As you shop for dental insurance, you'll find three basic plan types: the indemnity dental plan, the managed care type of plans--HMO dental insurance and PPO dental insurance--and discount dental insurance.

Indemnity Dental Plan

The indemnity dental plan was once the most popular form of dental insurance and is often what we think of when we consider the topic of dental care. In these plans, you pay your monthly or quarterly premium and the carrier then pays a percentage of the cost of various dental procedures.

A typical breakdown of coverage for an indemnity dental plan might be:

• 100 percent coverage for preventative services (checkups, cleanings, etc.)
• 80 percent coverage for restoration services (fillings, etc.)
• 50 percent coverage for major procedures (orthodontics, etc.).

Various plans can categorize the same procedure differently. For instance, one plan may categorize a root canal as restorative, while another may deem it a major procedure.

Managed Care Plans

The two most commonly found types of managed care plans are HMO dental insurance and PPO dental insurance:

• HMO dental insurance: This dental insurance, often provided by employers, allows for dental care at significant savings by managing care among a group of preferred dental offices. Usually, you must remain within a specific network to enjoy the benefits of the plan.
• PPO dental insurance: PPO dental insurance is currently the most popular type of dental plan, due to its increased flexibility compared with HMO plans. The network is usually broader: You can even visit dentists outside the network and still receive partial benefits, although these plans cost a bit more than HMO dental insurance.

Discount Dental Insurance

Joining a discount dental insurance plan is much like joining a warehouse supermarket club. Once you purchase membership, you have access to various dental care procedures for lower costs. As is the case with managed care plans, you can choose from a list of preferred care providers.

One advantage of discount dental insurance is that there's no waiting period before you can access your benefits. Additionally, you can't be disqualified from joining these programs due to preexisting conditions. Thus, you can begin receiving care immediately if you have an urgent need.