How You Can Pay for Dental Work

From routine cleanings or fillings to more complex work such as extractions or implants, dental care is important to your overall health and well-being. But the price of dental care can add up. Orthodontic work when you’re younger or periodontal treatment later in life may present additional costs. 

If you have dental insurance, it may pay for some of the procedures. But if you’ve reached your coverage cap, bills for either planned or emergency care can be quite significant. And a full 27% of the U.S. population lacks dental coverage altogether, nearly three times the level of people without health insurance.

But whether you’re insured or not, it’s helpful to know the financing options available. Keep reading to understand how you can plan for your dental expenses.

What is good dental care?

Good dental care generally involves brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing at least once a day, and getting regular checkups with a dentist. If you’re prone to cavities, gum disease, or other oral health problems, you might need to see the dentist more often. And even if you do all you can to protect your teeth, you may still have dental needs and expenses.

Despite the guidance, just an estimated 43% of Americans visited a dentist in 2021, according to the most recent report from the American Dental Association, though it said the level might be slightly underestimated.¹  While this may have been affected by the pandemic, it was partly due to high costs, the ADA said.

How can you plan for dental expenses?

Many people have dental insurance to help cover the costs of dental expenses. Insurance can come from either an employer or directly through a private insurance carrier. Others might obtain coverage through government-supported programs.

Whether insurance covers part of your dental costs or you have to pay out of pocket, it can be helpful to have a plan for medical expenses, including dental emergencies. 

Some dentists may be willing to assist by spreading costs out over time. “For some patients, especially those who need major work, we offer that as a courtesy,” said Dr. Joe Thornhill, who has worked as a dentist in Chicago for over 40 years. “We’ll split the bill over a couple of months to help the patient.”

You may want to ask your dentist if you can delay some procedures. If you can wait, you have extra time to plan. You might begin by putting money aside each month in a personal savings account to help pay for it.

You may also want to hold off for a new policy year if you have already reached your maximum coverage amount. Keep in mind, though, that delaying regular care can negatively affect your oral health. And it can have unwelcome consequences for your overall health, general medical costs, and even your quality of life.

Some dental work might be more urgent, including fillings, extractions, root canals, and crowns. For these and other expenses, it’s good to plan how you might pay for the care.

How can you pay for dental work without insurance?

If you don’t have dental insurance or if your plan doesn’t fully cover the procedures you need, you have several dental financing options. 

Credit cards

You could use a credit card to pay for dental work. Keep in mind, though, that if you take too long to pay off your balance, you could end up paying more because of high interest rates. Paying more than the minimum amount due each month may help you lower the total amount of interest you’re charged. 

Dentist financing

Some dental offices offer in-house payment plans. “We’ll try to help uninsured patients out with a payment plan, if they need it,” said Dr. Thornhill. “I think most dental offices are pretty amenable to that.”

Some dentists may also offer special financing for procedures that require multiple visits. Braces, for example, require regular checkups for adjustments and maintenance.

Health Savings Account

A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a savings account that allows you to set aside money on a pre-tax basis for medical costs, including dental care. There are restrictions, however. Qualifying expenses may include procedures considered medically necessary.

Flexible Spending Account

Some employers offer a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), which also allows employees to set aside pre-tax money. For dental care, this can include anything that treats or prevents dental disease. Purely cosmetic procedures are not eligible for this coverage.

An emergency fund

If you have an emergency fund for unexpected expenses, you might consider using it to pay for dental costs. By tapping your savings, you may avoid taking on high-interest debt.

Personal loans 

A personal loan offers funds for a wide array of uses, whether they are for planned or unexpected costs. In fact, 87% of surveyed customers told us their Discover® personal loan was simpler than their other financial options.* You may also save money on interest compared with other types of loans.

In addition, personal loans offer flexible repayment terms, a fixed interest rate, and one set regular monthly payment. With a Discover personal loan, for example, there are flexible repayment terms for all loan amounts—36, 48, 60, 72, and 84 months. Also, there are no fees of any kind as long as you pay on time. 

What are some ways to lower dental costs?

One of the best ways to keep your dental costs as low as possible is to take good care of your teeth.

“Everything comes back to prevention,” said Dr. Manu Kacker, who owns a dental practice in Westlake Village, CA. “If you stay on top of your maintenance, over time your overall costs will be quite a bit lower.”

If you do need professional care, there are several ways you might be able to save money on your dental expenses.

Visit a dental school

Dental schools often offer procedures at lower prices. This is to give students experience under the supervision of a licensed dentist. Dental schools may be particularly good for preventive care, such as cleanings, X-rays, and root canals. 

Research community health centers

Some community health centers offer access to healthcare for people without insurance. The National Association of Community Health Centers can help locate discounted dental services in your area.

Seek a second opinion

Before agreeing to a costly procedure, consider getting another opinion from a different dentist in your area. Getting a second opinion can help you confirm the diagnosis and that the quoted costs are typical for the procedure. You might also learn about other treatment plans.

Explore the Children’s Health Insurance Program

For eligible children, the federally funded Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides low-cost health coverage, including dental care. This program has restrictions, however, so you will want to check its guidelines.

How can a personal loan help cover dental expenses?

Even with good prevention, costly dental work can be a fact of life for many people. Dental expenses may be part of overall medical debt, which can be difficult for many people to pay back. 

When faced with dental costs, a personal loan could be the right choice for you. Because it is flexible, you can use it for a range of medical expenses, whether planned dental procedures or unexpected emergencies.

Plus, it’s predictable. With a personal loan, you’ll know when your loan is due to be paid off. At Discover Personal Loans, you can design your loan around you. Pick the amount you need and the repayment term from options offered to fit your budget.

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The information provided herein is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as professional advice. Nothing contained in this article shall give rise to, or be construed to give rise to, any obligation or liability whatsoever on the part of Discover Bank or its affiliates.

* ABOUT SURVEY

All figures are from an online customer survey conducted in September 2024. A total of 736 Discover personal loan customers were interviewed about their most recent Discover personal loan with 546 of them using the funds to consolidate debt. All results @ a 95% confidence level. Respondents opened their personal loan between January and July 2024 for the purpose of consolidating debt. Agree includes respondents who ‘Somewhat Agree’ and ‘Strongly Agree’.