Whether you have a mouth full of problems or oral health that’s pristine, you still need dental insurance. And, if you’re in the market for the very best dental insurance, you’ll have a ton of options to choose from.

Just remember, the best dental insurance is the policy that meets your specific needs and your specific budget. What works for your best friend might not work for you. In any event, if you want the best dental insurance, you’ll have to choose from these 3 options:

1. A dental PPO

This is what you probably think of when you think of “traditional dental insurance”. Under a dental PPO, you pay monthly premiums, and you’ll also have specific deductibles and copays to meet. Once you pay those amounts, you’ll wind up with an insurance policy that pays for all kinds of things – from routine cleanings, to major root canals, to emergency procedures, to oral surgery.

As an added benefit, a dental PPO is typically the cheapest of the “traditional” options. That’s because each dental PPO comes with list of approved providers. Part of being on that list means giving the insurance company discounts. Since your insurance company will save money on your dental services and procedures, they can pass those savings onto you – in the form of lower premium payments, copays, and deductibles.

2. A discount dental plan

If you’re looking for a low cost dental plan that doesn’t come with a bunch of confusing rules and terms, than a discount plan might be perfect for you. Just be advised that it’s a little different from traditional dental insurance. In fact, it doesn’t even really count as insurance at all!

So, how does that help you?

A discount dental plan is perfect for people who just need basic dental work and don’t want to have to pay a ton of money for it. Under one of these plans, you pay an annual fee (instead of monthly premiums) for access to a discount card. The card will give you discounts on certain dental procedures – like 40% off on your check-ups, or 20% off on your root canals. Then, you just have to pay the discounted balance.

This low cost dental plan might be best for you because you only have to pay for the services and procedures you need – instead of paying for coverage that you may or may not use. And, the annual fees are much lower that what you’d pay in premiums over the course of a year.

3. Dental insurance that comes with your vision insurance

In many cases, you can get low cost dental insurance in conjunction with your vision coverage. All you have to do is find a company that offers both services. As a result, you’ll save money on both policies! It’s a great buy – especially if you’re in the market for both types of coverage.