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Delta Dental is the best dental insurance company for 2024 because of its low complaint rate and great coverage for various dental services. But depending on your preferred dentist, location, coverage needs, and budget, another dental insurance company may be a better fit. For instance, Physicians Mutual is great for overall cost and MetLife stands out for plans that have no annual maximum.
To help you find the best dental insurance company for you, we researched 17 dental insurance companies, gathering 595 data points across 35 criteria, including cost, coverage options, waiting periods, networks, and customer satisfaction. We've been researching and reviewing dental insurance companies since 2000, and Investopedia has been a trusted source of financial information since 1999.
Delta Dental earned top scores partly because the sample plan we researched provides good coverage levels for all three tiers of dental care (preventive, basic, and major). It also has the highest maximum benefit of the plans we researched, and state regulators received relatively few complaints about the company. We also like that Delta has a large network of providers.
To compare dental insurance providers, we gathered information about each company’s PPO plan with the lowest premiums and coverage for preventive, basic, and major care (PPO is short for preferred provider organization). In Delta Dental’s case, the plan we researched is called Premium PPO, and if offered in your state, it provides 100% coverage for preventive care—like exams and cleanings—before you meet the $50 to $100 deductible.
After a waiting period of six to 12 months and after you meet the deductible, the Premium PPO plan covers other treatments. This includes 50% to 80% coverage for basic care (like fillings and simple extractions) and major care (like implants and orthodontics). Percentages depend on your state.
Delta Dental’s Premium PPO plan also stands out for its maximum coverage limit, which ranges from $2,000 to $2,500 per person annually, depending on your state. That’s the most Delta will pay for all your care in a year.
Serving 80 million policyholders, Delta Dental claims to offer one of the largest nationwide networks, making it more likely that your dentist of choice is covered. It says three out of four dentists nationally are part of the Delta Dental network.
However, the plan’s average premiums are higher than what other companies charge for PPOs that offer all three categories of coverage. That can impact whether a Delta plan is worth it for you. For example, if you pay $65 monthly for dental insurance, your dental expenses must be $780 for the year just to break even.
You may find very few Delta Dental plans available in some states and more plans available in others.
When it comes to customer satisfaction, Delta Dental is a crowd-pleaser. The company received far fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size over three years, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index.
Based on our analysis, Delta Dental was also the top-ranking company in the following categories.
Delta offers the most PPO and health maintenance organization (HMO) plans with adult braces coverage, the highest lifetime coverage, and the best in-network and out-of-network orthodontics coverage of the companies we researched. For these reasons, Delta Dental wins the top spot on our list of the best dental insurance providers for braces.
Delta Dental’s Premium PPO plan offers 40% to 50% coverage for implants while also offering a shorter waiting period, in some cases, than most other companies. That’s why it earned the top spot on our list of the best dental insurance companies for implants.
The Premium PPO plan also offers great coverage for major care, like dentures and periodontal treatment. It scored highest for implant coverage, making it our top choice for the best dental insurance for older adults.
Pros & ConsThe Delta Dental Plans Association is a not-for-profit organization that offers nationwide coverage through 39 independent companies. The association was founded in 1966 to serve businesses with employees in multiple states, but Delta’s dental services organizations have been operating in some states since 1954.
In California and Texas (the states we reviewed), Delta Dental offers two PPO plans and one HMO plan. One of Delta Dental’s more basic PPO plans does not cover major services like implants.
In other states, Delta Dental may offer up to six different plans. The company also offers a plan for veterans in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
You can learn more about Delta Dental on the company’s main website or contact your member company directly. Delta also has an app, online portal, and live chat for policyholders.
Dental Plans OverviewWhile Delta Dental’s plans differ by state, to give you an idea of the kinds of plans and coverage it provides, we gathered information about plans in Los Angeles. The quotes below are for PPOs for a 30-year-old female applicant living there, and are rounded to the nearest dollar.
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Based on Physician Mutual’s lowest-cost, comprehensive PPO plan:
The Physicians Mutual Economy Plan has no coverage limit, a $0 deductible, and a relatively low premium, giving it the best overall cost-to-value score of the companies we reviewed. Coverage of some sort is offered in most states, and the company has a large network of dental care providers.
The Economy Plan is a good deal particularly if you just need preventive care. But it only pays around 25% of dental expenses for basic and major services on average. Three of the company’s plans typically pay dentists a flat amount for each service, with minimal coverage for basic and major benefits. For example, they might pay around $23 toward a metal filling, which can cost $253.
