Question: Why do dental insurance plans have waiting periods and dollars max limits?  I am not sure I understand the reasoning behind making me buy a plan but not offering me the coverage I need for a year or sometimes longer.  Then if I do put up with that I get maxed out with a yearly limit amount.  Seems to me only the insurance company benefits from this and not the person buying the plan.  So if any one can explain how buying dental insurance really helps you with your dental costs.

Answer: First it important to note not all dental insurance plans have such limitations.  You may want to look at HMO dental insurance plans. Normally HMO dental insurance plan do not have waiting periods or max limitations.

However to answer your questions it seems as if you are reviewing  dental PPO plans or Indemnity insurance plans.  PPO and Indemnity dental insurance plans will normally have the limitations you spoke about.  They do this in order to pay for higher more costly dental services in the future.  One main benefit of these types of plans is that you are able to stay with or choose your own dentist which is important to many people.