There used to be a time dental plans were considered frivolous, an extra perk an employer could give that was really "unnecessary." But more and more it's becoming clear that good dental health can have an impact on the entire body. A person with gum disease, for example, may have symptoms that extend well beyond the gums. Fatigue, general malaise and infection are not a laundry list of items most employers want to see their employees deal with.

Since the reality has become clear, many employers are now offering dental insurance plans and there are even very reasonable plans people can purchase independently. These plans cover everything from routine check ups and cleanings to braces and false teeth at varying levels of cost savings to the plan subscribers.

For families, dental plans are almost an absolute must. Children need dental supervision from the time their first tooth appears forward. The check ups include the basics - cleanings, looking for cavities and so on. And then, of course, there comes a time when many children need braces, which can cost thousands of dollars in hardware and dentist visits. Dental plans cover these. While not taking the full financial burden off the family, they do put a serious dent in it.

Adults in the family, too, benefit from dental plans. They not only give a cost savings that's good on Mom and Dad's budget, they also provide services the adults need, too. Regular cleanings are always a good idea to ensure gum disease doesn't present itself and checkups are smart to be certain teeth are healthy and will last a lifetime.

So, what do dental plans cover?

Most dental plans cover everything that's not an optional service. This means anything that's not "cosmetic" in nature. And, sometimes they even cover that. A beautiful smile can lend itself to an overall better attitude, which also impacts health.

A typical plan will offer a free checkup from a licensed dentist at least once a year and generally free cleanings twice a year. The full-pay cost of these services multiplied over a family of four over the course of a year will more than cover the annual premium. In addition, plans cover a percentage cost of fillings, major dental work, braces, false teeth and so on. There will still be a co-pay or a percentage payment due in some cases, but it's not 100 percent of the bottom line for most procedures.

The best part about dental insurance is that it tends to be typically quite affordable. Plans for entire families can cost less than a dinner out each month and even less if it's an employer offered plan (generally).