Dental Implants with Low Monthly Payments

Very few people are fortunate enough to have the cash on hand necessary to finance dental implants. With even the lowest prices starting at $1500 or more, dental implants are a considerable investment that often require financing. Luckily, not only are dental implants well worth the cost, there are also a number of good options for patients wishing to either fully or partially finance dental implants, some of which are as easy to obtain as simply making a request via one’s dentist’s office.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

In comparison to conventional dentures, the cost of dental implants could seem high. This is because unlike conventional dentures, which are created outside of the mouth in a dental lab and designed to stay in place with the assistance of simple gravity, existing oral structure, and dental adhesives, dental implants are actually installed within the patient’s mouth. This is typically done in a three-part process that begins with the dental implant fixture – a small post typically made of either titanium or zirconium – being implanted below the gumline into the patient’s jawbone. This is one of the primary reasons that dental implants have a higher price point than conventional dentures: they require oral surgery to install the structural support piece that holds them in place.

Once the dental implant fixture has become firmly embedded in the jaw, thereby mimicking the root structure of a natural tooth, the abutment can be attached. This is the bridge piece that connects the dental implant fixture – which remains invisible below the surface of the gums – with the prosthetic tooth or implant-retained dentures or bridge. Working all together, these small, streamlined pieces ensure not only an attractive, natural-looking appearance in the mouth, but also a functionality that simply cannot be matched by any other tooth replacement technology. Once installed, dental implants also have a high degree of durability, making their cost even more worthwhile in spite of the higher initial price tag.

Options for Financing Dental Implants

In the world of financing, a high credit score and a demonstrated ability to pay down purchases over time translate to the best offers for financing. As such, those with high credit scores enjoy better rates and overall terms, while those with lower credit scores may struggle to find good rates or even to get financing at all. Regardless of one’s credit score, though, there is almost always a way to finance medical expenditures such as dental implants. Some of the most commonly used financing methods are outlined below.

Personal Loans

Personal loans are a very common way to finance dental implants. They can be obtained from one’s own bank or credit union, or from any number of lending institutions that provide loans today. An important thing to note about personal loans is that they come in two different forms: secured and unsecured loans.
An unsecured loan does not require a lien to be placed on any property the borrower may have access to as a means of securing the loan. Unsecured loans are typically offered to those with good credit scores, and a simple signature promising to pay back the money owed is all that is required. If the borrower defaults or fails to pay back the money borrowed per the specific terms of the loan, their information can be shared with a collection company to attempt to collect the money owed.

A secured loan means that it is secured by a piece of property, such as one’s house or car. Secured loans are often offered to those with a lower credit scores who haven’t demonstrated a consistent ability to pay back money owed. By securing the loan with the piece of the property, the lender essentially ensures their ability to recoup any money that is not paid back. If a borrower secures a loan with their car, for example, and defaults on the loan, the lender is legally able to repossess that car and sell it in exchange for the money owed. For this reason, secured loans can be somewhat risky, as one never knows when the unexpected could occur. A lost job, sudden medical bills, or other immediate expenses could make it difficult to pay back a secured loan, potentially resulting not only in a defaulted loan but also in property loss.

Sub-Prime Financing

Because those with low credit scores can be wary of secured loans for this reason, sub-prime lender financing can seem like a good alternative. These types of loans, provided by banks or credit card companies, do not require property to secure them, but they often feature extremely high interest rates and otherwise unattractive terms. They might necessitate high origination fees, for example, meaning the cost of simply getting the loan, or monthly fees that are not typically included in other personal loans. Once all these costs are added up over the life of a loan, it becomes apparent that the cost of the loan itself is oftentimes more than double to cost of the initial product purchased, making sub-prime lending an expensive financing option.

Pay-Over-Time Plans at Your Dentist’s Office

For those who feel stuck between the bad and worse options of sub-prime lender financing and secured personal loans, there is good news: financing dental implants (and other dental interventions) has never been easier or more affordable than it is today with pay-over-time plans at your dentist’s office. Available to patients with a wide range of credit scores and access to other lending opportunities, pay-over-time plans such as HealthCare Finance Direct simply require a down payment to initiate payment and then a series of affordable monthly payments that can be remitted directly at your dentist’s office.

Easy, affordable, and with competitive rates and fees, these pay-over-time plans can be an excellent alternative to the predatory lending that those with less than stellar credit scores can find on the lending market. For more information about plans available at your own dentist’s office, give them a call today for a no-pressure, individualized quote.

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