Dental Implants with Low Monthly Payments
The cost of dental care is one of the biggest concerns patients have, especially given the fact that nearly one out of every four people are without dental insurance. Additionally, most people in the United States have less than one thousand dollars in savings, so even if they are covered under a dental insurance plan, they may still not have enough money to cover the cost of the copay. While patients who are missing teeth may want to pursue dental implant treatment, the anticipated cost of the procedure may scare them off. If you are in a situation similar to this, it is important to be aware that there are several financing options you can pursue, one of the most common being to pay an initial portion of the treatment up front and pay the remaining balance over a period of months or even years.
To learn more about the cost of getting dental implants and what options may be available, please refer to the following.
Patients with Dental Insurance
While having dental insurance can make a tremendous difference in covering the cost of dental implants, it is important to be aware that every dental insurance plan has different types of procedures that are covered, and different amounts of coverage provided. As such, it is important to contact your provider and/or review your plan to make sure the dental implant procedure is covered, and if so, how much you can still expect to pay out of pocket. It is also a good idea to see if your clinic is willing to work directly with your provider to help you navigate coverage and ensure you best maximize your benefits. One of the ways in which you can do so is to schedule one part of your procedure (such as tooth extraction or a bone graft) towards the end of the year and the next stage of the procedure after the new year once your benefits have renewed.
Payment Options for Patients Who Cannot Afford Treatment Costs
If you have gotten an estimate of how much your dental implant procedure will cost and are unable to cover these costs, you may qualify for financing options through a primary lender. Please be aware, however, that in order to qualify for these lenders, it is typically required that you have a decent credit score. If you do not qualify for these financing options for any reason, you may want to consider the following.
Take Out a Personal Loan
You may be able to take a secured or unsecured loan to cover the cost of your dental implants. Unlike a secured loan, which requires the lendee to provide some type of collateral, such as a vehicle or real estate in case they default on their payments, an unsecured loan is provided with no recourse on the part of the lender should the lendee stop making payments. Because of the high risk associated with unsecured loans, they are much more difficult to qualify for and may come with higher interest rates.
Sub-Prime Lender
If your credit score is below 640, you will not likely qualify for a loan from a standard lender; however, you may be able to go through a subprime lender. Unlike standard lenders, subprime lenders perform a more thorough evaluation of your financial history, and take things like income, employment history and other pertinent factors that may convince them you are a good candidate to lend money to. While a loan from a sub-prime lender can be an excellent option for some patients, they often come with higher interest rates, meaning you will end up paying more money in the long run.
In-House Clinic Financing
Though not available everywhere, some clinics provide their clients with in-house financing. This can be an especially helpful financing approach for patients who require dental implants but are unable to get the necessary funds they need to get treatment. The terms and conditions of in-house financing vary from clinic to clinic, but in general you will be expected to pay some percentage of the treatment up front, after which you can make lower monthly payments until the costs of the procedure have been paid off.
Pay-Over-Time Plans like Healthcare Finance Direct (HFD)
Healthcare Finance Direct (HFD) and other pay-over-time lenders assess a patient’s risk and develop a loan agreement that is personalized to that client based on the information they gather. This agreement will determine what type of down payment is necessary and a reasonable interest rate for the payments that will be made over time. This option is popular with periodontal clinics because it removes the burden of the clinic taking on the financial risk and ensures that their clients are receiving the care they need.
How To Decide if Dental Implants Are Worth the Cost
Because of the cost and time involved in getting dental implants placed, you may be asking yourself if the end result is worth the time and trouble. As you consider the cost of treatment, it is important to keep in mind that in some ways, you will be saving money by investing in this procedure. Patients with missing teeth often develop more significant oral health problems over time, and increase their risk of developing physical issues, such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and stroke.
It is also important to consider the many benefits you will enjoy once the procedure is complete, and how invaluable your improved quality of life will be, which include:
- Strong and stable: There is no stronger or more stable treatment for patients with missing teeth than dental implants.
- Eat the foods you enjoy: Unlike dentures, permanent implants will restore your chewing force and allow you to enjoy all kinds of foods.
- Enjoy the comfortable, natural feeling: Your dental implants are designed with your specific mouth in mind and will feel just like your natural teeth.
- Will look just like your natural teeth: In addition to feeling just like your natural teeth, your dental implants will also look completely natural!
- Reduces your risk of developing oral and physical health issues: While the aesthetic and quality of life improvements alone are enough to make dental implants an essential procedure, having them placed will also significantly reduce your risk of developing additional oral health issues, such as jawbone deterioration and additional tooth loss.