Some people are fortunate enough to have access to employer-paid traditional dental insurance,  Usually the employee must pay into the plan but the employer pays something as well.  This type of insurance cannot be purchased by an individual.   Basic services like exams, root canals, cleanings and some fillings are paid  at a higher percentage.  Advanced treatments, like orthodontics, periodontics and crown and bridge treatment, may be payable at a lower rate (50 - 80%) if at all.
     With a traditional dental insurance plan, the patient goes to the dentist of his or her choice and services are covered according to the plan chosen by the employer to the extent charges are "reasonable" and "customary."  Since the insurance  company decides the amount that is "reasonable" and "customary,"  the dentist's fees may not be totally covered and the patient will owe the remainder.  Usually, a yearly deductible amount is not payable and there is a yearly limit to payment.

     Some traditional plans are PPOs, or preferred provider organizations.  This means that dentists who "participate" in the plan agree to charge only the amount allowed by the plan and cannot they charge you more.  If you go to a dentist outside the plan, that dentist will charge whatever insurance does not pay. 

These are also provided to groups of employees.  They may also be called "closed plans." A list of dentists is provided and if the patient goes outside the plan, the HMO pays nothing.  Dentists are paid a certain amount per patient each month as long as the patient is enrolled in that dentist's practice.  The dentist,  for this fee, is supposed to provide all basic services, exams, x-rays, cleanings, fillings.  The patient may be charged for more complicated work, but only to the extent allowed by the plan. 

These are the plans that can be joined by individuals and families.  They are not provided by employers.  They are not really insurance plans and they work a different way:  The patient pays a yearly fee.  In return, the patient can visit participating dentists who bill according to a discounted fee schedule.  The dentist joins and takes a lower fee and, in return, the plan sends patients to him or her.
     Discount Dental Plans can be found on the Internet and they can be sponsored by traditional insurance companies. 

Dental Insurance companies take a big percentage of funds off the top for administration.  What if the employer just paid each employee a certain tax free amount per year and let the employee choose his or her dentist.  This is the concept endorsed by the American Dental Association and it is called direct reimbursement. Employers need to consider this option more often when choosing dental plans.  Frequently, employers choose from medical plans and the same insurance providers also sell the dental plan.  The employer never even considers the easiest and most efficient plan.