How Dental Care Innovation Can Help More Patients Say “Yes” to Treatment

Dental care plays a critical role in overall health and wellbeing. Yet, for many people, getting the care they want or need isn’t always as simple as scheduling an appointment. Affordability concerns, uncertainty about treatment costs, and competing financial priorities can all stand in the way of moving forward with care.

At CareCredit, we see every day how innovation can help practices and patients overcome these barriers. By combining thoughtful patient experiences with modern healthcare financing solutions, dental practices can grow their practices, expand access to care and improve oral health outcomes for their patients.

In a recent article in Becker’s Dental + DSO Review, Breaking Barriers: How Innovation Can Expand Access to Dental Care, I highlighted a conversation with Dr. Martin Mendelson that reflects what many practices are experiencing nationwide. Patients may want to prioritize oral health, but financial uncertainty can quickly stall care.

“Patients want to take control of their oral health, yet financial uncertainty often triggers hesitation at a deeper psychological level. It is not just about affordability; it is about how people perceive risk, value, and future outcomes,” Dr. Mendelson explains. “Practices are navigating this reality every day, working to align patient care with both emotional and operational considerations.”

Access Isn’t Just About Availability, It’s About Feasibility

Dental practices continue to work hard to meet growing patient demand. Yet barriers can emerge at multiple points along the patient journey:

• Concerns about upfront costs that lead patients to postpone or decline treatment
• Confusion about pricing and insurance coverage, which can make care feel unpredictable
• Lack of confidence in making financial decisions — patients need time, clarity and confidence to say “yes” to care
• Competing priorities, especially for families balancing multiple expenses

When these challenges stack up, even routine treatment can become delayed, allowing small issues to become larger and potentially more costly over time.

Financial Innovation Can Help Remove Barriers to Care

One way to help expand access is by offering patients payment options that can help fit care into their budgets. Financing solutions can provide an alternative to the “pay in full today” model, which can be where treatment plans stall.

When introduced transparently and thoughtfully, financing can help patients:

• Move forward with recommended treatment sooner
• Break larger costs into manageable monthly payments
• Feel more in control of their healthcare decisions

For practices, offering a trusted financing option can help reduce last-minute cancellations, improve case acceptance and support production while maintaining a patient-first approach.

Broadening Access with Next-Generation Credit Decisioning

Innovations in credit decisioning, like Synchrony PRISM, can help expand access, build trust and identify creditworthy patients. One example is leveraging Synchrony PRISM, a next-generation proprietary credit decisioning system designed to broaden the way financial health is evaluated.

Using advanced analytics, Synchrony PRISM considers multiple dimensions of a patient’s financial behavior, such as income patterns, payment histories, and other relevant factors. This broader approach can help identify patients who may be creditworthy but overlooked by traditional models. Importantly, this evaluation can occur without affecting a patient’s credit score, helping create a more empowering path for patients to move ahead with treatment.

As Max Axler, Synchrony’s Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer, explains: “When we look beyond traditional credit metrics, we see opportunities to help patients access the care they want while keeping the clinical workflow smooth for practices.” Synchrony PRISM is designed to support that goal by responsibly opening doors, reducing barriers, and helping patients make confident decisions about their health.

Building Trust Through Human-Centered Experiences

Access is only the first step. Patients also benefit from a financing experience that is transparent, clear and easy to navigate. For many patients, cost conversations can feel overwhelming. Combining affordability solutions with transparent communication and streamlined processes can help strengthen confidence and trust.

Practices can reinforce trust by:

• Presenting financing as one of several options
• Being transparent about estimated costs and timing
• Using a consistent, respectful financial conversation
• Training teams to lead with empathy and clarity

The goal is simple: help patients feel informed, supported and confident in their decisions.

Expanding Access Through Better Experiences and More Choices

The future of dental care will be shaped by solutions that meet patients where they are — financially, emotionally and practically. By pairing human-centered care experiences with modern financing tools, practices can help more patients access treatment while creating stronger relationships and healthier communities.

At CareCredit, we believe that when barriers are reduced and options are expanded, everyone benefits. Patients can move forward with care, and practices can grow with confidence while improving oral health outcomes for the people they serve.

A Dental Patient Financing Solution for Your Practice

Want to help more patients move forward with the dental care they want or need? Consider offering the CareCredit credit card as a financing solution. CareCredit allows patients to pay for out-of-pocket dental care costs over time while helping enhance the payments process for your practice. A key advantage for many practices is promotional financing, with an everyday six-month option available on purchases of $200+.

When you accept CareCredit, patients can see if they prequalify with no impact to their credit score, and those who apply, if approved, can take advantage of promotional financing on eligible purchases.^* Additionally, you will be paid directly within two business days.

Learn more about the CareCredit credit card as a dental patient financing solution or start the provider enrollment process by filling out this form.

Expert Bio

Sonia Williams is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Synchrony’s Dental division. Prior to this role, she led strategic initiatives for major clients in the apparel, furniture and consumer electronics industries and held multiple sales and marketing positions. She has 28+ years of business leadership experience, including managing the TJX portfolio at Synchrony, and holds an MBA in marketing from Hofstra University and an undergraduate degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Sonia received the 2023 Greg Pittman Leadership Award, is a leader in Synchrony’s Women’s Network+ and is a member of The Executive Leadership Council C-Suite Academy.

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