The pain in my tooth was so agonizing I literally couldn’t sleep at night. So I finally gave in and went to the dentist (I have NO dental insurance). Guess what? I had to get a root canal and it was going to cost $757!

My dentist told me that he was part of something called “Preferred Network Access by CIGNA.” Basically, if I joined this plan, which would cost me $134.95 a year, I would then save $329 for the root canal. I signed up over the internet and two minutes later I had saved $194.05 (after the yearly fee). Not bad.

Plus, the plan offers significant discounts on check-ups, cleanings, x-rays, crowns, extractions, dentures—you name it. Altogether, I’m probably going to save close to $400 this year.

Technically, my plan is not a dental insurance policy. In other words, my plan does not make payments directly to the providers of dental services. It’s a discount dental plan. But saving money is saving money as far as I’m concerned.

These types of discount dental plans are very popular these days, and they’re here to stay. If you’re interested, go to DentalPlans.com, which offers over 30 top-rated plans. Then just type in your zip code, and see what plans are available are in your area. Choose the one that will save you the most money, sign up, and you’re all set.

You can sign up for an individual, or a whole family. If you’ve got a big family, the savings can really start to add up over a year’s time. These plans are also a great way to supplement any dental insurance you might already have.

Another thing I like about these low cost dental insurance plans is that there’s no complicated paperwork to fill out, no worries about pre-existing conditions, and hardly any waiting time (1-3 business days).

Check out DentalPlans.com for all the best discount dental plans, including the one I used for my root canal. Believe me, there’s no better feeling than having clean, healthy teeth.

I think getting supplemental dental insurance is a great way to save money and here’s why.

Let’s say you sign up for a cheap dental insurance plan that costs $115 a year. If you only get 2 check-ups and 2 cleanings a year, that will save you, under this plan, a total of $126. Basically, the plan pays for itself (plus $11).

But if you need more serious dental work, like a filling, a crown, or a root canal—then you’ll save hundreds of additional dollars! For example, the same plan that costs $114.95 saves you $208 on a root canal.

You can find this particular disount dental plan (called the “Signature Wellness Plan”) plus 30 other top-rated plans, at DentalPlans.com. If you go there and type in your zip code you’ll instantly see all the plans available in your area plus the dentists and dental specialists who participate in them. It’s very easy to do.

These discount dental plans are not technically dental insurance policies. In other words, they do not make payments directly to the providers of dental services. They’re discount plans—but the bottom line is they can save you a lot of money. Plus there’s no messy paperwork, claims forms, complicated rules, or long waiting periods.

If you don’t have dental insurance these plans are definitely the way to go. You’ll sleep better knowing that you won’t be financially ruined if you have to get dental work done. And believe me, sometimes you really need to get the work done.

Supplemental dental insurance is an even better deal for a large family. Even if you just get cleanings, check-ups, and x-rays for all the family members, you’ll save quite a bit of money.

To find out how much money you’ll save, just go to DentalPlans.com. Some plans are geared more towards preventive care–for those with healthy teeth–and some are for people who need to get more serious work done. Either way, the savings can really make a difference in your budget.