Dental Financing

Dental visits are expensive. While a routine checkup and cleaning averages about $275, procedures like fillings and dentures can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Luckily, if you don’t have the cash to pay for all your dental work upfront, there are financing options available. Read on to learn how dental financing works, whether you can get financing with bad credit or no credit check, and which dental financing options you might use.

How Dental Financing Works

Dental financing can help you cover the cost of dental care if you’re unable to pay for your procedure all at once. In many cases, you can borrow money and make payments until you’ve paid off the amount you borrowed. Fortunately, there are many dental financing options that can help make dental treatments more affordable.

What are dental loans?

Dental loans let you pay for a variety of planned and emergency dental expenses, like cavity fillings and root canals. Offered by banks, credit unions, online lenders, and dental offices, dental loans can make it easier to cover the cost of important dental work. You’ll be able to pay off your procedures over time and won’t have to come up with the full amount upfront. 

Can I get dental financing with bad credit?

Even if you have a bad or fair credit score, you can still get approved for dental financing. In fact, many lenders, companies, and dentists have flexible requirements and are willing to lend to people with lower credit scores. They might consider additional factors like your employment situation and income when deciding whether to approve you.

Can I get dental financing with no credit check?

While most dental loans require a credit check, you may be able to find dental financing with no credit check. If you do, however, you might have to make a larger down payment or settle for a smaller amount of money than you need. The good news is that bad-credit dental loans can help you out without these challenges. 

What Are My Dental Financing Options?

If you’d like to pay for a routine exam and cleaning, filling, root canal, or any other treatment, consider these dental financing options:

Personal Loan

With a personal loan, you’ll receive a lump sum of money upfront and repay it via fixed monthly payments over a set term. Many banks, credit unions, and online lenders offer this dental financing option with quick approvals and fast funding.

Medical Credit Card

A medical credit card works a lot like a regular credit card. The only difference is that you can only use it to pay for healthcare expenses like dental treatments with certain providers. If you’re approved for a medical credit card, you’ll need to find a dentist that will accept the card as a payment method.

Credit Card with a 0% Introductory APR

Some credit cards come with a 0% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for a set time period. Once the introductory period is over, the APR will increase based on your credit. If you feel confident that you can pay off the amount you owe within the introductory period, you may be able to finance your dental care and avoid interest charges.

How to pay for dental work if you have no money

If you’re short on funds but want to pay for dental work, it’s a good idea to look for free or low-cost dental providers who offer dental procedures to those with low incomes or no insurance. You may also search for nonprofit organizations that can help you receive the dental care you need. Additionally, do some research to find discounts and coupons, or consider seeking treatment from dental students with cheaper rates

What Are Some Alternatives to Dental Financing?

If you’d like to steer away from dental financing, you may want to think about these alternatives:

Negotiate with Your Dentist

Don’t be afraid to speak to your dentist and negotiate a lower price. If you’ve been a loyal patient or require multiple treatments, there’s a good chance they’ll lower the cost of your care.

Compare Dental Prices

Not all dentists charge the same amount for their treatments. For this reason, it’s well worth your time and effort to shop around and compare dental prices. You may be able to save some money just by going to a different dentist.

Get Help From Family and Friends

If you’re in need of a dental treatment but don’t want to take out a loan or use a credit card, ask your loved ones for help. They may lend you money and work with you to design a repayment plan that you can comfortably afford.

How to compare dental financing options

As you shop around for dental loans, keep the following in mind:

Repayment term lengths

Repayment lengths for dental financing vary greatly. You may have to repay some loans quickly, such as within a few weeks. Other loans might come with longer repayment terms and more manageable payments. The right repayment length depends on your budget and goals. 

APRs

Annual percentage rates, or APRs, are important because they determine the overall cost of your dental loan. The lower the APR, the more you’ll save on interest charges and fees. Do your best to lock in the lowest APR you can for your particular credit score and financial situation.

Credit score criteria

In some cases, you’ll need a higher credit score to qualify for dental financing. If you don’t have the best credit, however, don't worry. You can find lenders and companies that cater to dental patients with less-than-perfect credit and have more lenient requirements. 

Additional fees

Some dental loans charge fees in addition to interest. These can include origination fees, application fees, and late fees. Since fees can increase your overall cost of borrowing, prioritize financing options with minimal to no fees.

Which dental financing option is right for me?

To choose the ideal dental loan, consider your specific situation. Think about your credit, how much money you need to borrow, and how quickly you can and want to repay your loan. Then, do some research to learn about all the options available to you. Eventually, you’ll figure out the right way to finance your dental procedures.

Advance America Loans Can Cover Your Dental Financing Needs

Advance America offers a variety of online loans such as payday loans, emergency loans and installment loans that you can use to cover your dental treatment. Once you fill out our quick application online or in-store, you may be approved even with less than great credit. Our loans give you the funds you need quickly, making it easy and affordable to pay for your visit to the dentist.

Apply for an Advance America loan today!