Dental Lifetime of Care Study: Impact of Costs on Care Decisions

A smile doesn’t just lift spirits — it can also play a key role in overall health. Despite this, many people delay, skip or settle for less when it comes to dental care because of financial concerns.

Synchrony's Dental Lifetime of Care Study explores how many people perceive the cost of dentistry and how those perceptions influence their decisions about oral health.

View our downloadable study lookbook or review the findings below.

The Value and Cost of Dental Care

Understanding the value and cost of dental care is essential for helping people make informed decisions about their health. According to the study, out-of-pocket costs for adults aged 20 to 79 averaged $51,000 to $95,000 or more. This cost includes dental benefit premiums, but it doesn’t include more specialized or complex dental care such as veneers, implants, orthodontics or other cosmetic dental procedures.¹

The study also found that 58% of respondents view dental care as unaffordable, which may be the reason why 92% said they would consider delaying general dental care due to cost; 83% said the same for emergency dental care.¹ By educating patients about these costs and how to plan for them, dental teams can play a key role in supporting both oral and financial health.

Patient Perceptions of Dental Care Costs

A person’s beliefs about the cost of care, their understanding of dental benefits (or lack thereof), individual dental goals, needs and financial readiness all play a role in shaping their dental care decisions. Only 30% of survey respondents find understanding dental health expenses easy.¹

A common belief is that dental care is not affordable:¹

• 53% of people with dental insurance believe dental care is not affordable
• 59% of people with a dental savings plan believe dental care is not affordable
• 75% of people without insurance believe dental care is not affordable

The perception that dental care is cost-prohibitive may also result in concerns about people's dental health. Of the survey respondents:¹

• 18% worry about not getting a procedure because of cost
• 24% worry about how to pay for dental expenses
• 20% worry about a catastrophic dental event

Almost half of the respondents — 46% — said they were not ready/prepared for their largest out-of-pocket dental expense, which ranged from exams to implants.¹

Dental Cost Plays a Factor in Care

Most people want to keep their teeth for life, enjoy food without discomfort and smile with confidence. As a result, dentistry is often a need-based form of healthcare. Almost 1 out of 2 respondents have had a dental emergency, while 1 out of 3 have visited a periodontist. Nearly half of the survey respondents have had orthodontic work.¹

However, many patients report that they have delayed treatment, opted for a less costly alternative or even ignored a recommended procedure altogether. Because of the cost:¹

• 92% consider holding off on general dental care
• 83% consider holding off on emergency dental care
• 29% have delayed dental care
• 17% have ignored a recommended procedure
• 13% chose a less costly treatment

Dental Visits Often Defined by Ability to Pay

Of those who responded to the survey, only 73% went to see their general dentist in the past 12 months. Of those who did not, 54% cited “expense” as their reason.¹

Most likely to visit the dentist:¹

• People with insurance
• Baby boomers (people born from 1946 to 1964)
• Parents with dependent children under age 19

Least likely to visit the dentist:¹

• People without dental benefits
• The Silent Generation (people born before 1946)
• Singles

Overall, 9% do not visit the dentist out of fear, while 9% do not visit the dentist because of time.¹

How Dental Care Teams Can Support Patients

The insights provided by Synchrony’s Dental Lifetime of Care Study can help the dental community, especially dentists and teams, better educate patients on key decision-making factors.

1. Increase understanding of dental benefits

According to the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP), at the year-end of 2020, nearly 80% of the U.S. population had dental benefits.² Helping patients better understand how their benefits contribute to the cost of their dental care and how to best use their annual maximum may help more move forward with care.

2. Encourage patients to be prepared for the cost of dentistry

People proactively prepare for expenses when they believe that they will need or want to pay those expenses in the future. Helping patients understand the average cost of care may encourage more to proactively save and be prepared for their dental needs, especially emergency treatment.

3. Offer a payment solution

Many dentists are choosing not to extend credit to patients through their practice due to the cost of billing and collections, cash flow and laws associated with extending credit to consumers. However, many practices are seeking to partner with third-party financial solutions that can help both the practice's and the patient's needs. What’s more, 58% of survey respondents said they would probably or definitely choose a payment option that provided predictable, set, equal payments without having to use their general-purpose or retail credit cards.¹

As a dental provider, understanding how patients perceive the cost of care is key to helping them move forward with treatment. By understanding and addressing their cost concerns, you can help empower patients to prioritize their oral health while also supporting the growth and success of your practice.

About This Study

As the leading financial solutions provider in the dental space, Synchrony conducted the research because we believe it is important to build awareness among consumers and dental providers about the costs of dental care over a lifetime, how these costs can impact decisions about care and the importance of financially preparing for future dental care needs. The study was performed by ASQ360° Market Research/Stephens & Associates on behalf of Synchrony.

Researchers surveyed 1,335 respondents in the United States, aged 20 to 79+, who had a general-to-good understanding of their dental expenses. The breakdown of survey participants is as follows:¹

• The Silent Generation: 81
• Baby boomers: 427
• Generation X: 374
• Millennials: 360
• Generation Z: 93

Of those who responded to the survey:¹

• 8% had dental savings
• 71% had dental insurance
• 21% had no dental insurance
• 61% were individuals
• 23% were married/had a partner
• 16% had kids in their household

Researchers also conducted 22 dentist/practice manager in-depth interviews.¹

The survey and interviews were conducted in January 2023.¹

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 CareCredit 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.

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 special financing on qualifying 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.