Best Oklahoma Dental Insurance

Need dental insurance coverage fast? Get started now with our review of the best Oklahoma dental insurance.

We’ve researched the 5 best companies for dental insurance in Oklahoma to help you find comprehensive coverage today.

Quick Look: The Best Oklahoma Dental Insurance

• Smart Health Dental: Best for No Waiting Periods
• Dentalplans.com: Best for Saving Money on Dental Expenses
• Renaissance Dental: Best for Optional Out of Network Care
• UnitedHealthcare: Best for a Large Suite of Products
• Humana: Best for the Humana Pharmcy

Best Dental Insurance Providers in Oklahoma

To find the right Oklahoma dental plan for you and your family, think about your budget and the treatments you could need. To make your research fast and easy, take a look at our top picks for the best dental insurance companies in Oklahoma:

1. Smart Health Dental: Best Overall

Smart Health Dental (SHD) offers multiple dental insurance and non-insurance plan options. It has an extensive national network of over 200,000 licensed dental providers. No waiting periods

There are no waiting periods, and you’ll find dental insurance plans with up to 100% coverage on preventive procedures.

Call for a free quote Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

2. Dentalplans.com: Best for Dental Savings Plans

Dentalplans.com is a hub for you to search and find a dental savings plan. Dental savings plans are not insurance. But your monthly membership buys you a savings card to present at the dentist of your choice for a percentage off the price of your services.

Dental savings plans can be an affordable alternative to insurance. Your plan works through nationwide network of dentists that offer 10 to 60% savings on preventive and restorative treatments.

Dentalplans.com is the perfect place to find your savings plan. If you find the same dental savings product at a lower cost, call its AtYourService® Team. It will match the price offered by online competitors.

3. Renaissance Dental Insurance: Best for Value

Renaissance Dental Insurance offers good savings for Oklahoma patients who don’t want to sacrifice coverage.

With the company’s Max Choice Pro, the insurance pays 100% for diagnostic and preventive care for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd year of coverage. Its maximum coverage gets better with time: $1,000, $2,000 and $3,000 for the 1st 3 years, respectively.

You pay a $50 or $150 deductible for individual and family plans. For an individual, the plan is $45.34 per month. It's $116.96 per month for a family with 2 or more dependents. While its prices are affordable, customer reviews are mixed.

4. UnitedHealthcare: Best for Family Plans

Dental coverage can be painfully expensive, especially when you have a larger family. UnitedHealthcare has deductibles starting at $50, and you won’t have to pay a family deductible if you have more than 3 family members.

Its Essential Dental Plan starts at $17.44 per month for individuals and $45.34 per month for a family of 3. It pays 50% for basic care and has a $1,000 maximum coverage limit per person for most plans.

5. Humana: Best for Discounts

Humana Dental Insurance offers the most discounts. Not only does it offer discounts on dental insurance, it offers them with vision, hearing and alternative medical treatments with your dental plan package.

It also has a preventive package for veterans. Vets can choose any dentist and pay a $50 deductible per person or $150 per family. Routine cleanings and X-rays are covered 100%. Premiums for its Preventive Value PPO start at $16.99 for individuals.

Types of Dental Coverage

You have lots of dental coverage options in Oklahoma. It’s important to understand what those options are so you can make a sound decision. Here are the types of dental coverage from which you can choose:

Most dental insurance plans are either classified as a preferred provider organization (PPO) or dental health maintenance organization (DHMO). You also can save money at the dentist with a dental discount plan membership, which isn’t actually insurance but offers a 10% to 60% discount off the cost of dental services.

A PPO plan uses a dental network — it’s a group of dentists that contract with an insurance provider to offer dental services at discounted rates. You can visit any dentist you want and you’ll receive insurance benefits. But you’ll get the best price if you visit an in-network dentist.

Here’s what PPO plans have in common:

• Deductible. This is an amount you’re required to pay before your benefits kick in. Family plan deductibles cost about $150 and an individual could pay $50. Some plans have a lifetime deductible that allows you to pay a deductible once and never have to pay again.
• Annual maximum benefit. An annual maximum is the dollar amount of dental treatments your insurance plan will pay for each year. If your annual maximum is $1,000, for example, and need a procedure that’s going to make your annual services total $1,400, the insurance will pay $1,000. You’re responsible for paying the $400. If you need other treatments before the benefit year is up, you’ll have to pay out of pocket. So it’s important to know your plan’s coverage maximum before you make a selection.
• Waiting period. A PPO waiting period is the length of time you have to wait before your plan will pay for certain services. Plans often have a 6-month waiting period for some treatments such as a filling. But you might be required to wait 1 year for some services or even 3 years to get additional X-rays with some plans. In case you’re wondering, networks put waiting periods in place to keep people from enrolling, quickly using the benefits and canceling coverage.
• Coinsurance. The percentage your insurance plan will pay for a dental service or treatment is coinsurance. Say your plan covers a filling for 80%. You have to pay the balance for the remaining 20%.

