Dental Insurance
Looking for dental insurance? Good idea! After all, oral health is important to overall health and wellness.1 So, whether you want coverage for yourself, your family, or your business, we’ll help you find a plan that fits your budget — and helps keep everyone healthy.
For existing customers
Already have Guardian dental insurance?
Let’s help you find what you need. If you purchased benefits through your employer, download our mobile app to find a dentist on the go, access your ID card, and more. Go here if you purchased your plan through a state or federal marketplace.
How affordable is dental insurance?
Monthly premiums vary widely depending on what the plan pays, the types of procedures covered and other factors. For example, if you're getting coverage at work, you'll benefit from group rates that are typically lower than rates for individuals. But if you don't have dental benefits through work, cost doesn't have to be a barrier — you can still get affordable dental insurance as an individual or family. For example, Guardian offers a range of dental plans to suit different budgets if benefits aren't available through your employer — and you can purchase directly online.
Reasons to consider dental insurance: Poor oral health has been linked to serious conditions like diabetes and heart disease, so while brushing and flossing every day might help keep your teeth clean, nothing can replace regular preventive care visits to the dentist.3 A good dental plan can help give you and your family access to a broad national network of providers, help lower out-of-pocket costs every time you see a dentist, and even provide coverage for dental emergencies.
Dental PPO
Also called a DPPO, short for dental preferred provider organization. These dental plans typically provide free or low-cost preventive checkups, cleanings, and x-rays, but there are usually copays (see below) for major dental care. The big advantage to a dental PPO is dentist choice: there's typically an extensive network of dentists, but the insurance company also lets you see out-of-network providers. When you stay in-network, it's often more cost-effective and you don't need to submit claims. Is your dentist in Guardian's network? Find out here.
Dental HMO⁴
Also called a DHMO, or dental health maintenance organization. These dental plans work like an HMO health care plan: you choose a primary dentist and have to go through them for all your dental procedures and care, including specialist referrals. DHMOs give you fewer dentist choices because the networks are limited, and there's no out-of-network coverage. On the plus side, premiums tend to be lower, and many DHMOs have no deductibles or caps. While there are flat-rate copayments for most non-preventive treatments, your overall costs will likely be lower.
What does dental insurance cover?
Dental coverage helps protect your overall oral care. That includes things like preventive cleanings, x-rays, restorative services like fillings, and more complex services like root canals and oral surgery.
The benefits of having dental insurance
Good oral health is important to your overall health.6 And people with dental benefits are much more likely to get regular dental care that helps maintain healthy teeth and gums.7
Purchasing dental insurance on your own
Guardian makes it easy for individuals and families to shop dental plans, get a free quote, and buy directly online. Or you can shop for a Guardian dental plan on the Federal Exchange Marketplace.
Who is dental insurance for?
Dental insurance is for anyone who wants to maintain their overall health and help ensure that their teeth and gums are as healthy as they can be. Dental plans focus on preventive care because that's the key to keeping teeth and gums healthy. So even a basic dental plan will cover regular checkups at little or no cost, and a mid-level insurance plan will help pay for basic treatments as well. A full coverage dental insurance plan can cover major services and even some orthodontic care — which is great if you have kids with crooked teeth.
How coverage works: Preventive care like checkups, cleanings and routine x-rays are typically covered right away. That's valuable because these services can help avert more serious and expensive tooth problems in the future. For other types of treatment, there may be a waiting period before the plan starts paying. And — like health insurance plans — there may be an annual deductible you have to pay before the plan begins to pay for treatments other than what's covered in a regular checkup.
For existing customers
Download our mobile app
If you get your benefits through your employer, you can use our mobile app to find a dentist on the go, access your ID card, and more from your phone or tablet. (Mobile app does not support users who purchased coverage outside of work or through Guardian Direct.)
FAQ
Top questions about dental insurance
Dental insurance helps people keep their mouths and gums healthier by making regular checkups more affordable and helping to pay for other dental treatments and services. Preventive care visits are often covered in full or with just a small copay. That helps encourage regular cleanings and helps catch minor problems while they are easier (and less expensive) to treat. Coverage for other treatments and procedures varies; some plans focus on basic care (like fillings and extractions) and others will cover major procedures like root canals and crowns.
Different dental plans from different insurance companies offer various combinations of benefits, features, and options, so it can pay to shop around. But generally speaking, the best dental insurance for individual and family needs is a plan that meets their needs and supports dental health by letting them see a dentist they like, with coverage for the treatments they're likely to need, at a price that fits their budget.
