Dental implants are one of the most transformative solutions in dentistry, restoring function, confidence, and oral health for people with missing teeth. Whether your patients need a single tooth or full mouth dental implants, the cost can be a major hurdle — often ranging from $3,000 to $50,000+. Fortunately, there are a wide range of dental implant financing options to help patients afford their dream smile without putting their financial stability at risk.

As a dental practice, offering or recommending dental financing options can dramatically increase patient acceptance. By providing flexible payment plans, you not only boost treatment plan acceptance but also help patients protect their oral health and regain their confidence, regardless of their credit score or financial situation.

What is Dental Implant Financing?

Dental implant financing refers to flexible payment plans, personal loans, credit cards, or third-party financing programs that allow patients to break up the cost of dental work into manageable monthly payments. This helps reduce the out-of-pocket burden and makes affordable dental implants a reality, even for patients with bad credit or limited insurance plans.

By offering or recommending the right financing options, dental offices can offer more treatment, build trust, and help patients regain their smile with confidence.

1. FSAs and HSAs

Patients with Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) or Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) can use pre-tax dollars to pay for qualifying dental procedures, including dental implants and oral surgery. FSAs are employer-sponsored and often “use-it-or-lose-it” by year’s end, while HSAs offer more flexibility and roll over.

Both options reduce taxable income and can significantly lower the average cost of treatment. These funds can typically be used for medically necessary parts of implant dentistry, like bone grafting or abutments. Encourage patients to check balances before scheduling their implant procedure.

2. Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)

BNPL services let patients break the cost of dental implants into smaller installments, sometimes with interest-free plans. Cherry, for example, offers a 60-second application that doesn’t hurt patient credit scores, instant approval decisions, flexible repayment periods up to 60 months, and funding up to $50k ($35k for dental) with true 0% APR for qualified borrowers.

These plans are particularly useful for patients who want to begin treatment the same day but can’t cover the full upfront cost. Many BNPL platforms have broader approval eligibility, enabling them to accept a wider range of borrowers — even those with limited or poor credit history. It’s a great way to improve accessibility and increase practice revenue.

3. In-House Payment Plans

Some dental offices offer their own payment plans, allowing patients to pay over time directly through the practice. These plans are often customizable to the practice’s specifications — commonly offering 3, 6, or 12-month payment options with low or no interest. They’re ideal for patients with no access to traditional financing or for practices that want to eliminate third-party involvement.

They do, however, place a significant burden on practices, obligating you to handle everything from credit checks to payment collection, and even putting you at risk if a patient defaults. If you go this route, clearly outline repayment expectations and consequences for missed payments, and make sure you have the staff and resources to handle all the responsibilities that come with creating your own financing program.

4. Dental Savings Plans

Unlike insurance plans, dental savings plans or discount memberships offer patients reduced fees for services at participating providers. Plans from online platforms may offer discounts on dental work, including dentures and implants.

There are no waiting periods, and approval is guaranteed — making them a great option for uninsured patients. Patients pay an annual fee and can access discounted rates throughout the year. While these don’t eliminate costs entirely, they reduce the total cost significantly.

5. Employer-Sponsored MERPs & HRAs

Medical Expense Reimbursement Plans (MERPs) and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) are employer-funded programs that reimburse employees for qualifying medical or dental work costs.

These programs often operate alongside standard insurance providers, helping patients recoup out-of-pocket expenses after submitting receipts. Reimbursement may take a few weeks but can cover costs that typical insurance plans exclude — such as dental implant procedures. Encourage patients to ask their HR department if they qualify.

6. Installment Loans

Installment loans give patients a fixed amount of money to pay for dental work, repaid in regular monthly payments over time. Third-party financing companies like Proceed Finance and LendingUSA specialize in dental loans with extended loan terms.

Loans like these can be a good fit for expensive cases like full arch or bone grafting, but patients with bad credit or limited credit history may face high interest rates or fees, which increase the total cost of dental implants. Interest generally also begins accruing from day one, which is in contrast to BNPL lenders who offer interest-free programs or promotional periods.

7. Personal Loans

Unsecured personal loans from banks, online lenders like LendingClub, or credit unions offer patients flexibility to fund their implant procedure with fixed repayment terms. Online platforms make it easy to apply and receive funds quickly — sometimes within one business day. These loans can cover both the implant and preparatory treatments like extractions or jawbone restoration.

Using a personal loan to cover dental implants offers flexibility, but it also has drawbacks. Interest rates can be high, especially for borrowers with bad credit, and may include origination fees that increase the total cost of treatment. Because personal loans are unsecured, lenders rely heavily on a patient’s credit score, which can limit approval for those with poor financial history.

