I'm on a tight budget, so I pride myself on being able to save money by comparison shopping. When I was recently laid off, I lost my health insurance coverage including dental insurance, and I've been looking for solutions ever since.

My best tip for comparison shopping is to use www.DentalPlans.com . You just enter your ZIP code and can compare the dental plans and dentists available in your area. They feature 30+ plans, so it was easy to find one that fit my family's dental care needs. Plus, the plans are an affordable and a viable alternative to costly family or individual dental insurance.

My family discount dental plan is saving us about $800 on my daughter's braces. We even get free cleanings and x-rays twice a year!

These discount dental plans are also great if you reach your maximum on your dental insurance. Most dental insurance plans only cover up to $1000 in a year. So you may be out of luck if you need any additional dental work done in 2009. Many people turn to discount dental plans to save on their dental care once they've reached the maximum on their dental insurance. Plus, there are no health restrictions, so there is no need to wait for 12 - 18 months like some dental insurance plans force you to do.

Anyways, I just wanted to share my story. It's still possible to save even if you don't have dental insurance! See for yourself ... www.DentalPlans.com