Most dental policies are dental PPOs.8 These plans have a network of dentists who agree to provide care at a discounted rate. When you go to an in-network dentist, your out-of-pocket cost for dental treatment will likely be less. With a dental PPO plan, you may also see a dentist who isn't in the network; however, your out-of-pocket costs may likely be higher. Dental PPO plans generally let you see a broader range of providers than a dental HMO, but dental HMOs typically have lower premiums and fewer out-of-pocket costs. With DHMO you must obtain services from a designated Primary Care Provider (who is in network) in order to be eligible for benefits.
There is no set standard for what constitutes “basic” dental coverage, and different dental insurance plans cover different procedures. But generally speaking, a basic plan will cover standard preventive dental care — checkups, cleanings, routine x-rays, and sometimes, fluoride treatments. Insurance companies such as Guardian also provide more comprehensive plans that can cover other things that contribute to oral health:
Basic care: Fillings, extractions, and other minor services
Major care: Root canals, crowns, bridges, and dentures
Orthodontic treatment: Braces and other types of teeth aligners
Each dental insurance plan will have its own list of covered and non-covered procedures. Generally speaking, the most inexpensive basic plans will have a shorter list of covered procedures (typically for preventive care) with more exclusions, and the more expensive comprehensive plans will cover more procedures with fewer exclusions.
Yes, as with health insurance, you can buy dental insurance as an individual or family if benefits aren't available through your employer. Dental insurance cost doesn't have to be a barrier: a variety of affordable dental plans are readily available, and you don't need to go through an insurance agent -- it's easy to buy directly online.
According to HHS.gov, states are required to cover dental services for people with Medicaid under the age of 21, as part of the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit. However, states may or may not elect to provide dental benefits to their adult Medicaid-eligible population, and fewer than half of states provide comprehensive dental care.
Need dental insurance right now?
Find an individual plan and enroll today, or shop the Federal Exchange Marketplace for a Guardian plan. With Guardian, there’s no waiting period for preventive services like oral exams, cleanings, and x-rays. However, coverage begins on the first of the month following enrollment when paying by credit card or ACH. Waiting periods may vary by state.
Life insurance
If people depend on your income for support, what will happen to them if something happens to you? Life insurance can be a vital source of financial support.
Disability insurance
If you’re unable to work due to an injury or medical condition, where will you get income to live on? Disability insurance can help support your family when it’s needed most.
Vision insurance
As we spend more time in front of screens, vision insurance — and the eye exams, glasses, and contact lenses it helps to cover — becomes increasingly important.
Are you a dental professional?
Find out how to join Guardian’s growing network of dental benefit providers.
1 Mayo Clinic, Oral health: A window to your overall health, Accessed 11/2024
2 Costs vary by state and available plan type selected.
3 https://www.guardianlife.com/dental-insurance/individuals
4 Available in select states
5 Mayo Clinic, Oral health: A window to your overall health, Accessed 11/2024
6 Mayo Clinic, Oral health: A window to your overall health, Accessed 11/2024
8 Colgate, Types Of Dental Coverage: Which Is Right For You?, 2023
* Actual costs vary, but dental crowns can cost $2,000 or more. A dental plan like those offered by Guardian can potentially lower that to under $700. Here's how: We'll assume you have a PPO dental plan that covers major procedures at 50%, you're past the waiting period, and your dentist's customary fee for the treatment is $2,000. With a 35% in-network discount, the fee goes down to $1,300. After paying your $50 deductible, the insurance company pays half of the remaining $1,250 charge, and you owe the other half ($625). You save $1,325, and your total out-of-pocket expense is $675.
** Mobile app currently only supports Group plan holders.
Links to external sites are provided for your convenience in locating related information and services. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees expressly disclaim any responsibility for and do not maintain, control, recommend, or endorse third-party sites, organizations, products, or services and make no representation as to the completeness, suitability, or quality thereof.
DentalGuard Insurance is underwritten and issued by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY. Products are not available in all states. Policy limitations and exclusions apply. Optional riders and/or features may incur additional costs. Generic Policy Form # GP-1-DG2000, et al; GP-1-DEN-16; DG7-P. The state approved form is the governing document.
Individual dental insurance products are underwritten by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, New York or by one of its wholly owned subsidiaries. Dental provider networks vary by state, by market and by plan type. Plans availability, benefits and deductibles vary by state. Rates are guaranteed for one year for the plan benefits initially selected. Policies renew annually. Please refer to your plan documents for a complete list of limitations and exclusions. Policy Form IP-DEN-16; IP-DEN-20; et. al. Plan documents are the final arbiter of coverage. This policy provides DENTAL insurance only.
