Californians, we've got your dental plan

There's more to good health than eating right, exercising, and getting regular checkups. Taking care of your teeth is important, too. With a Blue Shield of California dental plan, you’ll enjoy a range of dental benefits including cleanings, fillings, crowns, and more. Orthodontia and implants are also covered by most plans. Apply online anytime or call (888) 273-4546 today!

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Compare dental PPO vs HMO plans

Greater choice in dental providers

Dental PPO plans generally have higher monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs for services compared to HMO plans, but you get a larger selection of dentists to choose from.

Find a PPO dentist

Lower costs for dental coverage

Dental HMO plans have a smaller network of dentists compared to PPO plans, but offer lower monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs for services.

Find an HMO dentist

Dental plans available on the exchange

Those who have a medical plan through Covered California can also purchase a Blue Shield of California Family Dental PPO or Family Dental HMO plan during open enrollment.

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Compare 2026 dental plan benefits and coverage

Blue Shield offers you more options to maximize your individual and family dental coverage. Find the right dental plan for you and your loved ones.

Bolded values = Benefit is subject to a deductible

	Dental Standard HMO	Dental HMO	Dental PPO	Specialty Duo^SM Dental + Vision package*	Dental PPO 1500	Enhanced Dental PPO 50/2000	Enhanced Dental PPO 50/2000 Lifetime Ortho 1500	Family Dental HMO	Family Dental PPO
Age:	0-25,‡ 26+	0-25,‡ 26+	0-25,‡ 26+	0-25,‡ 26+	0-25,‡ 26+	0-25,‡ 26+	0-25,‡ 26+	0-18,‡ 19+	0-18,‡ 19+
Monthly rates starting at:†	$13.20, $16.40	$25.00, $27.40	$43.50, $51.40	$48.50, $57.20	$50.10, $59.30	$58.60, $75.50	$63.60, $82.00	$14.60, $14.00	$30.10, $45.70
Benefit	With participating providers, members pay:¹
Diagnostic and preventive services	$0	$0	$0²	$0²	$0²	0%	0%	0%	$0²
Restorative services – Fillings (resin-based composite – one surface, anterior)	$20	$18	$37³	$37³	$37³	20%⁴	20%⁴	$30	20%
Oral surgery (extraction of erupted tooth or exposed root elevation and/or forceps removal	$40	$34	$40³	$40³	$40³	20%⁴	20%⁴	$65	50%⁴
Removal of impacted tooth (complete bony)	$225	$125	$113³	$113³	$113³	20%⁴	20%⁴	$160	50%⁴
Root canal (retreatment of previous root canal therapy – Anterior)	$175	$245	$156³	$156³	$156³	50%⁵	50%⁵	$245	50%⁴
Root canal (endodontic therapy, molar tooth – Excluding final restoration)	$355	$290	$234³	$234³	$234³	50%⁵	50%⁵	$300	50%⁴
Crowns (porcelain fused to high noble metal)	$350⁶	$300⁶	$320⁴	$320⁴	$320⁴	50%⁵	50%⁵	$300	50%^4,6
Orthodontics	$2,350 for under age 19, fully banded, two years $2,650 for age 19+, fully banded, two years	$2,350 for under age 19, fully banded, two years $2,650 for age 19+, fully banded, two years	$2,350 for under age 19, fully banded, two years^4,7 $2,650 for age 19+, fully banded, two years^4,7	$2,350 for under age 19, fully banded, two years^4,7 $2,650 for age 19+, fully banded, two years^4,7	$2,350 for under age 19, fully banded, two years^4,7 $2,650 for age 19+, fully banded, two years^4,7	Not covered	50% ($1,500 lifetime maximum and subject to separate deductible)^5,7,8	$350 for under age 19 when medically necessary, not covered for age 19+	50% for underage 19 when medically necessary, not covered for age 19+
Denture (complete upper or lower)	$400	$400	$388⁴	$388⁴	$388⁴	50%⁵	50%⁵	$300 for under age 19, $400 age 19+	50%⁴
Calendar-year deductible	$0	$0	$50 per individual	$50 per individual	$50 per individual	$50 per individual/$150 per family	$50 per individual/$150 per family	$0	$75 per individual/$150 per family for up to age 19, $50 per individual for age 19+
Calendar-year benefit maximum	None	None	$1,000 per individual	$1,000 per individual	$1,500 per individual	$2,000 per individual	$2,000 per individual	None	None for under age 19, $1500 per individual age 19+

Complete your coverage with a vision plan

Round out your coverage by adding a vision^∞ plan for as little as $7.90 per month.

