Best Dental Insurance Companies 2026Compared
How seven leading dental insurers compare on the things that actually differ — DPPO vs. DHMO plan type, the 100-80-50 coverage structure, annual maximums, waiting periods for major work, network size, and orthodontia. Qualitative only: no premiums, no ratings, no scores.
Dental plans look similar from carrier to carrier, but the details that matter are the plan type (DPPO or DHMO), how the coverage tiers are structured, whether there is a waiting period for major work, how large the dentist network is, and whether orthodontia is included. This comparison focuses on those well-established differentiators rather than prices, which vary widely by state, age, and plan tier.
Because this is a qualitative guide, we don't quote premiums, annual-maximum dollar amounts, or satisfaction scores. Instead, each carrier summary describes who the plan tends to suit and its widely-known strengths, so you can shortlist a few options and then confirm exact terms and your dentist's participation directly with the insurer.
Dental Insurance carriers at a glance
Delta Dental
Best for: Maximizing dentist choice and in-network savings nationwide- ✓Operates the largest dentist network in the US, spanning its Delta Dental PPO and Delta Dental Premier networks
- ✓Offers both DPPO plans (see any dentist, save more in-network) and DeltaCare USA DHMO plans
- ✓Widely available through employers and as individual and family plans across all states
Watch for: Plans and networks are administered by state-level member companies, so specific terms and availability vary by state.
Cigna
Best for: Households that want dental bundled with broader health coverage- ✓Large national DPPO network, with DHMO plan options in many states
- ✓Individual and family plans commonly cover preventive care with no waiting period
- ✓Integrates with Cigna medical and vision so a household can keep one carrier
Watch for: DHMO plan availability is limited to certain states.
Guardian
Best for: Buyers who prioritize orthodontia and no-wait options- ✓Offers plans with no waiting period on certain coverage tiers
- ✓Commonly noted for stronger orthodontia options, including adult ortho on some plans
- ✓Well-established presence in employer and group dental coverage
Watch for: Individual-market plan availability is narrower than its group offerings and varies by state.
MetLife
Best for: Employer-based coverage and keeping a plan between jobs- ✓Extensive national PPO dentist network
- ✓TakeAlong Dental is designed to let individuals keep coverage when changing jobs
- ✓Follows the familiar 100-80-50 DPPO coverage structure on many plans
Watch for: Individual plans are less widely marketed than its group coverage.
Humana
Best for: Budget-conscious shoppers who want plan variety- ✓Wide range of individual DHMO, DPPO, and dental discount options
- ✓Some preventive-focused plans carry no waiting period
- ✓Broad availability for individuals and for Medicare Advantage members
Watch for: Its dental discount plans are not insurance and work differently from DPPO/DHMO coverage.
Ameritas
Best for: Flexible individual PPO plans with carryover benefits- ✓Offers plans with no waiting period on some tiers
- ✓Known for an annual-maximum carryover feature that rolls unused benefit forward year to year
- ✓PPO network with the freedom to see out-of-network dentists
Watch for: Carryover and no-wait features depend on the specific plan you select.
Spirit Dental
Best for: Buyers who want coverage to start without long waits- ✓Markets individual and family plans with no waiting periods, including on some major services
- ✓Offers plans whose annual maximum increases over the first few years of continuous coverage
- ✓Provides nationwide PPO access for out-of-network flexibility
Watch for: Spirit is a general agency; its plans are underwritten by partner insurers, so read the specific plan's terms.
This comparison is editorial and intentionally omits premium quotes — rates depend entirely on your specifics. Confirm coverage, availability, and current pricing directly with each carrier.
Start with the plan type: DPPO vs. DHMO
The biggest decision is the network model. A DPPO (dental preferred provider organization) lets you visit any dentist, though you save the most in-network, and you never need a referral to see a specialist. A DHMO (dental health maintenance organization) asks you to pick a primary dentist and generally costs less, but you are limited to the plan's network and may need referrals for specialty care.