While Economy has the best overall cost score, the Premier plan is Physician Mutual’s most comprehensive and expensive plan, offering 70% in-network coverage for basic procedures and more expensive major dental procedures such as crowns. This may make it a better value for people who need those services than some other plans.
Something to be mindful of: NAIC data shows Physicians Mutual has had a slightly higher complaint rate on average over the past three years than expected for a company of its size. Ameritas, the company’s underwriter, also ranks last out of nine insurers in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Dental Plan Satisfaction Study. These are both indicators of poor customer satisfaction.
Research Insight"When looking at plan costs, compare premiums and deductibles alongside coverage amounts for relevant procedures to determine what you might be responsible for. The type of plan you choose will also impact how much you pay. An HMO offers lower costs and emphasizes preventive care, but will limit your choice of dentists. A PPO plan might be better if you want to choose any dentist you like, even if it comes with higher premiums. The cheapest premiums might not always be the most cost-effective in the long run, so it’s important to consider all these elements when making a decision." - Shanker Narayan, Investopedia Research Analyst
Pros & ConsPhysicians Mutual was founded in 1902 and provided health insurance coverage to physicians and surgeons. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. It now offers a wide range of insurance products to the general public, including life insurance, Medicare supplement (Medigap) plans, and pet insurance.
Physicians Mutual offers four PPO dental insurance plans that cover over 400 dental procedures.
You can learn more about Physicians Mutual on the company’s website, where you can request a dental information kit. The company also offers an online portal and mobile app, and you can reach support at the phone numbers below:
The plans offered by Physicians Mutual vary by state. But to provide a sampling of what the company has, we looked at plans in Los Angeles and collected quotes for a 30-year-old female applicant there. We rounded premiums to the nearest dollar. You may find other plans in your state.
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Based on MetLife’s lowest-cost, comprehensive HMO plan:
MetLife won the top spot on our list of the best dental insurance with no annual maximum coverage. Most no-annual-maximum plans are HMO plans, so for this category, we looked mostly at HMOs instead of PPOs. MetLife offers two dental HMO plans with low premiums, no annual benefit limits, and no waiting periods. The HMO plans go by the names “DHMO-LOW” and “DHMO-HIGH.” The DHMO-HIGH plan offers lower copays in exchange for a higher monthly premium.
However, MetLife’s HMO plans are only available in California, Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Texas, and most covered services (including preventive cleanings and office visits) require a copay.
As with most HMO plans, these have far more limited dentist networks than PPO plans. You must select an in-network dentist who you’ll get your care from. If that dentist doesn’t do specialized work, you may pay as much as 75% of a contracted provider’s fee.
MetLife scored below average in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Dental Plan Satisfaction Study, but ranked higher than some other providers. Given its market share, the company had fewer complaints with the NAIC over the last three years than the expected.
What does maximum benefit mean?Maximum benefit is the amount that a dental plan will pay for dental work once you hit your deductible. This maximum benefit amount is typically per year.
Pros & ConsMetLife was founded in 1868 and focused initially on providing life insurance policies. Today, the company is in over 40 countries and sells dental insurance in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. It offers PPO and HMO dental insurance plans, as well as a dental discount program called MetLife Discount Dental Program. MetLife primarily provides coverage via group (employer) benefits.
MetLife also offers offers plans that individuals and families can purchase directly. If you live in an area where no HMOs are available, you can buy one of MetLife’s individual TakeAlong PPO plans from the insurer’s website. You can also shop for six MetLife PPO plans provided through NCD, one with implant coverage and a $10,000 maximum benefit. NCD plans are available in 38 states.
You can find out more about MetLife on the company’s website. You can email customer service or get dental insurance support by calling 800-942-0854. The company also has a mobile app and online portal for policyholder customer service. To buy an NCD plan, call 469-780-4044.
Dental Plans OverviewThe quotes below are based on a 30-year-old female applicant in Los Angeles looking for a no-annual-maximum plan. Prices are rounded to the nearest dollar. Other plans, including PPO plans, are available in other states.
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Based on Anthem's lowest-cost plan with no waiting period for preventive, basic, and major dental care:
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) stands out as the best dental insurance company for no waiting periods because of its cost-to-value proposition, high annual maximum benefit, and strong coverage for basic and major dental care. Anthem’s Essential Choice Incentive plan allows you to use your dental benefits right away for preventive, basic, and major care.
The plan has an excellent annual coverage maximum of $2,500 and a $50 deductible, which is about standard for the no-waiting-period plans we researched. It also offers some of the best coverage we’ve found for major dental care among no-waiting-period plans. After hitting your deductible, the plan covers 30% of major expenses and 60% of basic expenses in the first year. All of this earned Anthem the top spot on our list of the best dental insurance with no waiting period.
