SearchCareCredit FAQs for Dental Practices: A Quick Guide for Your Team
Key information on how CareCredit works, how it can help patients move forward with care and what to expect for your operations.
By Synchrony Health & Wellness
Jul 24, 2026 - 9 min read
Key Takeaways
- Many dental patients delay or decline care when annual insurance maximums, exclusions or elective services create out-of-pocket costs.
- Dental teams often face cost objections during treatment planning, which can slow case acceptance and restorative follow-through.
- The CareCredit credit card offers flexible financing options that can help patients move forward with care and simplify billing and reduce time your staff spends on payment follow-up.
CareCredit Frequently Asked Questions for Dental Practices
Dental care often includes out-of-pocket costs due to annual maximums, plan exclusions and waiting periods, and insurance may not cover cosmetic or elective services such as whitening or veneers.
This FAQ can help your team:
- Understand how dental patient financing companies support treatment acceptance
- Confidently address cost concerns
- Explain dental patient financing during treatment planning
Dental Patient Financing FAQs
CareCredit is a health and wellness credit card that allows patients to spread out-of-pocket dental payments over time through flexible financing options.
Common decisions your dental patients face can include: choosing to move forward with a crown now vs. waiting, planning an implant instead of opting for a temporary fix or starting clear aligners rather than delaying orthodontic treatment. According to the Dental Lifetime of Care report, 58% of surveyed dental patients believe dental care is not affordable, which may cause them to hold off on general dental care and even emergency dental care.1
Since the CareCredit credit card was launched, patients have used it to finance more than $157+ billion in care. Cardholders who qualify and are approved can access special financing options of 6, 12, 18 or 24 months on qualifying purchases of $200 or more.* CareCredit also offers longer-term reduced-APR financing for 24, 36 or 48 months on purchases of $1,000 or more, or 60 months on purchases of $2,500 or more.**
These financing option FAQs can help ease concerns about out-of-pocket costs, so patients feel more comfortable moving forward with treatment when they’re ready.
How does CareCredit work in a dental office?
CareCredit fits seamlessly into the dental workflow, giving patients convenient ways to check eligibility, apply, pay and manage payments at each step of the visit.
- During case presentation. Patients can check prequalification (with no impact on credit) using your practice’s custom link or QR code.
- In the consult room or at checkout. Patients apply and receive an instant credit decision.
- Day of visit. If approved, patients can use their account immediately to pay for eligible dental services and products.
- After the visit. Patients can manage their payments over time with flexible financing options.
Learn More: This quick-start guideshows dental teams how to offer financing seamlessly from consult to checkout.
What can CareCredit be used for in dentistry?
Patients can use the CareCredit credit card for a broad range of necessary and elective dentistry — anything from urgent treatment to comprehensive smile plans. They can also use CareCredit in other health and wellness categories at enrolled provider and retail locations.***
Examples of eligible dental services patients may use CareCredit for:
- Cosmetic dentistry (veneers, whitening) and smile makeover plans
- Crowns, bridges and dentures
- Emergency dental visits and same-day treatment (when applicable)
- Extractions and other oral surgery
- Implants and implant-supported restorations
- Orthodontics and clear aligners
- Periodontal therapy (scaling and root planing, maintenance)
- Root canals and endodontics
How does CareCredit improve the dental patient financial journey?
Offering a clear dental patient financing option can help patients move forward with the recommended plan, reduce delayed starts and support treatment plan follow-through.
In addition to supporting case acceptance, a consistent financing workflow can help reduce billing follow-up and make cost conversations more efficient for your team.
| Benefits for dental patients | Benefits for dental practices |
|---|---|
| Flexible financing options that fit their budget and support case acceptance | Payment to you within two business days |
| Same day credit availability (if approved) reduces hesitation and delayed starts | Grows revenue while decreasing billing workload and follow-up on balances |
| Ability to finance elective care and out-of-pocket costs after insurance for necessary dental care | Helps improve patient satisfaction and retention |
| Accepted at over 290,000 health and wellness provider and retail locations | Free tools, digital assets and dedicated support for your team |
| Convenient online and in-office payment options | Supports your dental practice’s cash flow and liquidity |
Dental-Related CareCredit FAQs
Make it easy for patients or clients to understand how CareCredit works in your aesthetic practice. Here are answers to the most common questions about learning more, applying and using CareCredit for packages or treatment plans.
How can dental patients apply for CareCredit?
Dental patients can apply for CareCredit in just a few steps right from your office during the consult or at checkout.
- The front desk or treatment coordinator shares your custom link or displays a QR code.
- Patients see if they prequalify(with no impact on their credit score), then apply and receive an instant credit decision.
- If approved, they can use their account the same day.
Can patients use CareCredit for multi-visit dental treatment plans?
Yes. Certain phased dental treatment plans can be financed in one transaction when the services will be rendered within 90 days of the initial purchase. These include packages, bundled services and multi-visit treatment plans such as clear aligners, phased restorative cases, implants (surgical and restorative, as long as they fall within the 90-day window) and periodontal therapy. When applicable and compliant with this policy, patients may pay in one transaction instead of three separate transactions.
Dental Revenue Cycle and Payment Workflow FAQs
Beyond supporting case acceptance, CareCredit can also help streamline how your dental office handles payments, reconciliation and reporting.
How are CareCredit transactions processed in a dental practice?
Your team can process transactions securely online in the CareCredit Provider Center. With your custom link, patients can also pay online, and your dental practice receives payment in two business days. Practices can access daily funding and key reports to simplify financial reconciliation.
Can we choose which financing options to offer?
