One dental procedure that can improve your smile and overall health is dental implant surgery. This is when a dentist replaces missing or bad tooth roots with screw-like posts and artificial teeth. The implant looks and functions just like a regular tooth. While tooth implants could be helpful, the procedure is quite pricey.
Not everyone can afford to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket, so it’s a good thing there are ways to make it more affordable. You can search online to explore the available payment options.
What Happens If You Do Nothing?
You might be debating whether or not dental implants are a necessary procedure after learning how much it costs. Unfortunately, there are some issues that can develop in the long term if you wait too long to get implants or choose not to get them at all. For instance, patients who leave a bad tooth in their mouth for a long time can end up developing problems with their other teeth.
If you have a missing tooth and leave it untreated for as little as 12 months, you could cause the bone density and height to decrease and deteriorate. In this case, an issue that once could have been resolved with a simple dental implant would now require a more expensive bone grafting procedure.
Olena Yakobchuk / ShutterstockOther Potential Setbacks
If you’re missing a tooth and don’t fill in the gap soon enough with a dental implant, your adjacent teeth can begin to shift. You may require braces or some type of orthodontic work to correct the damage in the long term.
Another unexpected setback you may encounter is difficulty eating. By avoiding tooth implants, you’re more prone to biting your tongue and cheeks. This can be damaging to the mouth and painful if it continues to occur without proper treatment.
Gts / ShutterstockCareCredit
You can pay off your dental implants in monthly installments with the help of CareCredit. Since insurance providers consider implants an elective procedure, it usually won’t be covered. You can finance the surgery with CareCredit and pay in smaller monthly installments.
What’s great about this option is that you won’t have to pay interest if the surgery is paid in full within six, 12, 18, or 24 months. You’ll need to get the surgery done at an enrolled provider location in order to qualify for this financing.
ANRproduction / ShutterstockFlex Spending Accounts
Another option is by using funds from a Flexible Spending Account. TeethXpress explains how employees can now deposit up to $2,750 of their before-tax income into one of these accounts. This money can be put towards anything that’s not covered by healthcare insurance, such as dental implants.
It’s also a good option for people who don’t have any type of health or dental insurance. This money can be used to pay a portion or the entirety of your procedure, depending on how much work you need done and what the dental office is charging.
sujit kantakat / ShutterstockGroupon
Groupon has established itself as a leading platform for discovering incredible discounts on various products and services, and dental implants are no exception. Depending on your location, you could get dental implants for as much as 60% off the sticker price through services like Groupon.
Additionally, Groupon’s user-friendly interface and verified customer reviews help users make informed decisions, ensuring the best possible care in addition to substantial savings.
Shutterstock: II.studioSecured and Unsecured Loans
People who don’t want to put their dental implant on a credit card can consider applying for a secured or unsecured loan. An unsecured loan is ideal for people with a good credit history and the bank deems stable enough to pay back the loan on time.
A less preferred option would be a secured loan. This is when you have to put up some type of collateral that the lender will take ownership of in case you don’t make the proper payments. This is a riskier loan, so consider other options first before applying.
Maxx-Studio / ShutterstockDental Insurance
If you don’t already have dental insurance, then it might be time to consider it. This form of health insurance can help you pay for things like cleanings and x-rays that you’ll need on a regular basis.
While heftier procedures are often not covered by dental insurance, having a plan to pay for at least your routine dental work can help offset the amount you’re paying out-of-pocket in general. However, you may be entitled to certain benefits depending on the health plan you choose and potentially save some money on the surgery.
eakasarn / ShutterstockBorrowing from a Retirement Plan
Those with a retirement savings account can borrow money from it to pay for pricey dental procedures. TeethXpress says this is a prefered way for customers since you don’t have to get approved based on your credit score or income. Rather, the approval is based on the available funds in your account.
Paying back the funds is usually through a payroll deduction that can range from $200 to $500 per payments. Plus, the interest rates are lower and said interest will be paid back to you rather than to a bank or other financial lender.
Oleggg / ShutterstockCompare Your Payment Options
Ultimately, dental implants are an investment that could benefit you for the rest of your life. It can improve your smile and prevent you from developing worse teeth problems that will cost additional money to fix in the future.
There are various payment options to consider to make dental implants more affordable. Not all payments will make sense for your specific financial situation, so make sure to compare the various options to find one suitable for you.
Olena Yakobchuk / Shutterstock
