Making a regular visit to your dentist’s office is an important part of keeping your oral health in good shape. But while scheduling a checkup or cleaning is essential to give you a bright smile and help you avoid painful cavities, the out-of-pocket expenses they require can be a major deterrent for many people.

Having dental insurance can provide the financial cushion that many people need when maintaining a balanced oral healthcare routine. However, like every form of insurance, there is still a cost associated with it.

To help you decide whether or not dental insurance is right for you, we’ve provided all the details you need to make an informed decision.

How Much is Dental Insurance on Average?

The average monthly dental insurance premium cost in 2024 in the US is roughly $40 a month.[1] These costs have been calculated by looking at ten of the most commonly used dental insurance providers and range from $19 a month to around $87 a month.

This being said, the dental insurance cost you’ll expect to pay will depend on a number of different variables. You’ll want to make sure you get a variety of quotes to make sure you have a good understanding of the amount of coverage your dental insurance premiums will cover, if your plan covers orthodontic treatments such as braces or Invisalign, and how much you can expect to pay throughout the course of a year.

What Factors Will Impact The Average Cost of Dental Insurance?

When deciding on whether or not dental insurance is affordable for you, you’ll want to keep in mind that there are a number of factors that will impact how much you can expect to pay.

Below are some of the variables that will come into pricing your dental insurance:

Where You Live

Not all areas in the US will have the same cost of living expenses and have certain health insurance coverage limitations. Due to this fact, the cost of dental insurance can vary depending on where you live. Premium amounts can also be dictated by the number of dental insurance providers competing in a service area.

Typically, the more options you have when choosing a provider in your area, the more affordable your dental insurance rates will be.

If You Have Employee Benefits

Employee benefit plans are one of the best ways you can acquire dental insurance along with other healthcare insurance options.

Many employers will format their dental services benefits so that they are contributing a portion of the premium costs for them and health insurance month-to-month. This will help you save on the costs for you and your family and potentially give you access to higher dental insurance coverage brackets you may not be able to afford on your own.

Dental Insurance Deductible Amounts

Most dental insurance plans will require you to pay a deductible amount for certain elements of coverage. You’ll have the ability to request higher or lower deductible amounts when receiving quotes. However, the amount you set will dictate the cost of your monthly dental insurance premiums. Higher deductible amounts will lead to

Your Number of Dependents

Your dental insurance premium amounts will also depend on the amount of dependents you’re looking to cover. Typically, the more dependants you add, the slightly discounted your dental insurance costs may be. Many times, you’ll find that there are plans specifically formatted for families vs. individuals to help adjust coverage options and premium amounts so that they stay affordable.

Established Copays

A copay is a fixed dollar amount you’ll need to pay out-of-pocket when getting a certain dental service. This could include a dental checkup or cleaning, although it could also be in place for basic cavity-filling procedures. Similar to your deductible amount, the higher your health insurance copays, the lower your monthly premium and the other way around.

Annual Maximum Benefit Amount

All dental insurance plans will have a maximum amount allotted for certain elements of coverage. For example, when you choose a certain dental insurance plan, you may be limited to $2500 for any major dental work coverage or only be covered for up to $500 in dental exams throughout the course of a year.

Again, these amounts can be raised or lowered based on the affordability you’re looking for in your monthly health insurance premium costs.

What Does Your Dental Insurance Cost Cover?

One thing to keep in mind about dental insurance, especially when comparing coverage amounts against healthcare plans, is that overall coverage amounts tend to be more limited in scope and are typically capped in various categories. It’s very rare to find a dental insurance plan that covers absolutely all the dental services you might need or provides unlimited coverage amounts.

That being said, many plans do offer a range of options and will typically group their dental services into full and partial coverage categories. For example, there are many dental insurance plans that will cover 100% of the cost of routine checkups, teeth cleanings, and any X-rays needed. They may also provide full coverage for minor dental procedures like filling a cavity, although this coverage will likely be capped to a certain amount per year and per dependant.

When it comes to more costly dental procedures, such as when complicated oral surgery is needed, getting fitted for dentures or bridges, and receiving dental implants, coverage levels will vary considerably from one provider to the next.

Many times, you’ll have the ability to add or increase coverage for these types of procedures. However, they’re likely to make a considerable impact on your total premiums while also only covering a portion of your total out-of-pocket expenses.

What are the Different Types of Dental Insurance Plans?

Depending on where you live, you may come across different acronyms used to explain the type of dental insurance you’re researching. These types of plans will differ in how they are constructed and may or may not be most suitable for your own situation.

Below are some of the common dental insurance plan types:

• Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO) – A PPO dental plan is one of the most flexible insurance plans you’ll find. These dental insurance plans will allow you to choose any dentist that you prefer but will provide preferential rates if you only use a dentist that’s part of a dental preferred provider organization network. These plans will likely work on a deductible that will be required out-of-pocket before you’re able to use any of your coverage amounts.
• Dental Health Maintenance Organizations (DHMO) – DHMO plans require you to use only a dentist that’s part of your provider’s network. Your copayments for services rendered are usually quite affordable, and many plans won’t have an annual deductible. Being able to take part in a DHMO plan, however, will generally require you to receive a referral to use a specialist.
• Direct Reimbursement Plans – Employers sometimes provide a direct reimbursement plan for dental coverage as an extension of employee benefits. In these situations, you’ll be responsible for any out-of-pocket expenses when going to the dentist. However, the amounts paid will be reimbursed to you directly from your employer. However, employers will usually limit the amount of reimbursement in a given year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding dental insurance.