One of the downsides, however, is that the premium for the Incentive plan is relatively high. And the company only operates in 14 states. The Incentive plan may not be available in all of them.
Pros & ConsAnthem is part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield network of companies. Anthem sells dental insurance plans in 14 states and operates under several different names depending on location. In addition to dental insurance, Anthem also sells health insurance, Medicare plans, and vision insurance.
You can learn more about Anthem dental insurance or enroll in a dental plan by calling 833-959-1551. Anthem’s business hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern.
Dental Plans OverviewThe sample plan below has no waiting period for preventive, basic, and major services. The quote is based on a 30-year-old female applicant living in Los Angeles, California and is rounded to the nearest dollar. This is just a sample plan, and you may find different ones in your state.
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Based on DentaQuest’s lowest-cost, comprehensive PPO plan:
DentaQuest was our top pick for dental insurance customer satisfaction due to its very low NAIC complaint index, which indicates far fewer complaints than average for a company of its size. DentaQuest also has a robust J.D. Power ranking, another measure of customer satisfaction.
DentaQuest offers relatively low premiums, and it covers 100% of preventive care before the deductible in the 12 states where available.
That said, DentaQuest’s PPO plan has a higher deductible, higher premium, and lower maximum coverage limit than some competitors. In addition, two of the PPO plans available don’t cover any major dental services—just preventive and basic restorative care.
The only comprehensive plan, Personal Dental Plan Plus, comes with a $100 deductible and a $1,250 annual limit. The plan provides 50% coverage for basic and 30% coverage for major procedures such as root canals. The plan also comes with a long 18-month waiting period for major services, which is important to consider when choosing dental insurance.
However, you can use the Personal Dental Plan Comprehensive with Ortho 2000 or Ortho 1500 if you live in Georgia. These plans have higher maximums, pay higher percentages, and either reduce waiting periods or don’t have waiting periods.
Pros & ConsDentaQuest is a relatively young company that was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Boston. The company is the second-largest U.S. dental insurance provider by membership, with 33 million members across 36 states. It’s also the largest Medicaid dental benefits provider. The company was acquired by Sun Life in 2021.
DentaQuest offers PPO plans in some states (Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia) and exclusive provider organization (EPO) plans in five others (Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee). In EPO states, no coverage is available for out-of-network providers.
You can find out more about DentaQuest by visiting the company’s website. You can also reach the company by phone at the numbers below:
To give you an idea of the types of plans Dentaquest offers and their features, we collected quotes for a 30-year-old female applicant living in Chicago and rounded prices to the nearest dollar. Note that because DentaQuest does not offer coverage in California, these quotes don’t provide an apples-to-apples cost comparison to other providers for which we collected quotes in Los Angeles. Also, you may find other plans in your state.
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Based on Spirit’s lowest-cost, comprehensive PPO plan:
Spirit has the lowest premiums of any provider we considered for this list. Choosing Spirit for your dental insurance comes with a few advantages. Like Ameritas, the company offers plans with no waiting periods, and some have annual limits that provide up to $5,000 in annual coverage by year three.
There’s a $100 lifetime deductible for most plans. That’s a big difference from most other plans, which make you pay a deductible every year.
However, we found that the overall cost-to-value mix for the company’s cheapest PPO plan was poor relative to other providers, and the plan also has a low annual limit in the first year.
For example, while Spirit offers 100% coverage for preventive care, X-rays are not considered preventive on some plans. Spirit also considers fillings a major procedure on some plans, with limited coverage for fillings.
Many competitors categorize fillings as a basic service that gets more coverage. The most coverage any Spirit plan offers in the first year is 50% of the fillings cost, up to the coverage limit. If you stick with the company for three years, however, you can get up to 80% coverage for fillings.
Pros & ConsSpirit Dental & Vision is a product offered by Ameritas, and in Texas, is referred to as Ameritas. However, the plans offered by the two brands differ.
As noted above, Ameritas appears to have some issues with customer satisfaction, including a worse number NAIC complaint index than six other companies we surveyed, and last place showing in the J.D. Power ranking.
To speak with a licensed insurance agent, call Spirit at 844-833-8440. Online chat is also available, and you can find out more and get a quote at the company’s website.
Dental Plans OverviewBelow are quotes for an applicant living in Los Angeles, rounded to the nearest dollar. Note that Spirit categorizes some procedures differently than other companies, so be sure to check the plan details before applying. You may find other plans in your state.
