What are the financing options for full-arch dental implants?

From the self-confidence of a healthy smile to pain-free eating, it’s difficult to calculate the many ways full-arch dental implants can change your life. What’s not difficult is finding a financing option that fits your needs.

With myriad ways to pay, patients don’t have to worry about up-front costs. In fact, most people finance most or all of the cost of dental implants over a period of time through one of several options:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account or health savings account
• Personal dental loan
• Health care installment plan
• Retirement plan loan
• Credit card
• Medical credit card
  

Dental implants are an important investment. Your doctor will provide detailed information about the cost of Esteem Dental Implants, including your financing options.

Dental insurance

If your dental insurance plan includes coverage for procedures such as extractions, dentures and implants, it may be used to supplement the total cost of full-arch dental implants as well. Talk to your doctor about how you can maximize your dental benefits for Esteem Dental Implants.

Flexible spending account or health savings account

Depending on your plans for other annual health spending, a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) can be a good option for covering some of your dental implant costs. The federal government currently allows an individual to deposit up to $2,750 of pre-tax income into an FSA or up to $3,550 for an HSA to cover uninsured health care expenses.

One of the benefits of choosing this option is it allows you to extend repayment over the course of a full calendar year through payroll deductions. Using funds from your FSA or HSA essentially provides tax- and interest-free financing. To learn more, talk to your employer’s human resources department to find out the specifics of your plan.

Personal dental loan

If you have an established relationship with your bank or credit union and good credit, it’s possible to get a personal loan to finance your full-arch dental implants. Unfortunately, this type of unsecured personal loan has become more difficult to get over the past several years.

Health care installment plan

Another type of unsecured loan is a health care installment plan. It’s not uncommon for patients to set up a payment plan to cover the cost of full-arch dental implants, and many doctors offer installment options through health care-extended payment companies, usually referred to as a health care installment plan. This option allows you to receive your implants now and make monthly payments over a period of time.

Retirement plan loan

To pay for full-arch dental implants, many people choose to borrow from a retirement savings fund such as a 401(k) or a 403(b) account. The benefits of this financing option:

• Low monthly payments that often extend over a five-year period
• Low interest rates regardless of credit score
• Easy repayment through a payroll deduction

When 401(k) or 403(b) funds are used for medical reasons, it’s possible you may not be required to repay the withdrawal. Speak with your human resources department to find out what options are available through your specific retirement plan.

Credit card

If other financing isn’t available, you can use a personal credit card to pay for some or all of the cost of full-arch dental implants. Although this option may not be for everyone, it allows you to take advantage of credit card offers such as introductory low or no interest rates, frequent flyer miles, cash-back rebates, and more. Some promotions, for example, offer interest-free financing for 12 to 18 months.

Before choosing to use a credit card for dental implants, be sure to research which ones offer the greatest advantages and are a good fit for your personal situation.

Medical credit card

Your doctor may offer a medical credit card designed to pay for procedures such as full-arch dental implants. Like a traditional credit card, a medical credit cards allow you to charge expenses, but they are restricted to qualifying medical expenses and typically require a credit check.

Interest charges on medical credit cards typically are deferred, so if you pay off the balance within a certain amount of time, you won’t be charged interest. However, be aware that if you don’t pay off the charges in the allotted time, you may have to pay interest (retroactively) on the entire original amount.

The cost of doing nothing

As you explore financing options, it’s important to consider the cost of failing to invest in your dental health. For many people, the longer they wait to get implants, the more jawbone loss occurs, which leads to higher health care costs because the implant procedure becomes more difficult to perform.

Missing teeth and dentures can also make healthy food choices challenging. If you avoid foods such as lean meat, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains because of difficulty chewing, your diet can be negatively impacted, leading to decreased overall health and higher health care costs over time.

In addition to poor diet and jawbone loss, having broken or missing teeth affects your self-esteem, which can lead to other issues, such as missing out on pay raises or job offers. No one should suffer decreased income because they don’t have confidence in their smile.

Talk to your doctor about available financing options. The sooner you do, the sooner you can enjoy the life-changing benefits of a new smile.