One of the hardest elements to compare among dental plans is their dental network. Dentists provide dental care, not insurance companies, so the matter of insurance acceptance is very important. In other words, a dental insurance plan is only as good as the dentists that accepts its coverage.
The first thing a consumer should do when evaluating a dental plan is confirm the plan’s acceptance by his or her dentist. If you use an out-of-network dentist, your dental plan might not cover any of the costs (particularly if it is a HMO dental plan or discount dental card). If the consumer does not have a dentist, he or she should use a dentist review website (e.g. HealthGrades, Yelp, 1800Dentist) to identify highly rated dentists in the area and then confirm whether they accept new patients as well as the insurance being considered.
State |
Dental Plan Name |
Plan Type |
Max Benefit/Year |
Waiting Periods? |
Alaska |
Ameritas Dallas Smile Plan |
PPO |
$1,500 yea in the first year of enrollment, $2,500 in the second year, and $3,000 in the third year (per insured person) |
None |
Alabama |
Delta Dental Dental for Everyone Immediate Coverage |
PPO |
$3,000 per insured person annually for preventive, basic, and major dental care. $300 calendar year maximum for orthodontia and a $1,500 orthodontia lifetime maximum |
None for preventive, basic, and major dental care. Orthodontic coverage has a 12-month waiting period |
Arkansas |
Ameritas Hollywood Smile Premier Plus 2000 |
PPO |
$2,000 per year overall (per insured person) with a $1,000 annual limit for major dental services. Preventive services (type 1) are not counted toward the plan's maximum benefit |
None |
Arizona |
Ameritas Hollywood Smile Premier 2500 |
PPO |
$2,500 per year overall (per insured person) with a $1,250 annual limit for major dental care treatments. Preventive services (type 1) are not counted toward the plan's maximum benefit |
None |
California |
Delta Dental Dental for Everyone Immediate Coverage |
PPO |
$3,000 per insured person annually for preventive, basic, and major dental care. $300 calendar year maximum for orthodontia and a $1,500 orthodontia lifetime maximum |
None for preventive, basic, and major dental care. Orthodontic coverage has a 12-month waiting period |
Colorado |
Ameritas Hollywood Smile Premier 2500 |
PPO |
$2,500 per year overall (per insured person) with a $1,250 annual limit for major dental care treatments. Preventive services (type 1) are not counted toward the plan's maximum benefit |
None |
Connecticut |
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Essential Choice Platinum |
PPO |
$2,000 per enrollee per year. $1,000 lifetime maximum benefit for qualified orthodontic services |
No waiting period for preventive dental care. Basic dental care has a three-month waiting period before benefits are available. The waiting period for major dental care is six months and orthodontic care has a one year waiting period |
Delaware |
Delta Dental Dental for Everyone Immediate Coverage |
PPO |
$3,000 per insured person annually for preventive, basic, and major dental care. $300 calendar year maximum for orthodontia and a $1,500 orthodontia lifetime maximum |
None for preventive, basic, and major dental care. Orthodontic coverage has a 12-month waiting period |
District of Columbia |
Delta Dental Dental for Everyone Immediate Coverage |
PPO |
$3,000 per insured person annually for preventive, basic, and major dental care. $300 calendar year maximum for orthodontia and a $1,500 orthodontia lifetime maximum |
None for preventive, basic, and major dental care. Orthodontic coverage has a 12-month waiting period |
Florida |
Delta Dental Dental for Everyone Immediate Coverage |
PPO |
$3,000 per insured person annually for preventive, basic, and major dental care. $300 calendar year maximum for orthodontia and a $1,500 orthodontia lifetime maximum |
None for preventive, basic, and major dental care. Orthodontic coverage has a 12-month waiting period |
Georgia |
Delta Dental Dental for Everyone Immediate Coverage |
PPO |
$3,000 per insured person annually for preventive, basic, and major dental care. $300 calendar year maximum for orthodontia and a $1,500 orthodontia lifetime maximum |
None for preventive, basic, and major dental care. Orthodontic coverage has a 12-month waiting period |
Hawaii |
Ameritas Dallas Smile Plan |
PPO |
$1,500 yea in the first year of enrollment, $2,500 in the second year, and $3,000 in the third year (per insured person) |
None |
Idaho |
Ameritas Hollywood Smile Premier Plus 2000 |
PPO |
$2,000 per year overall (per insured person) with a $1,000 annual limit for major dental services. Preventive services (type 1) are not counted toward the plan's maximum benefit |
None |
Illinois |
NCD Complete by MetLife |
PPO |
$10,000 per person annually with a $3000 annual limit on dental implant care and services |
None |
Indianapolis |