DHMO plans also use a dental network to offer lower prices. But with a DHMO, you must choose a primary care dentist. You visit your primary care dentist when you need service. If you need to see a specialist, you usually need a referral from your primary dentist.

If you visit an out-of-network dentist, you’ll likely pay out of pocket because most DHMO plans won’t cover out-of-network services. DHMO plans usually are cheaper than PPO plans and don’t have annual maximums, deductibles or waiting periods. 

Dental discount plans are common reduced-rate programs offered through dental offices. When you join a dental discount plan, it’s like being a member of a special club. Instead of insurance coverage, your membership gets you 10% to 60% off dental services at offices that accept the plan, and you may save more in the long run versus insurance. Dental discount plans have no waiting periods, deductibles or annual maximums.

What Does Dental Insurance Cover?

Dental insurance in Oklahoma covers most preventive and basic dental procedures, and your plan may also cover major procedures and treatments. 

Common dental treatments include regular checkups, X-rays, cleanings and fillings. Other plans may offer some coverage for other common treatments such as root canals, crowns and bridges.

You’re usually covered for 2 preventive visits annually. Many plans follow the 100-80-50 coverage structure. That means they cover 100% of preventive care, 80% of basic procedures and 50% of major procedures at 50%. But some dental plans may not cover certain procedures at all.

What Does Dental Insurance Not Cover?

The filling you recently got fell out, and you just got a 2nd filling on the same tooth — and a bridge. Your bill is $800. You felt good about your dental insurance until you discovered your bill isn’t covered, and now you’ve got to pay it. But, why?

You’ve reached your annual cap. Dental insurance policies usually have a maximum coverage limit of $1,000 to $1,500 per year. If you exceed that amount in services, you’re on your own until the next year begins. 

Your plan may have a time limit for when it will start paying for certain services. If you need a service beforehand, your plan won’t cover it.

X-rays, multiple fillings on the same tooth, crowns and bridges on the same tooth or fluoride treatments for children also may have time limits. Outside of time limits, some insurance plans do not cover what may be considered basic services like dentures, crowns or bridges.

Average Cost of Dental Insurance in Oklahoma

Cost of dental insurance depends on age, tobacco use, the type of plan and whether it covers an individual or family.

For a 40-year-old who doesn’t use tobacco, an individual policy in Oklahoma usually costs between $15 to $40 per month. For a family of 4 with 2 kids, expect premiums between $60 to $150 per month. You can get a dental discount plan in Oklahoma starting at about $100 per year.

What to Look for in a Dental Provider

Routine dental visits are essential for a brilliant smile, healthy teeth and gums. If you are looking for a good dentist to tend to your oral health, the American Dental Association suggests taking these steps during your search:

• Ask for referrals. Your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors could be your best resource. You’ll trust their judgment and know you are getting solid feedback. 
• Consider the office location. Think about how accessible the office is to your home, office or your child’s school. 
• Consider the office hours. Choosing a dentist who works the same hours you do won’t be beneficial. Make sure office hours fit your lifestyle, and ask about weekend, early or late appointment availability.
• Check out the office. Is it clean and organized? Is the equipment modern? Do you need an interpreter? Is the staff friendly, helpful and knowledgeable? How much experience does the dentist have with the procedures you need? When you narrow your list, a personal visit may help you decide.

Get Dental Insurance in Oklahoma

Finding the right dental insurance plan in Oklahoma doesn’t have to be like pulling teeth.

First, decide on how much you can afford to spend each month. Then consider treatments you might need. If you only need 2 annual cleanings, you might choose a cheap, basic plan. But if you need a lot of dental work, you’ll probably need a solid plan offering more coverage for extensive procedures.

Take your time when you’re shopping around for affordable dental insurance. Enter your ZIP code, and get started with a free quote now.

Frequently Asked Questions