8. Medical Credit Cards

Medical credit cards, like CareCredit, are revolving lines of credit designed for healthcare and dental care expenses. They’re commonly used for elective procedures like dental implants, oral surgery, or dentures. Leading options offer interest-free promotional periods if the balance is paid off in full within the term. However, failing to do — even if you have $1 left on the principal — so can trigger deferred interest, which accrues from the original purchase date — often at rates exceeding 25%. Patients with excellent credit are more likely to be approved and qualify for the best APR terms.

9. Home Equity Loans or HELOCs

Homeowners may consider a home equity loan or HELOC (home equity line of credit) to fund larger dental implant treatment cases. These secured loans usually offer lower interest rates and higher borrowing limits. They're especially useful for patients undergoing full arch or full mouth dental implants, which can exceed $30,000. However, they involve risk — defaulting could result in foreclosure. Be sure patients consult a financial advisor before using this route.

10. Crowdfunding & Nonprofits

Platforms like GoFundMe allow patients to share their story and raise funds from their community for urgent dental care needs. Nonprofits like Dental Lifeline Network provide no-cost treatment for eligible patients, especially those with disabilities or chronic illness. While not guaranteed, these options can close the gap for those in financial crisis. Patients should include photos, diagnosis details, and a breakdown of the treatment plan to improve campaign visibility.

11. Promotional Provider Discounts or Bundles

Some dental offices run seasonal promotions or bundle treatments (like all-on-4 + extractions) at discounted rates. These offers can lower the total cost by hundreds or even thousands of dollars. They're especially effective when combined with financing options or limited-time interest-free periods.

Encourage your staff to promote these deals during consultations or open house events. It’s also an opportunity to market free consultation campaigns that include a full implant dentistry evaluation.

12. Credit Union Loans

Local credit unions often provide lower-rate personal loans or secured loans to members for medical and dental procedures. These institutions may offer more lenient underwriting for long-term members and flexible repayment terms. For patients with good credit or a long-standing account, this can be a better deal than national banks or fintech lenders. Credit union loans often come with excellent customer service and fewer fees. Be sure to guide patients to ones with healthcare loan offerings.

13. Dental School Clinics

Dental schools like NYU College of Dentistry or UCLA Dentistry offer supervised dental implant treatment at significantly reduced prices. Services are performed by students or residents under licensed professionals. While appointments may take longer and availability is limited, savings can be substantial. This is a valuable option for patients without insurance coverage or access to financing. Providers can refer patients or coordinate care when cases are suitable.

14. Dental Insurance

Some dental insurance plans now offer limited coverage for dental implants, particularly if they're medically necessary. However, coverage is often partial — only applying to components like the crown or extractions, and annual caps often limit reimbursement to $1,000–$2,000.

Still, any contribution can help lower out-of-pocket costs. Providers should help patients navigate their insurance company’s policy and file pre-treatment estimates. Supplemental or implant-specific policies may also be available to expand insurance coverage.

15. Friends & Family Loans

While informal, borrowing from a friend or relative may be a patient's most practical option. These arrangements bypass interest and credit requirements and can often be repaid flexibly.

To avoid relationship strain, recommend that patients create a written agreement with clear terms. This option is often overlooked but can bridge the gap for those who don’t qualify for traditional financing dental implants.

16. Lines of Credit (LOC)

A line of credit offers revolving access to funds for ongoing dental procedures, allowing patients to pay only interest on what they use. This is useful for multi-phase treatments like dental implants, which are placed over several months. LOCs are available through banks and credit cards alike, often with promotional rates. However, managing payments and tracking usage can become complex if not handled carefully.

17. A Combination of Strategies

Many patients use a mix of tools: part FSA, part BNPL, and part personal loan — especially for large treatment plans. Combining options can reduce reliance on any single repayment method and make the procedure feel more manageable. Encourage patients to budget across all available options, starting with pre-tax funds and layering on financing plans. As a provider, you can support this with detailed FAQs, estimate breakdowns, and financial coaching.

Offer Flexible Dental Implant Financing With Cherry

Helping patients access dental implants isn’t just about clinical expertise — it’s about removing the financial stress that often stands in the way of life-changing treatment. Many people put off care not because they don’t want it, but because they’re unsure how to afford it.

That’s where Cherry comes in. Cherry’s dental financing platform is designed to make dental care accessible to patients of all credit backgrounds — including those with bad credit or limited credit history.

With an application that takes less than 60 seconds, no hard credit check, and approval rates over 80%, Cherry empowers patients to split their dental implant treatment into manageable monthly payments with true 0% APR for qualified borrowers. Loan amounts go up to $50K ($35,000 for dental), and dental offices get paid upfront while Cherry handles all repayments, risks, and logistics.

If you're ready to offer affordable dental implants while bolstering your bottom line, Cherry makes it simple to integrate payment plans directly into your practice. Start offering same-day approvals, high acceptance, and more confident smiles. Book your complimentary demo today.