How Dentists Can Help Patients Navigate Unforeseen Dental Care

Whether planning for significant milestones or simply trying to go about one’s day, the possibility of a sudden chipped tooth or a cumbersome toothache isn’t something that’s anticipated. Unexpected, and sometimes time- sensitive, dental issues can bring pain and discomfort, as well as the looming stress of unplanned costs to consider. In fact, many patients may not be prepared to address the costs associated with unforeseen dental needs that go beyond routine dentistry.

More can be done to help patients financially prepare for dental services, and providers need to equip them with proactive financial education and tools to access timely, quality care without any financial stress. Partnering with a third-party financing company helps dental teams have proactive financial conversations with patients and ease their cost-related anxiety about unexpected dental care. Financial hurdles can be a significant barrier to patients seeking necessary oral care. According to Synchrony’s 2023 “Dental Lifetime of Care” study, 83% of people would consider delaying unanticipated dental care due to its cost.1 Further, 17% of survey respondents reported ignoring professionally recommended procedures, nearly half of whom experienced additional oral health issues. When patients postpone necessary treatment due to financial concerns, there is a chance existing conditions may worsen, or new ones may arise.

With oral health and oral germs being directly associated with overall health, it’s no surprise that it they can be linked to severe conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, pneumonia, and pregnancy complications when left untreated. For example, periodontal diseases have been proven to have a strong association with strokes, related to atherosclerosis, while untreated dental abscesses have the potential to spread to other parts of the body.

Untreated dental issues may also have financial ramifications. What can initially be a simple procedural fix can cause additional issues and expenses that may impact patients long term. The financial pressure, coupled with the dental pain and discomfort, may create stress and anxiety for patients, which can lead to them feeling overwhelmed and contribute to the avoidance of needed care.

Based on insights from the Synchrony and Commonwealth Health Advisors’ “Patient Pay” survey conducted in 2020,2 patients are looking for payment products and plan options from their providers before receiving any care at all, suggesting that patients are willing to invest in the quality care they need, if the options are extended to them. Providers can help patients manage care costs and financially prepare for nonroutine dental care by expanding consumer payment offerings and working with a third-party financing partner. When considering the right financing partner, there are important aspects for dental practices to consider, including the following:

• A seamless and accessible prequalification process: Prequalification helps providers and patients understand what resources are available to help patients manage costs. Solutions such as Synchrony’s CareCredit credit card allow patients to see in real-time if they prequalify for a financing solution they can use to pay for their treatments. If approved, patients can use their credit card immediately to receive timely care. Further, patients can use CareCredit to purchase daily dental care tools, from Waterpiks to floss and routine dental services.
• Contactless financing: Digital financing tools can help patients assess their financial resources anytime and anywhere,giving them a sense of control in the process. CareCredit offers digital solutions to help patients learn more about the credit card and apply from the privacy and security of their own device. This fosters consumer-driven financing, where patients are in control of their payments.
• Integrated practice management software (PMS): Providers would benefit from an alternative financing solution that can be integrated across the revenue cycle into their PMS, alleviating the burden for care teams by creating an enhanced and simplified administrative workflow. CareCredit offers an integration in PMS that streamlines the process and makes it easier to process transactions, saves time, and reduces the number of manual errors.

Equipping patients with information about financing options prior to facing unexpected dental treatments and care helps providers and patients act quickly when necessary and to move forward with timely care, avoiding the risk of more costly and invasive procedures in the future, which can lead to better oral health outcomes.

References

1. SynchronyDental Lifetime of Care Study. October 2023. CareCredit is a Synchrony solution.

2. PatientPay. CareCredit and CWH Advisors. October 2020.