When I walked away from my full-time position to freelance, dental care wasn’t at the top of my list.
I used to see my dentist every six months like clockwork for cleanings. But leaving my job also meant losing my dental coverage. My teeth would just have to hold on until I figured things out. (Luckily, they did.)
I promised to keep up with brushing and flossing. Beyond that, anything more felt prohibitively costly. Now that I was responsible for my own healthcare expenses, even routine dental visits felt like a splurge.
So what’s a self-employed woman to do? Become savvy about dental plans, of course.
After a Dental Break, I Drag Myself Back to the Dentist
More than a year into freelancing, I finally decided to take my teeth in for a cleaning.
I asked freelancer friends how they managed dental care. It turned out few purchased dental insurance because it was just too expensive. So what did most people do? Almost everyone I talked to paid out of pocket.
I assumed I’d follow suit. I called my dentist and was quoted $140 for a cleaning. Yikes.
While booking the appointment, I crossed my fingers that I wouldn’t need any fillings after such a long absence. I couldn’t bring myself to ask what a filling might run.
Fortuitously, I discovered :DentalPlans just a couple weeks before my visit. (That leading colon is part of their logo; it looks like a little smile. Cute, right?)
Although I didn’t fully grasp how dental savings plans worked, I was willing to try. Why? Because they claimed their plans could shave roughly half off the cost of dental visits.
So… What Is a Dental Savings Plan?
First, what it isn’t.
It’s not insurance, which typically covers routine services (often a couple cleanings yearly) and up to a set amount for other procedures. My old dental insurance covered $1,000 of additional care.
With a dental savings plan, you pay an annual membership fee, then receive discounts of about 10–60% on many dental services like exams, cleanings, fillings, root canals and crowns. You still pay out of pocket for services, but you pay far less than you would without the plan.
Put simply: You pay to join a club whose members get significant price reductions on dental care.
I visited :DentalPlans to check their offerings (they give Savinly readers 15% off and two free months with the code “HOARDER”). When I searched for my dentist and compared options, the Careington Care 500 Series stood out as the most economical choice. For $144.96 per year plus a $20 processing fee, the discounts were substantial: an astounding 74% off a routine exam and 70% off a cleaning.
Although there was an upfront cost to join, the savings on certain procedures made it appealing. By my calculations, the membership would cover its own cost after just two cleanings. :DentalPlans also provided a 30-day refund window, so I had little reason not to try it.
The percentages and prices shown on :DentalPlans seemed to be averages or estimates across participating dentists, so I phoned my dentist to confirm. Did they accept Careington plans? Did they really provide such steep discounts? They did, and assured me I’d save a lot by joining Careington.
I signed up—it took only a few minutes—and printed the membership card. No pre-approval or dental records were required.
Still Sounds Too Good to Be True?
I brought my Careington card to the appointment, skeptical that this little piece of paper would halve my bill. As my dentist donned gloves, he complimented me for purchasing the plan and guaranteed I’d save plenty.
His remark prompted me to pepper him with questions.
While it’s probably not ideal to chat while someone pokes your teeth with a periodontal probe, I was curious and unconvinced. Before the dentist and hygienist got to work, I fired off several questions.
Do dentists pay to join the plan?
Nope.
Why would a dentist participate and offer discounts instead of charging full price?
To attract new patients who might not otherwise visit.
Can anyone enroll to receive these discounts?
Yes.
Is there a catch?
None, he said. It’s a smart way for someone without insurance to save a lot at the dentist. He repeated there was absolutely no catch.
And because I was genuinely curious, I asked one more: Do people ever fall asleep during cleanings? If so, do they close their mouths?
I learned many patients doze off and sometimes shut their mouths in the process. The dentist either has to wake them or prop their mouths open.
Let’s Talk Final Numbers
After exhausting my questions, I let the dentist finish polishing my teeth. The cleaning was over quickly and I had no cavities. Relief!
The total for my exam and cleaning was $140, but with the plan I paid only $46. The breakdown is shown below:
To summarize, I paid $144.96 for the annual plan plus a $20 processing fee. After just one cleaning, I’d already saved $94 on that appointment.
So the plan hadn’t fully paid for itself yet—technically I was still out $70.96—but I’d break even after my second cleaning. If I needed additional dental work, the savings would be even greater.
I remained slightly suspicious, so I asked the receptionist more questions. She reassured me the Careington plan is simply a great way to spend less on dental care. She even uses the plan herself. With the family option (a bit pricier at $199.95 per year), she secures discounts for her entire household.
We depend on our teeth every day for chewing and speaking. It’s frustrating that quality dental care can be so costly. Too many Americans skip regular dental visits because they can’t afford them.
But after my experience, I’m optimistic for self-employed folks or anyone without dental coverage. Our teeth can get the care they need without breaking the bank.
You can enroll by calling DentalPlans at 1-855-423-9414 or sign up online. Use the promo code “HOARDER” to receive 15% off and two free months.
Your Turn: Have you tried a dental savings plan to lower the cost of dental visits?
Sponsorship Disclosure: Many thanks to :DentalPlans for partnering to bring this article to you and for supplying the discount code.
Alexandra Reed is a Chicago-based freelance copywriter. She loves biking through cities to discover the best taquerias.
