General and cosmetic dentistry can be expensive, and with limits on the amount and types of service most insurance carriers provide, the bulk of your dental makeover may fall squarely on your shoulders. But, does that mean that you have to forgo procedures like
TMJ treatment and
porcelain veneers that you want and need? Of course not! There are several options to consider:
Insurance
While your dental insurance may only cover a portion of the total bill, be sure to find out how much it will cover and whether or not you can extend your coverage by split portions of the procedure over two billing cycle years.
Cosmetic Surgery Loans
Understanding the cost of today's high-tech cosmetic dentistry procedures, many lenders are now offering patient financing, or flexible low-interest loans that will allow you to choose your terms in order to make your payments more manageable. Talk your
cosmetic dentist for details.
Payment Plans
Most cosmetic surgeons now offer private payment plans to allow patient's in good financial standing to pay for their procedures a little at a time without penalty or interest.
Personal Savings
Even if you don't have enough money in your savings account to pay for the entire procedure, you may be able to use what you have as a partial payment and ask the doctor if he'll let you pay the rest off over time.
Credit Cards
Most cosmetic surgeons now accept all major credit cards including Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and more.
Personal Loan/Equity Line of Credit
Some patients prefer to take out a personal loan or use their equity line of credit in order to pay the dentist up front for services. By paying "in cash" you may qualify for a discount for services, thus saving on your procedure in the long run.
Just because you don't have the cash on hand for your cosmetic dentistry procedure doesn't mean that you can't have it done. Talk with your dentist about in-office options, then look into some of these other ways to get the money you need. Chances are the smile of your dreams is possible thanks to a variety of financing options.