Ameritas Hollywood Smile Premier 1500 |
PPO |
$1,500 annual limit overall (per enrollee) with a $750 annual limit (per enrollee) for major dental care. Type 1 preventive care is not counted toward the plan's maximum benefit |
None |
Iowa |
Ameritas Hollywood Smile Premier Plus 2000 |
PPO |
$2,000 per year overall (per insured person) with a $1,000 annual limit for major dental services. Preventive services (type 1) are not counted toward the plan's maximum benefit |
None |
Kansas |
Ameritas Dallas Smile Plan |
PPO |
$1,500 yea in the first year of enrollment, $2,500 in the second year, and $3,000 in the third year (per insured person) |
None |
Kentucky |
Delta Dental of Kentucky Bright Smiles |
PPO |
$500 maximum benefit in the first year of enrollment, $1,000 in the second, and $1,500 in the third year and after |
No waiting periods for preventive, basic, and major dental services. There is a 12-month waiting period for orthodontic services. |
Louisiana |
Delta Dental Dental for Everyone Immediate Coverage |
PPO |
$3,000 per insured person annually for preventive, basic, and major dental care. $300 calendar year maximum for orthodontia and a $1,500 orthodontia lifetime maximum |
None for preventive, basic, and major dental care. Orthodontic coverage has a 12-month waiting period |
Maine |
Ameritas Hollywood Smile Premier 2500 |
PPO |
$2,500 per year overall (per insured person) with a $1,250 annual limit for major dental care treatments. Preventive services (type 1) are not counted toward the plan's maximum benefit |
None |
Maryland |
Ameritas Hollywood Smile Premier Plus 2000 |
PPO |
$2,000 per year overall (per insured person) with a $1,000 annual limit for major dental services. Preventive services (type 1) are not counted toward the plan's maximum benefit |
None |
Massachusetts |
Ameritas Dallas Smile Plan |
PPO |
$1,500 yea in the first year of enrollment, $2,500 in the second year, and $3,000 in the third year (per insured person) |
None |
Michigan |
Ameritas Hollywood Smile Premier Plus 2000 |
PPO |
$2,000 per year overall (per insured person) with a $1,000 annual limit for major dental services. Preventive services (type 1) are not counted toward the plan's maximum benefit |
None |
Minnesota |
Ameritas Dallas Smile Plan |
PPO |
$1,500 yea in the first year of enrollment, $2,500 in the second year, and $3,000 in the third year (per insured person) |
None |
Missouri |
Ameritas Hollywood Smile Premier Plus 2000 |
PPO |
$2,000 per year overall (per insured person) with a $1,000 annual limit for major dental services. Preventive services (type 1) are not counted toward the plan's maximum benefit |
None |
Mississippi |
Delta Dental Dental for Everyone Immediate Coverage |
PPO |
$3,000 per insured person annually for preventive, basic, and major dental care. $300 calendar year maximum for orthodontia and a $1,500 orthodontia lifetime maximum |
None for preventive, basic, and major dental care. Orthodontic coverage has a 12-month waiting period |
Montana |
Delta Dental Dental for Everyone Immediate Coverage |
PPO |
$3,000 per insured person annually for preventive, basic, and major dental care. $300 calendar year maximum for orthodontia and a $1,500 orthodontia lifetime maximum |
None for preventive, basic, and major dental care. Orthodontic coverage has a 12-month waiting period |
Nebraska |
Ameritas Hollywood Smile Premier Plus 2000 |
PPO |
$2,000 per year overall (per insured person) with a $1,000 annual limit for major dental services. Preventive services (type 1) are not counted toward the plan's maximum benefit |
None |
Nevada |
Delta Dental Dental for Everyone Immediate Coverage |
PPO |
$3,000 per insured person annually for preventive, basic, and major dental care. $300 calendar year maximum for orthodontia and a $1,500 orthodontia lifetime maximum |
None for preventive, basic, and major dental care. Orthodontic coverage has a 12-month waiting period |
New Hampshire |
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Essential Choice Silver |
PPO |
$1,000 |
No waiting period for preventive care. Basic care is covered after three months of enrollment and major care is covered after six months of enrollment |
New Jersey |
Ameritas Dallas Smile Plan |
PPO |
$1,500 yea in the first year of enrollment, $2,500 in the second year, and $3,000 in the third year (per insured person) |
None |
New Mexico |
Ameritas Hollywood Smile Premier 2500 |
PPO |
$2,500 per year overall (per insured person) with a $1,250 annual limit for major dental care treatments. Preventive services (type 1) are not counted toward the plan's maximum benefit |
None |
New York |
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Essential Choice Incentive |
PPO |
$2,500 annual maximum (per enrollee). $1,000 lifetime maximum (per enrollee) for qualified orthodontic services |
Coverage for preventive and basic dental services is immediate. There is a 12-month waiting period before coverage for major dental services is available |