Find a vision plan

Frequently asked questions about dental coverage

What's the difference between dental PPO and HMO plans in California?

Dental PPO plans give members a greater choice in dentists. Not only is the dental PPO network larger than the dental HMO network, but Dental PPO plans provide coverage for some services from out-of-network providers at a higher cost. Dental HMO plans offer a smaller network of dentists, but you’ll typically pay less for your monthly premiums. Also, there is no annual benefit maximum on dental HMO plans (PPO plans have a limit of $1,000 to $2,000 in benefits each calendar year).

What dental services are covered at no additional cost?

All Blue Shield PPO and HMO dental plans cover preventive care at no additional cost. Preventive care includes diagnostic services such as cleanings, X-rays, and oral examinations.

When can I enroll in an individual or family dental plan in California?

Dental plan enrollment timeframes depend on where you purchase a Blue Shield dental plan. If you purchase a dental plan directly from Blue Shield at buyblueshieldca.com, you can apply at any time of the year (even if you don’t have a Blue Shield medical plan). If you purchase a Blue Shield dental plan through Covered California, you can do so at two different times: (1) Any time of the year when also applying for a new medical plan through Covered California; (2) During open enrollment (November 1, 2025 through January 31, 2026) if you already purchased a medical plan through Covered California.

Do I need to purchase a dental plan for my child?

All our medical plans come with pediatric dental coverage for children under the age of 19. If you have an individual and family medical plan with Blue Shield or another carrier, purchasing a separate dental plan for your child is not necessary. If you do not have an Individual and Family medical plan or if your child is 19 or older, you may want to purchase a dental plan for your child.

* Underwritten by Blue Shield of California Life & Health Insurance Company. This plan also includes vision coverage.

† Monthly rates vary by age, plan and region

‡ Rate per child for first 3 children – No cost for 4th child and beyond

∞ Underwritten by Blue Shield of California Life & Health Insurance Company

1. The amounts indicated are a percentage of the allowed charges. Network providers accept Blue Shield’s allowed charges as payment in full for covered services.

2. Diagnostic and preventive services do not apply to the calendar-year benefit maximum for this plan.

3. There is a three-month waiting period for these services unless you had prior coverage. Contact Customer Service at (888) 271-4880 for more information about obtaining a waiver.

4. There is a six-month waiting period for these services unless you had prior coverage.

5. There is a 12-month waiting period for these services unless you had prior coverage. Contact Customer Service at (888) 271-4880 for more information about obtaining a waiver.

6. If precious metals are used, the member will be charged at the dentist’s cost. For Dental HMO, porcelain on molar teeth is subject to an additional charge of $75.

7. Amounts do not accrue toward the calendar-year benefit maximum.

8. Lifetime maximum is per person. Deductible is $50 per person or $150 per family.

Page last updated: 10/15/2025

Talk to a Blue Shield Adviser or your broker

(888) 575-3440

© California Physicians' Service DBA Blue Shield of California 1999-2025.All rights reserved. California Physicians’ Service DBA Blue Shield of California is an independent member of the Blue Shield Association. Health insurance products are offered by Blue Shield of California Life & Health Insurance Company. Health plans are offered by Blue Shield of California.

All rights reserved. California Physicians’ Service DBA Blue Shield of California is an independent member of the Blue Shield Association. Health insurance products are offered by Blue Shield of California Life & Health Insurance Company. Health plans are offered by Blue Shield of California.