The large majority of US adults have multiple cavities, suffer from some form/level of periodontal disease, or have another major dental needs. And yet, most people fail to protect themselves with dental insurance before they get hit with hundreds or thousands of dollars in dental bills.

It's very common for dental and/or vision insurance to be among available employee benefits, and when that's the case, it may be relatively easy to decide on a policy-type. But, what if you need to shop for individual dental insurance? What are the factors to consider in making your choice?