Are dental plans comparable to dental insurance?  I'm currently
without any dental "support" whatsoever, and my company no longer
offers dental insurance.  If I get a "discount dental plan," does that
mean I have similar benefits, or am I going to get screwed?  How can I
make sure that with my new dental plan choice, I can make payments for
dental work after any procedure rather than paying out-of-pocket
immediately?

You should likely tell your state and country. In Florida where I
live: discount plans typical give you a short list of nearby dentists,
who work for about 70% of the going rates under the the plan. If you
shop around you can likely pay about the same rates without the
restrictions and monthly cost of the plan.
 Dental insurance typically is much more costly but more flexable, and
envolves small rather than large co-payments.  Neil

Another "feature" of individual dental plans is long waiting periods.
For a major restoration, like a crown, you would not be eligible for
any benefits for two to three years.

I lost job and all coverage about 18 months ago. I was able to secure
private health insurance but passed on dental. By the time that you
add up the premiums you can quickly see that the insurance really
doesn't help that much. A crown costs $1000 if I pay for it myself. If
I need one three years from now, the insurance would cover between
$200 and $500; still leaving me with a lot.

In general, dentistry is much more predictable than medical. In other
words, there are few, if any, dental events on par with a heart attack
or cancer as far as cost rarity of occurence.

For me, it wa clear that most of the money spent on premiums would be
wasted and that (perils of geting older) much of the work that needed
to be done would be out of my pocket anyway. You should look carefully
and push the pencil pretty hard before buying private dental
insurance.

I agree with Neil on his assessment of the discount plans. Lynn