I am not retired.

I have a Delta Dental Gold Plan. I started with the plan along with VSP Vision. I do not believe the benefits are worth what I am paying. It may be beneficial once I do retire. 

I am not retired, but my United Healthy Care medicare supplement plan, which is free to me, provides me with dental benefits. They might not pay 100%, but they pay a good chunk, including twice yearly cleanings.

We are on Medicare now and our Part D pays for $1200 dental per year 

you could have some done in 2025 and the rest in 2026 

I used to think that the dental plans were garbage until I spoke with the billing person at my dentist and she explained to me that they have two billing rates, one significantly reduced rate for those who are insured, and a significantly higher rate for those who did not have the rate negotiated by an insurance company.

My Medicare Plus plan through United Health Care provides up to $2,000 per year for dental. I have used Aspen Dental in the past and their serivces are good but their accounting is messed up. They billed me for several months before they got it right and issued me a refund.

Oh wow! Ray takes care of the finances & insurance and I just asked him. He is retired (disabled) from BOA and we are both still covered under the dental/vision plan they have - but only for 10 more years.

So I am paying close attention and taking notes for our future dental insurance needs with your question, Bob!

This is a good & relevant question, thank you Bob "RealMan" Timm ...My first thought that all insurance in this country should be free & could be if Congress would make it so. The people at the top of this country have been taking down Multi-billions for decades. Enough is enough & shame on them. As to your question, my friend, who knows health insurance pointed me to a med-advantage-plan  with high deductibles but NO monthly payments, small fees for a visit, & includes some dental. Look into this. Some dentistry allows for payments so consider that. I recently had to pay 4k for cataract with multiple lens implant surgery. My thought was that this takes care of my eyes until I exit plus I don't wear glasses, a good decision. On dentistry? You have to get it done. Look into porcelain-type crowns too. Bob, that's all I know & this too shall pass for you. High best

I am 'retired' USPS surviving spouse, even though 'I'll retire when I die'

I have MetLife Dental . . . I believe you CAN buy it as an individual (not employer-contributed) policy

First, I would recommend a dentist you trust completely, or a second opinion. As for policies, hard to say; I have no special recommendation. Some advise paying as you go along rather than buying a very expensive policy, just in case. Your case is different since you need immediate care; it might make sense to buy into a policy now, get the work done and cancel later, when all the work you need is just maintenance. 

Not retired yet but interested in the answers for when I do. I hadn't thought about dental insurance. Is it not covered by medicare or are you too young for medicare? 

Hi Bob,
I'm following this thread. Due to some special circumstances, I've been getting mostly free dental services. That has come to an end, so I need to research the options. Thanks for asking.

I am not completely retired, but haven't ever had dental insurance.  Have had two crowns done, around $1500 each.

I have never had a dental plan in my entire life. But my teeth are good and with twice a year cleanings, I am holding my own. But we all know as we age, things happen. Your cost for your work needed seems to call for a dental plan to help offset the expense.

Some of the non insurance dental savings plans can actually be great and can really work out in the long run over the common dental insurance plans (this is just my opinion, please do your own research and due diligence as situations can differ. I recommend the service of a top notch medical insurance broker whom also is well versed on non insurance savings plans and offers them).
 
I had plenty of work done in Thailand 30 years ago, it's still in there and still looks great! I payed the equivalent of $800. USD for work that would of been roughly $4,000. in the US. I also had dental work done in Croatia, and a business partner of mine was pleased with dental work he had recently received in Ecuador.
 
I'm effectively semi-retired and had an individual healthcare insurance policy for 30+ years without any ancillary dental (briefly had a dental savings plan) or optometrist/eyewear policy ever!
 
The thing is, even though I had many regular dental and eye check ups as well as procedures ("medical related" procedures, even if it's mouth or eye related is still covered by your regular healthcare policy), I came out better without having any of the needless ancillary coverage (in my opinion as well as in actuality).
 
I briefly did have a dental savings plan for one year, it was great and had served it's purpose for that short period. My plan for when I patch into Medicare, is to just accept traditional Medicare with medi-gap coverage and a custom drug plan. Absolutely no plans for ancillary dental or optometrist/eyewear coverage at all (during Medicare coverage)...I'll be more than fine!
 
Summation of thoughts about why I and others do this...
 
It's not really a matter of any healthy monetary reserves that one may or may not have set aside, or even cutting any needed medical coverage "to save", it's more to do with understanding the insurance benefit ratio as well as the limitations set by the insurance carriers, and what one could do to adequately and effectively compensate for their needs, instead of relying on certain ancillary coverage. IMO.

We have state dental insurance (husband and I both work and he works for the state) and the coverage is crap.  While it's great at preventative measure coverages (2 cleanings and 1 xray a year) it doesn't cover much for work needed.

Bob we have one but I can't remember the name.  I'll find it.  It covers quite a bit but not everything.  I need to have a few things done quickly before the next hip surgery so it's on my mind.

I would have had it all done at that visit if the first visit is on them…seems like a no brainer to me. I think am@candiced would agree with me on this one!!!

I am not retired, but as far as dental work, I might as well be.  I have never had dental insurance, and likely never will.  There was a time of my life where I went for many years avoiding the dentist because I knew I needed work and I was in that "if I ignore it, it will go away" frame of mind.

Fortunately, I found a dentist who literally said to me "Let's do the work, and we'll worry about paying for it as you can... your dental health is more important."  I am still with him... he gained a patient for life.

I do have a dental plan trough my Dentist that saves me a little but still have to pay a some for major work.