What is dental insurance?

Typically, a dental discount plan will work as a group to get discounts with dentists within a network.  This will save money by acting like a coupon where you pay an amount considerably less than others without the plan. These plans are effective in bringing the cost of dental care down.

Another type is a regular dental insurance plan which typically acts like a health insurance plan.

Dental insurance vs. dental discount plans

Some consumers are confused by the differences between dental insurance and dental "discount" plans. With dental insurance, you pay regular premiums for your coverage and your plan has annual spending caps. It generally covers 100 percent of the cost of preventive services after you meet your deductible.

When you take both large and small employers into account, the number of employers offering dental insurance drops to 54 percent. According to the NADP, about 40 percent of the U.S. workforce still lacks dental benefits.

As for your children, if they qualify for the federal/state Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), they might be provided with dental benefits.

While you might not need to buy a dental plan if you rarely have dental problems, you might want to join a dental plan if you've had a rough dental history or if you know you'll need a lot of dental treatment in the near future.

Costs can vary by state, age, and history for both types of plans.