There's a joke you might see pinned to the wall of your dentist's office: Ignore your teeth and they'll go away. While this might make you chuckle, regular trips to the dentist are serious business. So is having a dental plan that makes these visits possible. But how do you know which plan is right for you? Here's a guide to the different types of dental insurance plans:

• Individual dental insurance: If you're either self-employed or you work for an employer that doesn't offer dental insurance plans, your only choice is to purchase individual dental insurance. Many individual dental plans are available, from the most comprehensive to those that offer more limited coverage at discounted prices. If your teeth are in relatively good shape, you might purchase discounted insurance and foot the co-pays for checkups and minor procedures. The high cost of more involved dental work might make fuller coverage worth the higher premiums.
• Family dental insurance: Family dental insurance is similar to individual coverage in that it's purchased outside of your workplace health benefits. A similar range of coverage is available to cover your family's dental care needs--from full coverage to more limited plans offered at a discount. The benefits and drawbacks to each of these dental insurance plans lies in your family's specific dental needs.
• Group dental insurance: If you own a business, you might offer your employees a group dental insurance plan as a health benefit. Dental insurance companies usually tailor these plans to the size of the business. As a business owner, you can provide basic dental coverage for your employees, giving them the option of purchasing supplemental coverage. Of course, if you work for a business or organization, you're probably eligible to join your employer's group dental plan.