What is a dental preferred provider organization (dental PPO) plan, and how does it work?

A dental preferred provider organization (dental PPO) plan works for you in two ways: through a panel or network of participating dentists, or through dentists you select that are not in the network. Each time you or a covered family member needs dental care, you choose whether to see an in-network or an out-of-network dentist. In-network dentists are listed in your plan’s provider directory. When you use an in-network dentist, also called obtaining dental services in-network, your costs tend to be lower, because the dentists and the network have negotiated to have the dentists accept certain fees for certain services.