Healthcare and dental costs are rising, and paired with confusion about what will be covered by insurance, more and more patients may be deferring care for themselves and their loved ones. In fact, according to the Dental Lifetime of Care Study, 58% of respondents believe dental care is not affordable.

So how can your practice address this confusion, rising costs, and unexpected expenses and help to make dental care more accessible for your patients?

Consider offering information to help patients understand cost and insurance coverage. You can offer payment solutions that are more budget-friendly, and work to make the payment process as predictable, flexible, and streamlined as possible. When patients have a clear picture upfront of what the procedure entails as well as what (and when) they can expect to pay, it helps them say “yes” to the treatments you are offering.

Help boost your practice’s budget-friendliness.

Everyone knows that dental care can be expensive, and this sticker shock can be a big deterrent if a patient views the treatment you recommend as unnecessary or elective—even if it will benefit them to get the procedure or treatment at the time you recommend. In a recent survey, 92% of respondents said they delay even general dental care because of cost, and 83% put off emergency dental care because they do not think they can afford it.¹

They may consider the cost of their treatments a scary number, and even with insurance, do not think they can, or truly cannot, afford to pay that amount with cash on hand. Most respondents to the Dental Lifetime of Care Study (almost 75%) don’t actively save for dental care.¹

But, by offering a payment plan, or third-party financing option to make payments over time, your patients can see that their care is not just one big sum, but instead a total that can be paid over months (or years) in manageable, budget-friendly monthly payments. For example, instead of seeing their cost as a few thousand dollars in one day, they can make monthly payments over time to manage the cost.

Consider offering payment solutions that are flexible and predictable.

Offering flexible and predictable solutions to all patients can help them manage cost over time and empowers them to choose an option that works best for them. According to the Dental Lifetime of Care Study, 58% of respondents would probably or definitely choose a payment option that provided predictable, set and equal payments without having to use their general purpose or retail credit card.¹ Take time to research third-party options and in-house payment solutions that give different terms and payment amounts so you can provide options to help meet your patients’ needs.

Consider increasing cost transparency and provide payment options.

The Dental Lifetime of Care Study shows that only 30% of respondents find understanding dental health expenses easy.¹ A good way to stand out is by offering patients an explanation of the cost of recommended care, insurance coverage, and their out-of-pocket cost. In addition, offering flexible payment solutions can help them fit the cost of care into their budget.

Is there a solution that fits your needs?

It’s one thing to know there needs to be a solution, and it’s another thing to have that solution available to you. Enrolling with CareCredit allows you to offer your patients budget-friendly financing options with convenient monthly payments with the CareCredit credit card that can help fit care costs into their budget.

As a CareCredit-enrolled provider, you get support with marketing materials and can help improve your cash flow because you’ll receive payments within two business days. Plus, CareCredit offers an easy application process for your patients that provides immediate decisions.

CareCredit features are also built into Open Dental software! The integrated solution is available to providers who accept the CareCredit credit card and use Open Dental software. It’s easy to use and can be a great way to help save your team time.

Learn more about how CareCredit can support your practice and patients here.

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¹Dental Lifetime of Care Study, Synchrony 2023