Dental Implants with Low Monthly Payments
Dental implants are one of the most popular tooth replacement treatment options preferred among adults in the United States. One of the major reasons for their popularity is because dental implants offer the long-term stability and durability that many other treatment options do not. Unfortunately, dental implants can be costly, and cost may be a major barrier for some patients. If you are trying to decide if dental implants are the right treatment option for you, you should learn more about the procedure and the estimated treatment costs. Here are more details on dental implant treatment, estimated treatment costs, and tips on covering these costs.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are posts, commonly titanium or ceramic, that are surgically inserted into the jawbone. After the implant placement, the bone fuses to the implant during a several month healing period. This healing period is essential to the implant being secure in the jawbone. Implants are designed to act like the root of a natural tooth. Due to their secure placement in the jawbone, implants can restore function and support an artificial crown or prosthetic dentures. Many alternative tooth replacement options are not permanently secured in the mouth, resulting in shifting, rubbing, and irritation. Because of their design, dental implants offer stability and durability that the alternative tooth replacement options do not.
Estimated Costs of Dental Implants
The cost of dental implant treatment is impacted by numerous factors. The average cost of implant treatment for one implant can range anywhere between $1,500-$6,000. This estimate includes the cost of the implant surgery, the implant system components, and any additional hardware or necessary procedures.
Factors that Influence Treatment Costs
The cost of dental implant treatment can be challenging to estimate due to the many factors that can influence costs. Factors that influence cost can include:
- geographic location
- the expertise of the dentist
- experience of the dentist with implant treatments
- the brand of the implant system selected: Implant systems from well-established companies have evidence to support their success. Often, implants from
- well-established companies cost more and this added cost makes up a large portion of the treatment costs. Implants developed and produced by local labs may be a more affordable option, but there is less is known about their long-term success.
If you are considering investing in dental implant treatment and are trying to estimate what the treatment will cost, you should have a discussion with your dentist. Your dentist will help identify which procedures you may need and provide details on which implant brands they use and their estimated costs for implant treatment.
Discount Plans
Dental discount plans are a great option to help cover the costs of dental implant treatment. Discount plans can cover anywhere between 4-50% of the total treatment costs. You should discuss with your provider if discount plans are available to you and if you qualify for available plans.
Low Monthly Payments for Dental Implant Treatment
It is common for patients receiving dental implant treatment to have to cover a portion or all of the treatment costs. For all patients considering implant treatment, it is important to be aware that the treatment is often not covered by dental insurance policies. Fortunately, there are financing options available. There are a few financing options that even involve low monthly payments, making the investment more feasible. Often a good credit score is needed to qualify for many of these financing options, making it challenging for some patients interested in the treatment. If you want a dental implant treatment but do not have a great credit score, there are a few financing options available for you, including:
Sub-Prime Lender Financing
If your credit score will not qualify you for a standard credit-based medical loan, another option for you is to apply for subprime lender financing. Typically, credit-based medical loans require a credit score of 640 or more. Subprime lenders will often look beyond credit scores to the patient’s financial history, income, employment history, etc. However, you should keep in mind that these additional considerations often come with an increased cost. Subprime lenders often require higher interest rates, extra fees, and longer pay off terms for the borrower.
Personal Loans
For patients with low credit scores, another option to help cover the cost of dental implant treatment is to apply for a secured or unsecured personal loan. The patient will likely need to leverage collateral, or an asset that they own, such as a car or alternative property, to qualify for a secured loan. Collateral will help increase both the chances of qualifying as well as the loan amount. On the other hand, unsecured personal loans do not require any collateral. Qualifying for a personal loan with bad credit and without collateral can be a challenge. A patient who doesn’t qualify for a credit-based financing option will often have trouble qualifying for an unsecured personal loan.
Flexible Pay-Over-Time Plans
A third option is a flexible pay-over-time payment plan. Third party lenders, including Healthcare Finance Direct (HFD), offer payment plans that work for almost all patients, including patients with low credit scores who do not qualify for traditional financing options. Third party lenders who partner with dental providers help to increase the provider’s ability to treat all patients, even those who cannot afford to pay for costly treatments directly out-of-pocket. Third party lenders often use a data-driven approach to assess risk and lending qualification. This approach takes into consideration patient financial and employment information beyond the patient’s credit report. The lender also uses the data to determine the loan agreement terms, including a down payment amount. These third party systems set interest rates that decrease provider risk while also allowing the provider to keep payment interest. The established payment plans often include relatively low monthly payments that can be directly debited from the patient’s bank account. Additionally, these systems decrease the burden on the dental provider and the lender. Flexible pay-over-time systems are a great option for both the dental provider and the patient.