1. Go without insurance. If you have good teeth and just want the basics you probably don’t need any plan. A yearly cleaning and exam and even an occasional filling will cost you less without insurance. Which one is best will vary depending upon your situation and what you want it to cover.

2. Visit a local dental school. You can get many procedures done for a reduced price if you’re willing to let them practice on you.

3. Insurance - Depending upon the policy: cost $30-$60 per month. You pay a $50 deductible first, they have an annual maximum that they’ll pay per year of $750 - $1500, they have a waiting period up to 18 months for major work and then you’re paying 50% of the charges. Example - average cost for a root canal in my area is $829. With insurance you pay $414 after paying 18 months of premium (around $800 or $900). Advantage - you can use any dentist with most plans.

4. Discount plans - Cost - $5-$12 per month. No deductible, no annual maximum and no waiting periods. Also, hardly any dentists will accept the plan and when they do you MIGHT get a 10% discount, which is about the same discount you can get by paying cash. Example - average cost for a root canal in my area is $829. With discount plans you pay around $746. Be very wary of these plans because most are scams. The people that sell these plans have little or no knowledge about health & dental insurance and do not need a license to sell them. The plans are not regulated by the state so you have no recourse when you have problems. Some states are starting to ban these plans from being sold. Here is an informative link http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2006/11/22/74554.htm concerning these plans.

5. Fee for Service discount plans - Cost $7-$15 per month. No deductible, no annual maximum and no waiting periods. Many dentist will accept the plan (check providers first before signing up with any plan). When you use the plan there is a set fee that the dentist will charge you. Example - average cost for a root canal in my area is $829. With fee for service plans you pay as little as $404.

I’m an insurance agent and my personal plan is the fee for service plan. I got mine here http://www.dpbrokers.com/default.aspx?locationid=20349 specifically the Aetna Dental Access plan but which one you get depends upon your area and comparing the fee schedule to find the best for what you need covered.
References :
Independent Agent

In the area where I live (The Mid West) it is the most flex able.

However remember with insurance you get what you pay for. Read the benefits as well as any restrictions. Your employer by law should give you at least two plans to chose from. You will want to look at orthodontic care , if you need it, get it if not then it is allot cheaper not to. Aesthetic care is something to look at as well as previous stuff you have had done. Some insurances say you had a tooth removed by another company, then you had another one next to it removed by them, they will not pay for say a bridge to fill in the gap because they were not you carrier during the first tooth removal.
References :
Dental Assistant