According to the American College of Prosthodontists, more than 36 million Americans do not have any teeth, and 120 million people in the U.S. are missing at least one tooth. These numbers are expected to grow in the next two decades. The American Academy of Implant Dentistry claims that about 3 million people in the U.S. have dental implants, and another 500,000 implants are placed each year.
Why So Many People Live With Missing Teeth
With so many people missing teeth and only 500,000 implants placed each year, the opportunity for practices who can help people overcome the number one barrier to dental implant case acceptance—affordability—is incredible.
With dental implants starting at $3,000 to $4,500 to replace a single tooth and increasing to $20,000 to $50,000—or more—to replace a full or partial set of teeth, there’s no denying implants aren’t cheap. For many patients, the choice is clear—if they can’t get financing for the treatment they need, they can’t get dental implants. It’s just not possible.
That’s why it’s critical for practices to offer as many ways as possible for implant patients to afford their treatment. Talk about alternative financing options and out-of-the-box ways to finance their treatment with them. Help them apply for financing. Get creative. After all, many patients want to move forward and the only thing stopping them is affordability.
If patients come to your office for a free consultation or after search for dental implants, we know they want dental implants. We don’t have to convince them that dental implants are the best treatment. We only have to help them move forward. To help you help them, we put together this list of the top dental finance companies you can use to help your patients afford their care.
CareCredit: Possible Interest-Free Financing
Unlike some financing options, CareCredit works just like a credit card, so patients are usually quick to get comfortable using it and you generally won’t have to take much time explaining it to them. CareCredit even offers a 0% interest for 24, 36, 48, or 60 months for purchases of $2,500 and up.
If the patient pays off the entire loan balance during the 0% promotional period, they can avoid paying any interest on their loan. If the patient doesn’t pay off the entire loan during the promotional period, however, interest is charged to them from the purchase date.
Medical Credit: Flexible Financing for Many Patients
United Medical Credit is a little different than CareCredit. They can give your patient a loan that they can pay off over time, but unlike CareCredit, United Medical Credit doesn’t offer a promotional period with 0% interest, and they don’t make loans over $35,000.
Keep that in mind when recommending finance companies to a dental implant patient. But they have financing options for patients with good, sub-par, and even no credit. Patients can also apply with a co-signer if necessary, or to improve their application.
Proceed: Long Repayment Periods and Low Rates
Proceed is another dental finance company that enables your patient to pay off a loan with monthly payments. They don’t give out a loan to just anyone, though.
Your patient needs to have a gross annual income of $24,000 or more and a satisfactory credit report. They do offer rates as low as 3.99% APR and terms as long as 96 months.
GreenSky: Multiple Financing Options
GreenSky will work with you to select a financing platform—between installment loans or revolving credit.
That meets the specific needs of both your patients and your practice.
LendingClub: Fixed Monthly Payments and Lower APR
LendingClub will let your patients borrow up to $40,000 for their dental implant treatment.
They offer fixed monthly payments and boast that they have low, fixed interest rates.
DentalFinance: High Approval Rates and Lower APR
DentalFinance works with your practice rather than with patients directly.
They boast that they can save you thousands and that they’ve mastered the art of offering what patients want: high approval rates and lower APR. Their APR maxes out at 17.99%. Other options charge up to 29.99%.
CompassionateFinance: Flexible Dental Implant Financing
CompassionateFinance allows each patient to choose a monthly payment that works best for them.
It’s different for every practice, but they have customized payment plans for all patients seeking quality care.
BankRate: Unsecured Medical Personal Loans
BankRate has a medical loans program to help patients obtain a loan to cover dental implants. Patients can get prequalified in a few minutes without affecting their credit score.
Bankrate is often not linked to other dental finance companies but they offer several financing options depending on your patient’s credit score.
Help Your Patients Afford Their Implant Treatment
These are just some of the best dental finance companies for helping patients afford the implants they need. Bookmark this article and come back frequently. We’ll update the list as we continue to help practices close more implant cases.
If you’re interested in learning more about getting a steady flow of dental implant leads, schedule a FREE 15-minute strategy session right here on drivendentalmarketing.com.