Yes. Dental practices can choose which promotional financing options to offer; however, six months of promotional financing is always available on qualifying purchases of $200 or more. Selected options must be communicated consistently to all patients, without exception.
What are the CareCredit processing fees for dental providers?
Provider processing fees, if any, vary based on the selected promotional option applicable to the purchase. Fees are transparent and do not change based on a patient’s credit score. CareCredit does not charge providers annual or monthly fees.
How does CareCredit support payment timing for a dental practice?
When patients use CareCredit to pay out-of-pocket expenses, including post-insurance balances after adjudication, your practice receives payment within two business days. This can reduce accounts receivable follow-up, so your staff spends more time supporting patients and less time on collections.
Dental Team Education, Marketing Tools and Support
CareCredit provides resources for treatment coordinators, financial coordinators and front desk teams to introduce financing with confidence. You get custom links and QR codes, ready-to-use digital assets, a Payment Calculator, tips and scripts, plus support from our Practice Development Team. Your practice also receives a free listing in the Provider Locator, which receives more than 2.9 million total average unique visitors per month.2
Dental Patient Financing Option FAQs
Patients often want to understand what financing choices are available before committing to treatment. These FAQs can help your team explain those options clearly.
Are dental patients interested in promotional financing?
Every day, more than 22,000+ patients across income levels apply for the CareCredit credit card — an average of over 900 applications per hour.†
CareCredit cardholders collectively have access to an estimated $40 billion in available credit. Many dental patients use CareCredit for their initial purchase, which averages $2,200.1 Almost half (45%) of CareCredit cardholders who made a purchase during 2024 returned to the same provider or retailer for additional purchases during the same year.
What financing options are available to dental patients?
CareCredit has special financing offers to help give patients a convenient way to pay:
- Our No Interest If Paid in Full within 6, 12, 18 or 24 months promotional financing is an option on qualifying purchases of $200 or more. Interest will be charged from the purchase date if the promotional balance is not paid in full by the end of the promotional period.**
-
Reduced APR with fixed monthly payment offers are:***
- 24 months with a 17.90% APR on purchases of $1,000 or more
- 36 months with an 18.90% APR on purchases of $1,000 or more
- 48 months with a 19.90% APR on purchases of $1,000 or more
- 60 months with a 20.90% APR on purchases of $2,500 or more
- Standard account terms apply to purchases that don’t qualify for promotional financing options.
How do patients pay deposits and post-treatment balances outside the practice?
Patients can use their CareCredit credit card to pay pretreatment deposits online using your custom link up to 30 days before the procedure date — helpful for aligners, implants or sedation appointments. Post-treatment, patients can pay remaining balances after insurance via your contactless QR code or custom link. Payments are fast, easy and secure; your practice is paid within two business days; and patients don’t have to make a return trip to your office to pay.
What if a patient doesn’t pay their CareCredit balance?
Your dental practice still receives payment in two business days. CareCredit is non-recourse, which means if a patient does not pay, it is not your responsibility.†† The financial relationship is between CareCredit and the cardholder.
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.
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.
Healthcare payment and financing solution
The CareCredit health and wellness credit card helps improve the payment experience for patients and clients, and your financial performance.
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**No interest will be charged on the promo balance if you pay it off, in full, within the promo period. If you do not, interest will be charged on the promo balance from the purchase date. The required minimum monthly payments may or may not pay off the promo balance before the end of the promo period, depending on purchase amount, promo length and payment allocation. Regular account terms apply to non-promo purchases and, after promo period ends, to the promo balance. For New Accounts as of 5/30/2024: Purchase APR 32.99%. Penalty APR 39.99%. Min Interest Charge $2. CareCredit Rewards Mastercard: Cash APR 32.99% and 4% Fee ($10 min). Bal Trans APR 32.99% and 5% Fee ($5 min). Foreign Trans Fee 3%.Existing cardholders: See your credit card agreement terms. Subject to credit approval.
***Interest will be charged on promo purchases at a reduced APR from the purchase date. Fixed monthly payments are required until paid in full and will be calculated as follows: on 24-month promotions 4.9876% of initial promo purchase amount; on 36-month promotions 3.6605% of initial promo purchase amount; on 48-month promotions 3.0377% of initial promo purchase amount or on 60-month promotion 2.6997% of initial promo purchase amount. The fixed monthly payment will be rounded up to the next highest whole dollar and may be higher than the minimum payment that would be required if the purchase was a non-promo purchase. During the last month(s) of the promo period the required monthly payment may be reduced due to the prior months’ rounding. Regular account terms apply to non-promo purchases. For New Accounts as of 5/30/2024: Purchase APR 32.99%. Penalty APR 39.99%. Min Interest Charge $2. CareCredit Rewards Mastercard: Cash APR 32.99% and 4% Fee ($10 min). Bal Trans APR 32.99% and 5% Fee ($5 min). Foreign Trans Fee 3%. Existing cardholders: See your credit card agreement terms. Subject to credit approval.
†Includes all prequalified offers of credit.
††Subject to the representations and warranties in your Agreement with Synchrony.
The information, opinions and recommendations expressed in the article are for informational purposes only. Information has been obtained from sources generally believed to be reliable. However, because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by our sources, or any other, Synchrony and any of its affiliates, including CareCredit, (collectively, “Synchrony”) does not provide any warranty as to the accuracy, adequacy, or completeness of any information for its intended purpose or any results obtained from the use of such information. The data presented in the article was current as of the time of writing. Please consult with your individual advisors with respect to any information presented.
© 2026 Synchrony Bank.
Sources:
1 Dental Lifetime of Care Study, Synchrony, 2023. (CareCredit is a Synchrony solution.)
2 January-December 2023 Airship Report