Why Payment Flexibility Matters When You Need Dental Care

You’re not alone if you’ve postponed a dental appointment because you weren’t sure how to pay for it. Between 13 percent and 21 percent of American adults delay or skip dental care due to cost. That makes dental care the most frequently avoided healthcare service for financial reasons.

This creates a troubling pattern. You skip regular cleanings to avoid the upfront cost. Small problems go undetected. Eventually, you’re dealing with pain that demands immediate attention and significantly higher costs than preventive care would have required.

The Prevention Cost Advantage:

• Preventive dental care costs 67 to 88 percent less than emergency treatment
• Every $1 spent on preventive care saves between $8 and $50 in restorative and emergency treatments

Payment flexibility may help interrupt this cycle. When you can spread dental costs over manageable payments, you may be better able to afford regular preventive care.

The Cost Barrier That Keeps Americans from the Dentist

Dental care faces uniquely severe financial obstacles compared to other types of healthcare. According to the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute, dental care creates cost barriers for 13 percent of the population. That’s two to three times higher than medical care, prescription drugs, or mental health services.

Who’s Most Affected

The burden falls hardest on specific groups:

• Older adults: People 65 and older pay 70.3 percent of their dental expenses out of pocket because traditional Medicare doesn’t cover most dental services
• Low-income adults: Thirty three percent report financial barriers to dental care versus 12.4 percent of higher income adults
• Geographic barriers: Fifty seven million Americans live in dental health professional shortage areas, limiting access even when people can afford treatment

The National Scope

National dental expenditures reached $174 billion in 2023, representing 3.6 percent of total health spending. Despite this massive investment, millions still can’t access basic dental care.

The combination of high costs and limited availability creates a crisis that payment flexibility helps address.

Understanding Your Payment Options

Five main payment options help you manage dental expenses when paying the full amount upfront isn’t feasible. Each option works differently and suits different financial situations.

Healthcare Credit Cards

Healthcare credit cards function as specialty cards used exclusively for medical and dental expenses. You apply at the dental office or online, use the card for treatment and make monthly payments. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, they typically offer promotional periods with deferred interest.

Critical Warning. The promotional period has a deadline. If you don’t pay the full balance before it ends, interest is charged retroactively from your original purchase date. This can create an unexpectedly large bill that many consumers don’t anticipate.

Third-Party Installment Loans

Third party installment loans differ from credit cards because you borrow a set amount for specific treatment. You receive predetermined monthly payments over an established period. You can’t borrow more without applying for a new loan. Interest rates vary based on your creditworthiness.

In-House Financing

In house financing involves arrangements made directly with your dental practice without outside lenders. Your dentist’s office extends credit and manages payments. Terms, interest rates and requirements vary by practice. Some require down payments while others offer interest free plans.

Buy Now, Pay Later Services

Buy Now, Pay Later services split your bill into smaller installments. Typically these are over four to six payments. You make your first payment at the time of service, then pay the remaining balance in scheduled installments. Many market themselves as no interest if paid within the specified term.

Traditional Personal Loans

Traditional personal loans through banks or credit unions aren’t designed specifically for healthcare. They can be used for dental expenses. You apply for a loan, receive funds, pay your dentist and repay according to standard terms. These operate independently of your dental provider.

Comparing Your Options

Each payment option involves distinct trade offs:

• Healthcare credit cards and installment loans: Specialized terms for medical expenses but require careful attention to promotional periods and interest structures
• In-house financing: More personalized terms but requirements vary widely by practice
• BNPL services: Short-term flexibility with smaller installments
• Traditional personal loans: Independence from provider relationships

Understanding these differences helps you choose the option that best fits your financial situation and risk tolerance.

How Payment Plans Change Your Access to Care

Payment flexibility may influence whether you access preventive care versus only seeking emergency treatment. Research shows that financial barriers prevent dental care for 13 to 21 percent of Americans. This is 2 to 3 times higher than for other healthcare services.

Impact on Treatment Decisions

When payment options are available, the American Dental Association reports they increase case acceptance. This means patients are more likely to proceed with recommended preventive treatments rather than waiting until pain forces emergency care.

