Many do not factor in the surprise cost of “high ticket” items like root canals and crowns into their budget.  A good dental plan gives you the security you need to make sure you do not end up with an extremely high bill.  Preventive is cheap… but root canals and crowns can rack up thousands of dollars in bills.  Dental plans are not subject to the “no pre-existing” clause set forth by the healthcare reform act.  Many have a 12 month waiting period for high end dental services.  Factor this into your budget and start now so those “surprise bills” are easier to handle.