Do Dentists Do Credit Checks? Understanding Your Dental Financing Options

Worried you can’t pay for dental care because of your credit? You’re not the only one. Lots of people wonder if dentists check credit and what it means for getting the care you need. This article shows you how dental offices handle payments, goes over your choices, and gives you real answers—even if you have bad credit or no insurance. Read this guide to save money, dodge surprises, and protect your smile.

Why Do People Worry About Dental Credit Checks?

Let’s be real. Dental care can be expensive. When people are already stressed about money, the idea of a credit check just adds to it. Someone with a bad credit score or no history at all might worry about being turned away.[^1]

I remember when I needed an emergency root canal after breaking a tooth. My first thought wasn’t even the pain. It was, “Can I pay for this?” and “Will they check my credit?” If you’ve ever worried about how you’ll pay for care or getting approved for dental financing, you know what that feels like. Waiting to get your teeth fixed just because of money worries can cause even bigger and more painful (and costly) problems later.

Do Most Dentists Actually Run Credit Checks?

Here’s some good news—most dentists don’t check your credit for regular stuff like checkups, cleanings, and small fillings. If you pay right when you’re there, have dental insurance, or the bill isn’t huge, you probably don’t need to worry about your credit at the dentist.[^2]

Dentists want their patients to come back. Making care easy helps their business too. If they made everyone get a credit check just for a cleaning, no one would want to show up!

But of course, there are a few times when things are a little different.

When Might a Dental Office Do a Credit Check?

Things can change if you need some big dental work or want a payment plan for more expensive treatment. Dental offices might ask for a credit check if:

• Big Treatment Plans: Crowns, implants, root canals, braces, or a total smile makeover can cost a lot. You might need to spread the payments out over time.
• In-house Payment Plans: If your dentist lets you pay in parts instead of one big payment, they might do a soft credit check just to look at your payment history. Sometimes they do a hard credit check, which shows up on your report.
• Third-Party Financing: If you use companies like CareCredit, LendingClub, or Springstone to cover your dental bill, expect a hard credit check. These companies want to see if you can pay them back.
• If You’ve Missed Payments: Some offices might check your credit if you already owe money or missed payments before.

You can always ask before they check your credit. Most front desk staff have answered questions like this before!

What Kinds of Dental Financing Are Out There?

You’ve got more ways to pay for dental work than you might think. Here are the most common ones:

1. Paying Upfront (Cash/Card):
   • A lot of places offer a 5%-10% cash discount if you pay right away.
   • No credit check needed.
2. Dental Insurance:
   • Pays for some or all of your basic care, saving you money.
   • Your dentist won’t check your credit for using insurance.
3. In-House Payment Plans:
   • The dentist lets you pay over time.
   • You usually need a down payment and they might do a credit check.
4. Third-Party Financing:
   • You use a loan or credit card from CareCredit, LendingClub, Affirm, or Springstone Patient Financing.
   • Most of the time you’ll need a hard credit check.
   • Be careful—interest and other charges can add up later.
5. Discount Dental Plans:
   • Pay a yearly fee to get lower prices on dental work.
   • No credit check. A lot of people without insurance like this option.
6. Dental Schools and Community Clinics:
   • Dental students do the work (supervised) at lower cost.
   • Community clinics charge based on what you can pay. No credit checks here.
7. Government Programs:
   • Medicaid and CHIP cover kids (and sometimes adults).
   • Eligibility is about your income, not credit.

Table: Ways to Pay for Dental Work

How Do Third-Party Dental Loans Work?

If you need big dental work but can’t pay it all at once, a lot of dentists offer loans through companies like CareCredit or LendingClub. How does this go?

• You fill out a short application, usually online or at the office.
• The company does a hard credit check—this can lower your score a little for a bit.
• If approved, you get a loan or credit for dental work.
• Some offer 0% interest for a short time (special deal).
• Pay it off before that time’s up and you don’t owe interest. Miss it and you could owe a lot more.[^3]
• Most places need at least a 620-640 credit score to approve you, but there are a few smaller loans for lower scores.

Heads up: If you don’t pay them back, your score can drop. Always read every part of any agreement before you sign.

Can You Get Dental Work With Bad Credit?

