Best Dental Insurance Companies for February 2026

Why Trust Us

Investopedia staff editors and researchers pore over data from insurance providers and other credible sources to provide objective, comprehensive reviews and analysis. For the list of the best dental insurance providers, we considered 17 insurers and 30 criteria that are important when choosing a dental insurance policy. After collecting 595 data points related to premiums, waiting periods, coverage percentages, deductibles, and much more, we scored and weighted the data to determine the best providers. Investopedia has been a trusted source for financial information since 1999 and has been helping readers find the best dental insurance since 2020. 

How Does Dental Insurance Work?

Dental insurance works similarly to other types of insurance—you pay a premium every month, and in exchange, you receive coverage for certain types of services or procedures. Typically, monthly premiums are between $20 and $50 for individuals, depending on the type of plan.

There are three categories of dental services that may or may not be covered by dental insurance: preventive, basic, and major dental. Basic services include fillings and extractions. Major services are more expensive and complex, including procedures like crowns, bridges, and root canals.

Most insurance plans cover 100% of preventive care, which includes routine cleanings and X-rays. However, major or basic services may be subject to a deductible, coinsurance, and copayments. A deductible is the amount you must pay before the insurance company pays a portion of the costs. 

For example, if your plan covers all preventive care services and then has a $50 deductible and 20% coinsurance for basic services, this means that when you have a basic dental service completed, such as a filling, you’d first have to spend $50 on covered services to hit the deductible. After that, the plan would pay 80% of the costs for basic services, and you’d pay 20%.

However, there are some services that dental insurance plans won’t cover. For example, plans typically won’t cover cosmetic dentistry, such as teeth whitening. When it comes to orthodontics, some plans will cover orthodontic services (such as braces) while others won’t.

Dental insurance plans also have annual maximums, which is the most your plan will pay for covered services in a plan year. If your plan has a $1,000 annual maximum, the plan would pay for up to $1,000 worth of covered services in that plan year. If you needed services beyond that amount, you’d pay for 100% of the costs. After a new plan year starts, the annual maximum resets.

Plus, some plans have waiting periods lasting a stated number of months. During the waiting period, a plan will not cover certain types of services. However, once the probationary period ends, the plan will cover those services. While most plans don’t have waiting periods for preventive services, they may have waiting periods for basic and major services. The purpose of a waiting period is to deter people from getting expensive dental services done and then terminating their coverage shortly afterwards.

When you’re shopping around, you’ll also want to consider what type of coverage you want. If you want access to a broad network of dentists and the ability to see out-of-network providers, a dental preferred provider organization (DPPO) could be a good choice. But if you prefer to keep costs low and don’t mind having to see a primary care dentist for referrals to specialists, a dental health maintenance organization (DHMO) could be a better option.

Common Dental Insurance Terms to Understand

• Premiums: This is the amount you pay for your insurance plan. Typically, premiums are paid monthly.
• Deductible: This is the total amount you must pay in a plan year before your insurance company starts sharing costs. For example, if your plan has a $50 deductible, you are self-insured for the first $50 on services before your plan covers a portion of the costs.
• Coinsurance: Coinsurance refers to the portion you have to pay after you meet your deductible. So if your plan has a $50 deductible and your coinsurance is 20%, after you spend $50 on services, you would be responsible for paying 20% of the costs, while your insurance plan would cover the other 80%.
• Annual Maximum: This is the maximum amount your plan will pay for covered services. If your plan has a $2,500 annual maximum, that means your plan would pay for up to $2,500 in covered services. After that, you’d pay 100% of the costs.
• Copayment: A copay is a fixed fee you pay for certain services. You may have copays even after you’ve hit the deductible.
• Dental preferred provider organization (DPPO): These plans typically offer a broad network of providers, with the option to see out-of-network providers, though at a higher cost. With a DPPO, you can see a specialist without getting a referral from a primary care dentist.
• Dental exclusive provider organization (DEPO): Like DPPOs, these plans have a wide network of providers, and you don’t need to see a specialist to get a referral. However, unlike DPPOs, you won’t have the option of seeing out-of-network providers.
  

How We Chose the Best Dental Insurance Companies

Investopedia’s process for finding the best providers starts with narrowing the field of companies to consider. For that, we combed through business and industry data about market share and trends and tapped Google reviews to understand consumer sentiment about the industry and specific insurers. This analysis led us to a field of 17 companies offering standalone dental plans. We did not consider plans that have to be bought with health insurance through a state or federal marketplace. 

Staff researchers and editors then gathered data on these companies from insurer websites and brochures, media contacts, and Investopedia’s existing partners. We also collected data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), a regulatory support organization that keeps a database of complaints made by customers to state insurance regulators. Data was gathered between Oct. 9, 2023, and Dec. 23, 2023.

The data then went into a quantitative model that scored each company on 35 criteria our experts believe are essential when choosing an exceptional dental insurance provider. We divided the criteria into five categories and weighted them for this article as such:

• Coverage: 42%
• Cost: 36%
• Customer Satisfaction: 15%
• State Availability: 5%
• Customer Service: 2%