When deciding on a family dental plan, be sure you take a close look at the yearly maximums. Some plans may look pretty good, until you realize that they'll cover no more than $500-1000 worth of work each year -- which is basically the cost of a root canal and a crown.

Sick of your family dental plan's annual maximum? One option is to switch to a discount dental plan. You'll end up paying more per dental visit that with a traditional plan, but there are no maximums, so in the long run you just might pay less.

You family dental health depends on having a good dentist, so it makes sense to actually visit a prospective dentist before making an appointment. Once you've located them, go inside, check out the office, and meet the dentist and their staff in person, if you can.