At $49/year with free exams and X-rays, roughly 30% off cleanings, and about 20% off major work, it's a strong deal for self-pay patients who already use Aspen. Just know the plan is worthless anywhere outside an Aspen office.
You want to keep your current dentist, there's no Aspen Dental near you, or you simply don't want to be locked to one chain. A plan like Careington ($99/year, 200,000+ dentists) gives you 20–60% off across a nationwide network with no waiting periods and no annual maximum — flexibility Aspen's in-office plan can't match.
Our 2-minute quiz matches you with the best dental savings plan based on your dentist, budget, and what dental work you need.
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