Dental Financing with Bad Credit: Best Options to Consider

Posted on February 23, 2023 by Kayla Harris

Financial Advice

Dental care is essential for overall health and well-being. However, out-of-pocket dental care costs are usually ski-high, even if you have dental insurance. And this can be a huge problem. While people with good credit have multiple options to cover dental costs, those with bad credit are less fortunate. As a result, they can decide to sacrifice their oral health. But fortunately, there are various dental financing options available to those with no money and bad credit. And what is more, some of them require no credit check.

However, dental financing with bad credit is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s essential to consider your unique financial situation and the treatment you need before making a decision. Let’s find out the best options for financing any dental procedure. Whether you’re looking for a low-interest loan, a flexible payment plan, or a no credit check option, we’ve got you covered.

Table of Contents

1. Dental Loans: Overview
2. Types of Dental Loans for Bad Credit
3. How Much Money Can I Get with Dental Loans?
4. How Much Do Common Dental Procedures Cost?
5. Alternative Ways to Pay for Dental Work
6. Tips on Reducing Dental Expenses
7. FAQ

Dental Loans: Overview

A dental loan falls into the category of regular personal loans. Like any other personal loan, a dental loan has flexible repayment terms. You can get one lump sum deposit and repay your debt in fixed monthly installments within the agreed-upon period. The loan amount can be used for any needs associated with your oral health, from dental implants and teeth whitening to routine checkups.

Dental loans are usually unsecured. This means they are not backed with any property that a lender can repossess in case of default. To motivate borrowers to pay on schedule, lenders that offer dental financing apply high late fees. Also, they report your late payments to major credit bureaus, so your credit score can go down.

Here are common dental loans terms:

Interest rates: between 5.99% and 35.99% APR..

Origination fees: can be up to 8%.

Minimum and maximum loan amounts: from $1,000 to $100,000.

Repayment periods: from 24 to 144 months.

Types of Dental Loans for Bad Credit

When it comes to dental financing, there are several options available to people with bad credit. These loans are designed to make dental procedures more affordable to those with credit issues and money difficulties. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular types of dental loans for bad credit:

1. Traditional Personal Loans

   Traditional personal loans are predominant in dental financing. They are a flexible option that allows you to cover a variety of expenses, including dental treatments. Personal loan options are usually offered by banks and credit unions. However, keep in mind that conventional financial institutions are focused on borrowers’ credit scores. Thus, they may require those with bad credit get secured loans and provide collateral.

2. Medical Credit Card for Dental Expenses

   A medical credit card is a specific type of credit card that you can use to cover dental work at multiple partner dental providers. These cards often offer special financing options for dental procedures. They include interest-free periods, low monthly payments, and extended payment plans. Additionally, some medical credit cards don’t require you to go through a hard credit check. This makes them almost ideal for people with low credit.

3. Healthcare Financing Companies

   Healthcare financing companies specialize in offering loans for medical and dental treatments. They offer various loan options with low or no interest and extended repayment terms. These companies may have more lenient approval requirements than traditional lenders. Thus, it will be easier for you to get money with bad credit.

4. Dental Office Financing

   Some dentists offer dental loans for their patients too. An in-house payment plan can be cheaper compared to other types of borrowing. Some dental offices can even provide interest-free financing. More than that, they are usually permissive to a patient’s bad credit score.

How Much Money Can I Get with Dental Loans?

Dental loan amounts usually range from $1,000 to $100,000. The accurate sum you can obtain with the help of dental loans commonly depends on two main factors. The first one is the maximum loan amount provided by a specific loan lender. The second metric is your financial opportunities.

Before approving you for a dental loan, your service provider will check your income thoroughly. This is made to determine your solvency and ensure that you can repay the money. Also, your credit score can affect the loan amount. It’s the general practice that the higher your credit score, the better loan conditions and higher loan amounts you can get.

How Much Do Common Dental Procedures Cost?

To help you decide on a loan amount or accurately plan your budget, we’ve listed major dental procedures and specified their costs based on averages:

Alternative Ways to Pay for Dental Work

Sometimes traditional dental financing options are not a good fit for your financial situation. Some of them may seem expensive or require too much time to get. However, you may still need assistance to cover your dental bill. For such cases, there are alternative options to finance dental procedures. Here are a few of them:

1. Turn to a Community Health Center

   Community health centers often provide affordable dental services to people in need. The best thing about them is that they don’t look at your credit score or ability to pay. These centers may also offer reasonable payment plans or financing options to make dental costs more affordable.

2. Borrow Money from Family

   Borrowing money from family or friends is one of the cheapest ways to get extra cash. This is because you can save on an interest rate significantly. However, you should consider the potential impact on your relationship if you won’t repay the money when due.

Tips on Reducing Dental Expenses

It’s not a secret that the cost of dental work in America is extremely high. But there are some practical ways to reduce it.

1. Consider a Dental Savings Plan

   Dental savings plans are a type of alternative to dental insurance that provides discounts on dental procedures. This can be a good option for those who can’t afford traditional dental insurance or obtain a personal loan due to bad credit. With a dental savings plan, you pay an annual fee in exchange for reduced costs of dental treatments.

2. Use The Benefits of a Flexible Spending Account

   A flexible spending account (FSA) is a type of tax-advantaged savings account that is sponsored by your employer. You can use it to pay for eligible medical expenses, including dental treatments. FSAs allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars from your paycheck to use for medical expenses. This can help reduce the cost of dental work and make it more affordable.

3. Visit a Dental School

   By visiting a dental school, you not only receive affordable dental treatments but also support education. Dental students often provide a range of dental services at reduced costs. Don’t worry! They work under the supervision of licensed dentists.

4. Open a Health Savings Account

   A health savings account (HSA) is a type of tax-advantaged savings account that can be used to pay for eligible medical expenses. But keep in mind that the major eligibility criterion is to be enrolled in a high-deductible health care plan. However, any unused funds at the close of the calendar year will be carried over to the following year.

5. Don’t Neglect Regular Dental Checkups

   Neglecting regular dental checkups can lead to more serious and expensive dental problems in the future. By visiting the dentist regularly, you can catch and treat potential dental issues early on. This way, you prevent them from becoming more serious and expensive to treat.

FAQ

1. Is It Possible to Finance Dental Work?

   Yes, it is possible to finance dental work through various options. They include dental loans, medical credit cards, and financing options offered by dental providers. You can also consider available alternatives that are mentioned in the article.

2. Where Can I Find The Best Dental Loans?

   The best dental loans can be found through various financial institutions. Shop around and compare offers from banks, credit unions, or online lenders. You can also search for a dental provider that offers reasonable financing options.

3. What Can I Spend Dental Loans for?

   There are no strict limits. You can use the borrowed amount to cover the cost of any expensive dental procedures. This can be general, specialty, and cosmetic dental procedures. For example, braces, dental crowns, veneers, tooth repair, dental cleaning, and much more.