Are You Losing Patients Without Even Realizing?

Running a successful dental practice isn’t just about clinical excellence – it’s also about making care accessible and affordable. In today’s economy, many patients struggle with the cost of dental treatments. Without flexible dental financing options, you might be losing patients and revenue without realizing it. High-value procedures can slip away, patients may delay or avoid care, and many will choose competitors who offer the payment flexibility they need.

In this article, we’ll explore the business risks of not offering financing and explain how dental payment programs can keep your practice thriving.

Missed Revenue from High-Value Procedures Without Dental Financing

Many dental practices rely on big-ticket treatments – like dental implants, orthodontics, or cosmetic makeovers – to grow revenue. But these procedures often come with high out-of-pocket costs. Without financing options, patients faced with “sticker shock” may decline treatment, leading to lost revenue.

Common Costs of High-Value Dental Procedures:

• Single dental implant: $3,000–$7,000 per tooth. Insurance rarely covers the full amount, leaving patients with thousands to pay.
  
  
• Porcelain veneers: $800–$2,500 per tooth, up to $30,000 for a full smile makeover. Cosmetic treatments are typically not covered by insurance.
  
  
• Full-mouth implants: $25,000–$90,000 or more – an investment few can make in one lump sum.
  
  

Faced with these costs, patients may delay, opt for temporary fixes, or forgo treatment entirely. For your practice, that’s lost revenue. If a patient needs a $5,000 implant but can’t pay upfront, that’s $5,000 in production walking out the door. Multiply that over time, and the missed revenue is substantial.

These treatments are often elective or non-urgent, making it easy for patients to say “not now” if paying is difficult. Practices offering financing typically see 20–30% higher acceptance for treatments over $1,500. Without financing, you could be missing out on a quarter more high-value cases.

Bottom line: When patients can’t afford treatment, they don’t accept it, and your practice loses both revenue and the chance to deliver optimal care. Offering financing can turn “maybe later” into booked procedures, benefiting both patients and your bottom line.

Patients Delay or Avoid Care Due to Cost Concerns

Sticker shock doesn’t just cause patients to decline optional treatments – it also leads them to delay necessary care. Financial barriers are among the biggest reasons patients put off appointments. Without a financial safety net like dental financing, many simply wait until they “have the money,” which often means not getting care at all.

Key Statistics:

• Widespread delay: 28% of U.S. adults report delaying or skipping healthcare due to cost.
  
  
• Dental care hit hardest: 13% of Americans avoid dental care for cost reasons, compared to only 4–5% for medical care.
  
  
• Skipping visits: Nearly 59% of adults have skipped a dentist visit due to financial concerns.
  
  
• Financing matters: 63% of patients with healthcare credit cards – and 50% without – would postpone cosmetic dental care if they couldn’t use credit.
  
  

What does this mean for your practice? Without offering payment options, many patients will walk away saying, “I’ll think about it,” when they mean, “I can’t afford this.” Some cancel appointments or delay care indefinitely, often as their conditions worsen.

Even patients with insurance face high out-of-pocket costs. Insurance might only cover $1,500 of a $5,000 procedure, leaving $3,500 to pay. Without a way to spread out payments, many patients delay or only treat the worst problems, compromising their health and reducing your revenue opportunities.

By not addressing cost concerns, practices inadvertently push patients away. Conversely, discussing financing upfront can help patients move forward with treatment, improving their health outcomes and your production goals.

Losing Patients to Competitors Who Offer Dental Payment Programs

Another risk: you may be sending patients straight to your competitors. If you present a $2,000 bill with no flexibility, patients may start shopping around. Practices advertising “easy payment plans” or partnering with dental payment programs quickly become more attractive.

Don’t assume patients will save up and return. Often, they’ll choose the path of least financial resistance. If another practice offers 0% interest financing or affordable payment plans, that could be the deciding factor, especially for uninsured patients.

Many dental offices underestimate this. A recent survey showed 58% of dental professionals don’t proactively offer financing, with 32% believing “patients didn’t need it.” That’s a dangerous disconnect. Patients overwhelmingly welcome financing options, and if competitors recognize this before you, they have the advantage.