Yes, absolutely. Many people have not-so-great credit, especially after tough times. Here’s how you can get care if your credit isn’t good:

• Dental Schools: Very low cost or even free, and nobody checks credit.
• Community Clinics: Pay what you can afford based on what you earn. No credit checks.
• Discount Dental Plans: Pay a fee and get lower prices. No credit check ever.
• Medicaid/CHIP: Based on your income—not credit.
• Cash Discounts: Ask your dentist if they’ll lower the price if you pay the same day. You might be surprised.
• In-House Payment Plans: Some places don’t care about credit for small bills; just need a deposit.
• Dental Charities/Grants: National and local groups help people who need it most. No credit check.

If your credit isn’t strong, look at these choices first. It’s still possible to get the care you need. The biggest step is being honest with your dental office about your money issues.

What Are Dental Payment Plans, and Do They Need a Credit Check?

Dental payment plans split your bill into smaller, easier to manage amounts.

• In-house plans are run by the dentist’s office. Many won’t check your credit for smaller or emergency treatments.
• For expensive bills, some offices want to do a soft or hard credit check to make sure you’ll pay.
• Some want a deposit. Others just trust regular customers who pay on time.

Ask these things:

• “Do you offer payment plans? Will you check my credit?”
• “How much down payment do you need?”
• “Will this appear on my credit report?”
• “What if I need more time to pay?”

Most dental teams want to help out. They know high costs scare people off. Working with you makes everyone happy.

Are There Ways to Get Dental Care Without a Credit Check?

You bet! Lots of smart people do the following:

• Dental Schools: Let students (supervised) treat you for much less.
• Discount Dental Plans: Like a club. Pay once a year and get savings at dentist offices in the group.
• Community Clinics: Charge you based on what you make.
• Charities, Nonprofits, Grants: Help for kids, older people, veterans, and families in need.
• Government Programs: Medicaid and CHIP cover a lot, especially for children.
• Cash Discount: Offer to pay everything at once for a better price—no forms or credit check needed.

Trying to find a cheap dentist near you? Ask your friends, check out local health departments, or search online for “community dental clinics near me.”

How Can You Talk to Your Dentist About Payments?

It can feel awkward to talk about money but dentists and their staff do this all the time. After my last emergency, I found that asking the right questions takes away a lot of the stress.

Try saying things like:

• “Are payment options available for this treatment?”
• “Do you take my insurance?”
• “Can I have a full price estimate?”
• “Do you give cash discounts?”
• “How do I use your payment plans? Is a credit check needed?”
• “Which financing companies can I use, and what do they need?”
• “What if I can’t pay it all now?”

Being direct saves everyone time and worry. Dentists want you as a patient, so they’ll usually help make it work.

What If You Need Expensive Dental Work Right Now?

Sometimes you just can’t wait. If you’re in pain, you don’t have months to plan. So, what do you do?

1. Check Your Insurance: Find out if anything is covered.
2. Ask About Payment Plans: Can you start with a deposit, pay the rest over time, and skip the credit check?
3. Try Third-Party Financing: If your credit is OK, you can apply for CareCredit or LendingClub right away. Just know that they’ll check your credit.
4. Look At Discount Dental Plans: Join and start saving the same day.
5. Go to Dental Schools or Clinics: Call or search online for local dental schools or clinics. A lot have walk-in hours for emergencies.
6. Use HSA or FSA: If you’ve saved money for medical bills, now’s the time to use it.
7. Negotiate: Explain your situation to your dentist. Ask what’s the lowest they can accept now and what can wait.

Don’t let pain go untreated just because of credit. There’s a way through for every budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Summary: Key Things to Remember

• Most dentists won’t check your credit for regular visits or smaller bills.
• If you need expensive procedures or payment plans, your credit might be checked, but there’s always a way to get treated.
• Third-party financing (CareCredit, LendingClub, etc.) will need a hard credit check. Be ready for this before you apply.
• If your credit score is low, start by looking at dental schools, clinics, discount plans, Medicaid, and CHIP—these don’t check credit.
• Always ask about all your payment options. Honest talks with your dentist help you find what fits your wallet.
• Protect your teeth by seeing the dentist often. Stopping problems before they grow saves you stress, pain, and money.

References

[^1]: American Dental Association. (2023). Survey of Dental Practice Managers. ADA.org. [^2]: Kaiser Family Foundation. (2022). Dental Access and Coverage. KFF.org. [^3]: CareCredit. (2023). How Does CareCredit Work for Dental Financing? carecredit.com.

If you’re stressed about the cost of care or afraid of credit checks, just remember—you have choices. By talking things out, knowing what’s out there, and planning for your needs, you can keep your smile healthy and your wallet happy. That’s a pretty good reason to smile, isn’t it?