A trip to the dentist isn’t something people usually look forward to.
Besides being not exactly the most fun thing to do, it can also stick you with a hefty bill. Routine cleanings and preventative measures are usually covered by insurance, but other procedures are not.
The good news is there are several ways to finance a trip to the dentist. Here are some options to consider.
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- Dental insurance may not cover 100% of a procedure.
- A sinking fund and comparison shopping can help lower the cost.
- You can negotiate payment and terms before getting dental work done.
. . .
What Dental Insurance Covers
You might assume your dental insurance will cover everything, but insurance probably covers less than you think. Dental insurance typically only covers routine procedures like cleanings and X-rays.
Extra dental work like crowns and fillings aren’t always covered by insurance. According to HealthPartners.com, only 50% of major restorative dental care services are covered. Fillings can cost several hundred dollars while more complex procedures like crowns and root canals can run more than $1,000.
Even if a procedure is partially covered under insurance, the cost can vary from dentist to dentist. The American Dental Association reports that some dentists may earn a commission from their work. The more expensive a procedure is, the more they earn.
If that’s the case, you could get stuck with an expensive dental treatment plan you can’t afford and may not need.
Understanding how your insurance works and how dentists are compensated can help you ask the right questions during your next visit.
If you and your dentist determine a procedure is absolutely necessary, you have several options to pay for it.
Ways To Pay for a Dental Bill
There are several ways to pay for a dental bill. Some involve financing options that may make dental care more affordable.
Use your insurance
If you have insurance, use that first.
When a dentist files a claim against your insurance, they negotiate with your insurance provider to cover a procedure. Sometimes the insurer won’t cover the entire procedure, leaving you to cover the rest out of pocket.
Each dental office sets its own rates for the procedures they do. You may need to shop around or find a dentist who’s in-network to get the full benefits of your coverage.
Rates aren’t set in stone, so comparison shopping can give you room to negotiate.
READ MORE: What Is an Insurance Deductible?
Ask for an installment plan
Many dental offices offer payment plans. Some of these plans are managed in-house, while others use third-party service providers like Affirm to break the cost of a procedure down into installments.
Depending on how the installment plan is managed, it may come with interest and fees. Get more information from your dentist about how much that may add to the total bill to understand the true cost of the procedure.
Pull from a health savings account
Health savings accounts may cover dental costs.
- A flexible spending account (FSA) is an employer-managed savings account that you can use on health-related expenses.
- A health savings account (HSA) is similar, but it is an account you manage and comes with different tax benefits.
These accounts use pre-tax dollars to cover out-of-pocket health and dental costs, helping you save money on a trip to the dentist.
There are different rules for FSAs and HSAs. Most routine dental work like cleanings and fillings are covered, while aesthetic work like teeth whitening is not.
Talk with your plan administrator first to see what’s eligible and what you need to do to use your funds for dental work.
READ MORE: How to Use Your HSA to Unlock Preventative Care Savings
Swipe your credit card
Using a credit card for a major procedure can make sense, especially if you’re trying to rack up points or hit a minimum spending amount to collect a sign-up bonus.
But make sure you have the cash on hand to pay off the balance, otherwise you’ll incur interest.
If you don’t have enough money in the bank and want to break up the cost into a DIY payment plan, you can use a 0% APR credit card. As long as you pay off the balance before the promotional period ends, you won’t pay interest.
There are also special credit cards designed for dental work. For example, CareCredit is a credit card recommended by many dentists. However, CareCredit charges 32.99% APR, which is higher than most consumer credit cards. Evaluate the terms first before opening an account.
Pay with a personal loan
In some cases, you might decide to take out a personal loan to cover dental work. This allows you to pay for dental work over time at a lower interest rate than a credit card.
You can get an unsecured personal loan from most banks and credit unions. Some lenders, like LightStream, offer special loans just for medical and dental procedures.
Look for a dentist with a membership plan
Some dentists offer in-house memberships with similar benefits to insurance. This allows dental offices to avoid the added costs of negotiating with insurance providers while passing savings on to patients.
For $289 a year, my dentist in Texas offers members free cleanings, X-rays, and teeth whitening. All other procedures, like getting a cavity filled, come with a 20-50% discount.
Depending on your needs, this option can be more affordable than having insurance in the first place. See if this is an option and, if it is, work with your dentist to understand the benefits.
Set up a sinking fund
Similar to an emergency fund, a sinking fund is a way to save for big future expenses.
Even if your teeth are healthy now, you can start saving for dental work you might need in the future, especially as you get older.
Set up a high-yield savings account and begin setting money aside. If you need to cover a dental procedure, you’ll already have the funds saved up.
How I Paid a $2,000 Dental Bill
Last year I moved across the country and on the way, I noticed my back molar felt funny. I went straight to the dentist and discovered my molar was broken. Aside from the extraction, I had to get a crown and several fillings replaced. The total bill came to about $2,000.
I spaced out the work over eight months. I used a sinking fund to pay for my tooth extraction, a credit card to pay for some fillings, and an installment plan to cover my crown.
My dentist offered financing through Affirm. The interest was 32.64%, which added $115 to my total bill. The rate wasn’t disclosed until after I accepted the loan but I did like the option of paying for the procedure over six months.
FAQs
How long do I have to pay a dental bill?
Each dentist has their own policy for bill payment and terms. Some require payment right after a procedure is completed while others will send a bill after they negotiate with your insurance provider.
Can you use an HSA to pay a dental bill?
Yes, you can use an HSA to pay a dental bill. Medically necessary procedures are typically eligible, but cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening are not.
TL;DR: How To Pay a Dental Bill
A trip to the dentist can be very expensive, but you do have options to cover your procedures.
If you don’t have insurance, some other options include an installment plan, a membership plan through your dentist, or a even a credit card — so long as you won’t end up carrying a balance.
It’s a good idea to set up an emergency fund or sinking fund, ideally in a high-yield savings account. That way, when you need the money for a root canal or broken tooth, it’ll be there.
For more tips on budgeting for bills, check out these episodes of the Erika Taught Me podcast:
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Amanda Claypool is a writer, entrepreneur, and strategy consultant. She's lived in the Middle East, Washington, DC, and a 2014 Subaru Outback but now resides in Austin, TX. Amanda writes for popular sites including, Forbes Advisor, Erika.com, and The College Investor. She also writes about the future of work and the state of the economy on Medium.