Offering financing also builds trust and loyalty. In one study, 73% of patients felt their dental office was “looking out for them” when financing options were offered. Younger patients, in particular, expect financing. Two out of three millennials and Gen X patients prefer to pay for medical or dental expenses over time rather than all at once.

If your practice doesn’t cater to these expectations, you risk losing new patient growth to more forward-thinking competitors. Offering financing isn’t just a financial tool – it’s a competitive edge that helps keep patients loyal and attracts new ones.

The Competitive Edge of Offering Dental Financing for Patients

We’ve explored the risks of not offering financing; now let’s consider the upside. Embracing financing options gives your practice a significant edge. You’re not just preventing patient loss – you’re actively growing your practice.

Boost Case Acceptance and Revenue

Practices that offer financing often see a 20–30% increase in acceptance for larger treatment plans. Patients are more likely to proceed when they can spread costs over time. This leads to more accepted cases and higher production.

Financing also helps patients choose ideal treatments. Instead of settling for a partial denture, they might choose implants. Instead of a single crown, they may opt for a full cosmetic upgrade. Over time, this can significantly lift your practice’s revenue.

Improve Patient Satisfaction and Loyalty

When you help patients overcome cost barriers, they remember it. Financing turns stressful money conversations into collaborative discussions. Patients feel cared for, trust your practice more, and are more likely to refer friends and family.

Offering financing is good customer service. It keeps patients comfortable – both financially and in the dental chair – leading to stronger loyalty in a competitive market.

Stay Ahead of Industry Trends

Offering payment options has become a standard expectation, not a perk. The American Dental Association encourages discussing financing to improve treatment acceptance.

By integrating financing, you position your office as modern and patient-centric. When patients ask, “Do you have payment plans?” you can confidently say yes – and win that business.

Healthier Patients and a Healthier Practice

When patients finance care and proceed earlier, their oral health improves. They avoid complications and costly emergencies. Healthier patients mean fewer emergencies, more predictable treatment schedules, and less financial anxiety.

Financing also reduces no-shows and cancellations. Once patients commit to a financing plan, they’re more likely to complete treatment, contributing to a more stable and profitable practice.

Implementing financing has become easier with modern fintech solutions. Many third-party companies handle credit checks and payments, paying your practice upfront while taking on the risk. From healthcare credit cards to point-of-sale financing platforms, solutions are available for practices of all sizes.

Modern platforms make offering financing nearly seamless. Setup can take just hours, and patients can apply in minutes on a tablet or smartphone in your office.

Tip: Train your team to mention financing options early in treatment discussions. Don’t wait until a patient has mentally said “no” because of cost. Present financing upfront to keep more patients engaged and ready to proceed.

Conclusion – Don’t Let Cost Concerns Undermine Your Practice

In an era of rising costs and cautious consumers, offering flexible payment solutions isn’t just a kind gesture – it’s a strategic necessity. Without financing options, you may be losing patients without realizing it – the ones who never schedule, quietly cancel, or switch to competitors who ease their financial burden.

By embracing financing, you can reverse this trend. Capture more high-value cases, help patients get timely care, and position your practice as empathetic and patient-friendly. Financing helps patients achieve healthier smiles while improving your practice’s cash flow and growth.

Consider partnering with a platform like FinMkt, which enables dental clinics to present multiple financing offers with a single application. With solutions for patients of all credit backgrounds, more people can say “yes” to treatment.

Don’t let affordability concerns hold your practice back. Offer dental financing and empower your patients to proceed with confidence. You’ll not only stop losing patients – you’ll gain loyal ones who appreciate the care and flexibility you provide. Helping patients afford the care they need is the smartest investment you can make in your practice’s future.

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Sources:

Goodrx - How Much Do Dental Implants Cost?

Slonedental - How Much Does Cosmetic Dentistry Cost in 2024?

Drilldownsolution - Dental Patient Financing

Dentaleconomics - Helping patients overcome cost barriers, insurance disputes to access dental care

Orthodonticproductsonline - Sunbit Survey Finds Patients Want Financing Options

Dentistryiq - The need for dental patient financing‍