Exploring the Smile Plus Membership Plan: Affordable Dental Care Without Insurance

Dental insurance can be confusing and expensive — especially if you don’t have coverage or your plan has high deductibles or limited benefits. For many people, a better solution is a dental savings or membership plan. Ethos Family Dental’s Smile Plus Membership Plan offers exactly that: real value, transparent benefits, and a way to make dental care affordable without relying on traditional insurance.

Why a Membership Plan Makes Sense

• Insurance isn’t always accessible or cost-effective. Ethos recognizes that not everyone has—or wants—dental insurance. Their in-house Smile Plus plan is designed to remove financial barriers and encourage regular, preventive visits.

• With this plan, patients get a predictable way to budget dental care, without worrying about annual maximums, deductibles, or pre-authorization.

• It’s not just for cleanings — the Smile Plus plan includes real discounts on many treatments, making it a smart choice for preventive care and beyond.

What the Smile Plus Plan Includes

Here’s a breakdown of the benefits that make Smile Plus a compelling option:

Membership Levels & Pricing

• For children (12 and under): $264/year (about $22/month)

• For adults (13 and older): $360/year (about $30/month)

• For patients needing periodontal (gum) maintenance: $480/year (≈ $40/month) for a Perio plan that includes 3 periodontal maintenance cleanings per year.

Preventive Services

• Two oral health exams per year (periodic or comprehensive for new patients)

• Two healthy-mouth cleanings (or three, for those on the Perio plan)

• Fluoride treatments twice a year

• Digital X-rays: either a full-mouth series (FMX) or a panoramic + 3D scan at the initial visit; plus six-month recall X-rays as needed.

• Two oral cancer screenings annually

• One TMJ (jaw) assessment and one airway assessment if needed

• One emergency visit is included per 12-month plan period

Treatment Discounts

• 20% off most dental treatments during the 12-month membership — excluding some items like tissue biopsy and cosmetic dentistry.

• 15% off specialty treatment done in-office (excluding some services like orthodontics and implants).

• 10% off implant-related treatment.

• 10% off in-office teeth whitening.

No Insurance-Style Constraints

• There’s no annual deductible and no annual maximum cap on benefits.

• No pre-authorization required for treatments — you don’t need approvals, paperwork, or delays.

• No waiting periods — benefits start immediately on sign-up.

  Dental insurance is not the same as health insurance. While healthcare policies often protect against catastrophic costs, dental plans typically follow a 100-80-50 model (for preventive-basic-major care) and come with annual benefit limits or “maximums.” At Ethos Family Dental they explain: preventive care (cleanings, exams) is often covered at 100 %, basic treatments around 80 %, major work about 50 %.

How the Smile Plus Plan Works in Practice

• Sign-up is simple. Once you enroll, your benefits begin right away on the date you join.

• The plan runs in 12-month periods. When you renew, your “year” restarts with the same benefits.

• Discounts apply only at Ethos Family Dental. If you're referred to a specialist outside the practice, membership discounts typically don’t apply.

• Cosmetic treatments like veneers, Invisalign, or similar are excluded from membership benefits.

• There is a 30-day money-back guarantee if you haven’t used any of your plan benefits in that first month.

• Missed or canceled appointments without proper notice may incur a fee.

Who Benefits Most from the Smile Plus Plan

• Uninsured patients: If you don’t have dental insurance, this plan is a practical alternative that offers both preventive care and meaningful treatment discounts.

• Families who want regular care: Those who value routine check-ups, cleanings, and X-rays will get great value.

• Patients needing medium-term care: If you’re planning work like crowns, fillings, or implants, the discount could be very helpful.

• Gum-disease patients: The Perio option helps those who need more frequent cleanings (maintenance every few months) and want cost predictability.

Why It’s a Better Choice Than Paying Full Price

• Budget-friendly: Monthly or annual cost is transparent and predictable.

• No surprise limitations: Because there’s no annual maximum or deductible, you don’t have to worry about “using up” your benefits and paying full price later.

• Value-focused: Preventive care is built in, so your routine visits (which help maintain oral health) are essentially bundled.

• Incentivizes care: The discounts on treatment help motivate you to seek care when needed, rather than putting it off.

Things to Consider Before Joining

• Because it’s a membership plan — not insurance — it doesn’t cover you outside Ethos Family Dental.

• If you only come in for cleanings once a year, the plan may not pay for itself based solely on routine visits (though the emergency and treatment discounts help).

• Make sure to use your cleanings before your coverage year ends — unused hygiene visits may not roll over.

You’ll need to pay for treatment (if any) up front at the time of service, even with the discount.

Conclusion

For people without dental insurance — or for those who want a simple, all-in solution to managing dental costs — Ethos Family Dental’s Smile Plus Membership Plan is a strong option. It gives you a structured way to invest in your oral health, access regular preventive care, and enjoy significant savings on additional treatment, all without the red tape and limitations of traditional insurance.

If you’re ready to take control of your dental health while keeping costs predictable and reasonable, the Smile Plus plan is worth considering. Schedule a chat with your Ethos Family Dental team to learn how to enroll, discuss your dental needs, and start saving — your smile (and your wallet) will thank you.