Access to dental benefits may not be a cakewalk, but you should not lose all hope. They can be within your reach even if the benefits do not come through your job. And for those who have a history of dental problems, joining a dental plan is not a bad idea.

Your kids, provided they qualify for the federal/state Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), might be provided with dental benefits. CHIP plans are not required to offer dental treatment, and the decision is made on a state-by-state basis.

If you are employed by a company with more than 500 workers, you are likely to be among the 175 million Americans who have a dental plan. Nearly 90% of big companies offer some type of dental benefit to their workers. But when both large and small employers are taken into consideration, the number of employers offering dental insurance drops to about 55%. Latest reports say that about 40% of the American workforce still does not have access to dental health benefits.

Remember that with dental insurance, you pay regular premiums for your coverage and your plan has annual spending caps. It usually covers 100% of the cost of preventive services once you have met your deductible. Dental discount plans, however, work differently: on payment of a fee, plan members receive discounts on a variety of dental services, such as fillings, braces, tests, and routine cleanings. With a dental discount plan, you must visit a dentist who has agreed to participate in the plan and offer services at a discounted price.

These plans charge an initial enrollment fee and a monthly fee to the dental-discount company. They also offer discounts on cosmetic procedures that are often excluded from most dental insurance plans. You will find a number of dental plans such as Aetna Dental Access, GE Wellness Plan, Patriot Plan and UNI-CARE 200.