The Financial Barrier Evidence

While comprehensive peer reviewed research specifically examining payment plan outcomes remains limited, the available evidence suggests that reducing upfront cost barriers may improve access to preventive care:

• Thirteen percent of the U.S. population cites cost barriers to dental care
• This compares with just 4 to 5 percent for medical care, prescription drugs and mental health services
• More people report financial barriers to dental care than to any other type of healthcare

Real-World Impact

When Medicaid expanded adult dental coverage in some states, research found improvements. Research published in JAMA Network Open found that coverage was associated with both enhanced access to dental care and improvements in clinical oral health indicators. This demonstrates that reducing financial barriers produces real health improvements, not just increased care seeking.

The Hidden Cost of Waiting for Emergencies

Preventive dental care costs dramatically less than emergency treatment. Understanding this difference explains why payment plans for preventive care represent smart financial planning rather than unnecessary debt.

The Cost Difference

According to the American Dental Association:

• Emergency Department visits for dental care cost three times as much as preventive care delivered in dental offices
• Research published by the National Institutes of Health compared patients over five years:
  • 0-year prevention group: $143 per person in oral surgery costs
  • 5-year prevention group: $17 per person in oral surgery costs
  • Result: 88 percent cost reduction from consistent preventive care

The National Burden

The CDC reports significant costs from avoiding preventive care:

• Over 34 million school hours are lost annually due to unplanned emergency dental care
• Over $45 billion in U.S. productivity is lost annually due to untreated or emergency treated dental issues

Real-World Comparison

Without payment flexibility:

• Skip regular cleanings due to upfront cost of $100 to 200
• Small cavity goes undetected and untreated
• Eventually causes pain, requiring emergency root canal costing $1,000 or more
• Total cost: Exceeds $1,000 for emergency treatment

With payment flexibility:

• Regular cleanings on a payment plan help catch problems early
• Simple filling addresses the problem before it worsens at manageable costs, also on a plan
• No emergency treatment becomes necessary
• Result: Because preventive care costs substantially less, spreading the cost of prevention through payment plans can help you avoid much more expensive emergency bills later

University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry research emphasizes that preventive oral health habits developed early in life lead to better overall oral health. They prevent emergency interventions throughout your lifetime.

When Insurance Falls Short

Even if you have dental insurance, you may still face significant out of pocket costs that make payment flexibility valuable. Understanding these gaps helps you evaluate whether payment plans could help you access needed care.

The Coverage Gap Crisis

The National Association of Dental Plans 2025 Report reveals:

• 284 million Americans have some form of dental benefit, representing approximately 73 to 77 percent of the population
• 72 million adults lack dental insurance—nearly three times the rate of medical uninsurance
• Nine million people lost dental coverage between 2022 and 2025

Who Lacks Coverage

Thirty one percent of Medicare recipients and 33 percent of Medicaid recipients lack dental coverage. This means:

• Traditional Medicare doesn’t cover most dental services
• Millions of seniors face high out-of-pocket costs
• Many public program recipients still can’t access care

The Cost Barrier Persists

According to research analyzing federal survey data:

• Almost 6 in 10 adults without dental coverage were unable to visit a dentist, mostly due to cost
• This represents approximately 40 to 42 million adults facing cost-based access barriers

The CareQuest Institute emphasizes the health implications: Given the substantial links between oral health and systemic health, lack of dental insurance can increase the risk of adverse systemic health conditions. This is true even for those who are medically insured.

When Payment Plans Fill the Gap

Payment plans serve critical needs in several situations:

• Those without dental insurance at all (27% of adults)
• People with insurance facing high deductibles or annual maximums
• Treatments not covered by insurance
• The 31 percent of Medicare recipients without dental coverage who need access to care

Making Dental Care Accessible Starting Today

If you’ve been avoiding dental visits due to upfront costs, explore payment options available at dental practices near you. Healthcare credit cards, installment loans, in house payment plans and other flexible arrangements may help you proceed with recommended treatments rather than postponing care.