Let's say you are one of the millions of people who have no dental insurance, no discount dental plan-no coverage of any kind. What happens when you or one of your family members has a dental emergency? When one of you needs a root canal or a crown? Or when your children need braces? Without any coverage at all, those treatments can be very expensive. They don't have to be, not when you have an affordable family dental plan.

Maybe you've never heard of a discount dental plan-and maybe you don't know that dental insurance is not the only way-or even the best way--to have affordable coverage for all your dental needs.

If you're self-employed, if you had dental insurance and lost it because you've changed jobs--or if your employer does not offer dental insurance, you and your entire family can still have the benefit of affordable dental care with a discount dental plan.

A discount dental plan can give you more affordable coverage then dental insurance, but with some important differences: a discount dental plan has no deductible, no waiting period, no paper work-and no maximum benefit. Though some dental insurance plans require patients to choose one dentist, from a restricted list, a discount dental plan allows you to choose any dentist who accepts the discount plan. And you are not restricted to just one dentist. If, for example, you prefer one dentist and your spouse or children prefer another, you will all get the discounted services you need.

Here's how a discount family dental plan works: as soon as you receive your membership card, you and all your family members are entitled to dental services from any dentist who accepts the plan. You will get all the services you need, from routine checkups to fillings to root canals at a discounted price. There is no limit to the number of discounted services you can have, and that includes braces and dentures. Some plans even include cosmetic services, like teeth whitening and veneers.

How do you choose the affordable family dental plan that's best for you? First, consider only plans that are licensed in your state. Licensed plans are regulated by many states, so you can be confident that those that are licensed are legitimate and that they will provide your family with the quality dental care you expect. Consider what kind of services your family might need and check the various plans to see which is the best match. Check to see which dentists in your area accept the plan you're looking at.

Once you find a family plan that meets your needs, you can be confident that you will be accepted. There are no exclusions in discount dental plans-so there's no need to worry about pre-existing conditions. You will be covered from the moment you sign up and you will have peace of mind knowing that you can comfortably manage all your family's dental needs.

You may not have dental insurance, but if you join a discount dental plan, you can still get affordable dental care for all your dental needs. An affordable dental plan, doesn't just have to be dental insurance, it can also be a discount dental plan. Choosing a discount dental plan is probably a more sensible alternative for individuals and families.

A discount dental plan has no annual maximum benefit, no waiting period, no limitations or restrictions-and no deductible. You can receive discounts on hundreds of different procedures, even those that dental insurance doesn't cover. Affordable discount dental plans have either a low monthly or a yearly fee.

How Can I Find an Affordable Dental Plan that is Right for Me?

Research the top discount dental plans in your state.
Find out if those discount dental plans are licensed. This is very important. Licensed plans follow strict state guidelines. Unlicensed plans may not.
Compare the monthly or yearly prices to determine which dental plan is most affordable for you.
Check to see if your dentist is part of the plan's network-and if he or she accepts the discount dental plan.
View the dental plan's fees to see what the savings will be on the procedures you will need.
For more information, or to ask any questions you may have, call the affordable plan you have chosen.
Join the affordable dental plan that best fits your needs-and enjoy discounts on all your dental needs, even those, like cosmetic procedures, that dental insurance doesn't cover.

If you are self employed, retired, or a small business owner--or if you and your family are not covered by dental insurance, an affordable dental plan can give you access to quality affordabledental care. You simply present your card to a participating dentist and you will receive a discount on any service you need, whether it is routine care or a major procedure.

Unlike dental insurance, which may have an extended waiting period for some services, an affordable dental plan goes into effect immediately. You will enjoy discounts even on major procedures like root canals and crowns. While dental insurance may have an annual maximum benefit, discount dental plans have no maximum. You will receive discounts no matter how many procedures you need. Dental insurance may exclude cosmetic dental work; a discount dental plan does not.

Find a licensed discount dental plan that best suits your needs and you will have access to discounts on everything from routine examinations to major emergency procedures.