North Carolina |
Ameritas Dallas Smile Plan |
PPO |
$1,500 yea in the first year of enrollment, $2,500 in the second year, and $3,000 in the third year (per insured person) |
None |
North Dakota |
Ameritas Hollywood Smile Premier 1500 |
PPO |
$1,500 annual limit overall (per enrollee) with a $750 annual limit (per enrollee) for major dental care. Type 1 preventive care is not counted toward the plan's maximum benefit |
None |
Ohio |
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Essential Choice Incentive |
PPO |
$2,500 annual maximum (per enrollee). $1,000 lifetime maximum (per enrollee) for qualified orthodontic services |
None |
Oklahoma |
Ameritas Hollywood Smile Premier Plus 2000 |
PPO |
$2,000 per year overall (per insured person) with a $1,000 annual limit for major dental services. Preventive services (type 1) are not counted toward the plan's maximum benefit |
None |
Oregon |
Ameritas Hollywood Smile Premier 2500 |
PPO |
$2,500 per year overall (per insured person) with a $1,250 annual limit for major dental care treatments. Preventive services (type 1) are not counted toward the plan's maximum benefit |
None |
Pennsylvania |
Delta Dental Dental for Everyone Immediate Coverage |
PPO |
$3,000 per insured person annually for preventive, basic, and major dental care. $300 calendar year maximum for orthodontia and a $1,500 orthodontia lifetime maximum |
None for preventive, basic, and major dental care. Orthodontic coverage has a 12-month waiting period |
Rhode Island |
Ameritas Hollywood Mega Smile 2000 |
Indemnity |
$2,000 per year overall (per enrollee) with a $1,000 limit per year for major dental care. Preventive services (type 1) are not counted against the plan's maximum benefit |
None |
South Carolina |
Ameritas Hollywood Smile Premier Plus 2000 |
PPO |
$2,000 per year overall (per insured person) with a $1,000 annual limit for major dental services. Preventive services (type 1) are not counted toward the plan's maximum benefit |
None |
South Dakota |
Ameritas Dallas Smile Plan |
PPO |
$1,500 yea in the first year of enrollment, $2,500 in the second year, and $3,000 in the third year (per insured person) |
None |
Tennessee |
Delta Dental of Tennessee Brighter Advantage |
PPO |
There is a $750 annual limit in the first year of enrollment, $1,000 in the second, $1,250 in the third, and $1,500 in the fourth year and later. There is a $1,000 lifetime maximum for orthodontic services |
No waiting periods delaying the coverage of preventive, basic, and major dental care. After 12 months coverage for orthodontic services is available |
Texas |
Delta Dental Dental for Everyone Immediate Coverage |
PPO |
$3,000 per insured person annually for preventive, basic, and major dental care. $300 calendar year maximum for orthodontia and a $1,500 orthodontia lifetime maximum |
None for preventive, basic, and major dental care. Orthodontic coverage has a 12-month waiting period |
Utah |
Ameritas Hollywood Smile Premier 2500 |
PPO |
$2,500 per year overall (per insured person) with a $1,250 annual limit for major dental care treatments. Preventive services (type 1) are not counted toward the plan's maximum benefit |
None |
Vermont |
Ameritas Hollywood Smile Premier 2500 |
PPO |
$2,500 per year overall (per insured person) with a $1,250 annual limit for major dental care treatments. Preventive services (type 1) are not counted toward the plan's maximum benefit |
None |
Virginia |
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Essential Choice Incentive |
PPO |
$2,500 annual maximum (per enrollee). $1,000 lifetime maximum (per enrollee) for qualified orthodontic services |
None |
Washington |
MetLife TakeAlong Dental High |
PPO |
There is a $2,000 maximum benefit per year for each enrollee. There is a $1,000 lifetime maximum for orthodontic services provided to dependent children covered by the plan |
There are no waiting periods for coverage of preventive and basic care. Coverage of major dental care is available after 12 months |
West Virginia |
Delta Dental Dental for Everyone Immediate Coverage |
PPO |
$3,000 per insured person annually for preventive, basic, and major dental care. $300 calendar year maximum for orthodontia and a $1,500 orthodontia lifetime maximum |
None for preventive, basic, and major dental care. Orthodontic coverage has a 12-month waiting period |
Wisconsin |
Ameritas Hollywood Smile Premier 2500 |
PPO |
$2,500 per year overall (per insured person) with a $1,250 annual limit for major dental care treatments. Preventive services (type 1) are not counted toward the plan's maximum benefit |
None |
Wyoming |
Ameritas Dallas Smile Plan |
PPO |
$1,500 yea in the first year of enrollment, $2,500 in the second year, and $3,000 in the third year (per insured person) |
None |
Based on DentalInsurance.com sales data from January 1, 2023 to July 31, 2023.