DPPO plans usually carry an annual maximum and a deductible; many DHMO plans have no annual maximum and use a fixed fee schedule instead. If flexibility and dentist choice matter most, lean DPPO; if predictable low cost matters more and your dentist is already in the network, a DHMO can work well.
- •DPPO: any dentist, no referrals, save more in-network, has an annual maximum
- •DHMO: choose a primary dentist, lower cost, network-limited, usually no annual maximum
- •Confirm your current dentist participates before choosing either model
Read the 100-80-50 structure, maximums, and waiting periods
Most DPPO plans follow a 100-80-50 coverage structure: preventive care (cleanings, exams, routine X-rays) is covered at 100%, basic services (fillings, simple extractions) around 80%, and major work (crowns, bridges, dentures) around 50%, after any deductible. The annual maximum caps what the plan pays toward all of that in a given year.
Major services frequently carry a waiting period, often several months up to about a year, before the plan pays its share. This is where carriers differ: Guardian, Ameritas, and Spirit Dental are known for plans that waive or shorten waiting periods, and some Ameritas and Spirit plans increase the annual maximum over consecutive years of coverage.
- •Preventive care is typically covered fully and usually exempt from waiting periods
- •Major work often has the longest waiting period, commonly up to a year
- •No-waiting-period and increasing-maximum plans exist, but verify the exact tier terms
Match coverage to your needs, including orthodontia
Orthodontia is not automatic. Many plans exclude it, offer it only as an optional rider, or cover only children's braces up to a separate lifetime maximum. Guardian is often cited for stronger orthodontia options, including adult ortho on some plans. If braces are on the horizon, confirm whether ortho is included, whether it covers adults, and what the separate lifetime maximum is.
Beyond ortho, weigh the dental work you actually anticipate. If you expect major work soon, a no-waiting-period plan and a higher annual maximum matter more than the headline premium; if you mostly need cleanings and checkups, a preventive-focused plan or a DHMO may be plenty.
- •Confirm whether orthodontia is included, optional, or excluded
- •Check whether ortho covers adults or children only, and its separate lifetime cap
- •Factor upcoming major work into how you weigh waiting periods and maximums
Dental Insurance — Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a DPPO and a DHMO dental plan?
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A DPPO lets you see any dentist, saves you the most in-network, and requires no referrals, but it has an annual maximum and a deductible. A DHMO asks you to choose a primary dentist, usually costs less, and often has no annual maximum, but you are limited to the plan's network and may need referrals for specialists.
What does the 100-80-50 coverage structure mean?
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It describes how a typical DPPO splits coverage: 100% for preventive care like cleanings and exams, about 80% for basic services like fillings, and about 50% for major work like crowns and bridges, after any deductible and up to the annual maximum. The exact percentages can vary by plan.
Which dental insurers offer plans with no waiting period?
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Guardian, Ameritas, and Spirit Dental are commonly known for offering plans that waive or shorten waiting periods, sometimes even on major services. Availability depends on the specific plan and your state, so always confirm the waiting-period terms for the exact plan you are considering.
Which dental network is the largest?
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Delta Dental operates the largest dentist network in the US, across its PPO and Premier networks. MetLife and Cigna also maintain large national networks. A bigger network raises the odds your current dentist participates, but you should still verify your dentist is in-network before enrolling.
Is orthodontia usually covered by dental insurance?
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Not always. Many plans exclude orthodontia, offer it only as an optional add-on, or cover only children's braces up to a separate lifetime maximum. Guardian is often noted for stronger orthodontia options, including adult coverage on some plans. If you need braces, confirm the ortho terms before choosing a plan.
Related guides
Jennifer Walsh
Editorial Lead, Health & Medicare
This article was researched and written by the Cover Forge USA editorial team against federal sources (NAIC, CMS, FEMA, DOL, SSA, state DOIs) and standard policy forms. Bylines organize content by topic — they do not assert individual licensure. See our editorial-policy for details.
Reviewed June 2026
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