You can shop for dental insurance rates on your own or through a broker. Some dental plans will be part of a network to help keep costs down, similar to the procedures of a medical HMO. Others will have no network, or give employees the option to see a dentist in or out of network. With some plans, employees have to select a dentist and the insurance company will pay for services from that dentist only. Employees can change the dentist assigned to them by making a phone call or going online.

Some plans will not pay for major expenses like braces, crowns, or root canals until a waiting period of six months to one year. Others will pay all expenses right away. Generally, most plans will cover X-rays once a year and an exam and cleaning every six months.