Dental Payment Plans In Australia

As part of a growing trend, more and more dentists are supporting payment plans, which are approved at their discretion.

Payment plans may be offered in-house by a dental practice itself, but are more commonly provided by third-party, specialised companies. Some of these third-party providers offer generic payment plans for any major spending (not just dental), including zipPay, Openpay, and PayRight. Other providers cater exclusively to dental health services, as with DentiCare, MySmilePlan, and MediPay. Regardless, all payment plans have the same premise, of allowing you to pay over time as opposed to a single lump sum.

smile.com.au has 3,000 + dentists across Australia, many of whom are able to offer payment plans. By reducing and capping your dental fees, smile.com.au also reduces the cost of your plan’s instalments, leaving more money in your pocket for the things you love.

Each payment plan provider has its own approval process and criteria to assess your eligibility. They may look at your credit score, income, and any history of tax debt. However, some major providers do not take credit checks at all, such as DentiCare.

Virtually all major plans require you to be 18 years or older, an Australian citizen, and able to prove that you are not bankrupt. You may also need to prove that you have a certain income.

smile.com.au requires no credit checks and has no pre-existing condition exclusions, making it a great companion to a payment plan, particularly if you need major dental work.

Like any loan, a payment plan is a commitment. If you are interested in commencing a plan, make sure you carefully discuss your options with your smile.com.au dentist before you undertake any actual treatment.

The conditions of a payment plan are flexible, and often vary depending on the amount and duration of the loan. The timespan for a payment plan is commonly 6 months, 12 months, or 24 months. A deposit may or may not be necessary, and while monthly repayments are common, weekly and fortnightly options may also be available. If your application for a plan is approved, you will need to finalise its terms to suit your personal circumstances.

For an in-house plan:

If your dental practice offers in-house payment plans, you will need to inquire about their terms and conditions. The application process will differ for each practice, so make sure to check. Upon actually commencing a plan, you will simply make your repayments directly to the practice before each due date.

For a third-party plan provider:

If your dentist approves, you can set up a payment plan with a third-party provider. Providers have set frameworks to determine the conditions of your plan, which will affect your repayment amount and its frequency.

Some dental practices have a preferred plan provider, but if not, discuss with your smile.com.au dentist if you can choose your own and apply individually. Depending on the provider, your payment plan application may be a direct debit form or an online process.

If your provider and your dentist approve the payment plan, you can begin your dental treatment. The provider will pay your dentist in full on your behalf. Then, you will make your agreed repayments to the provider - often through an easy, automated process - until you have fully paid for your dental treatment.

Payment plans do not reduce the actual cost of your dental treatment: they simply allow you to spread the cost over a period of time, by breaking it into smaller, more manageable payments.

However, with smile.com.au, you will reduce and cap the actual price of your treatment when you attend a smile.com.au dentist. This will reduce the size of your plan’s instalments, as well as its total length.

Aside from repaying your dental treatment itself, third-party payment plans will involve additional spending obligations. Start-up and account maintenance fees are common, and there are sometimes penalties for early or late repayments. Plans choose their own interest rates - however, many major providers are actually interest free, including DentiCare and MySmilePlan.

Many smile.com.au practices may be able to offer payment plans. However, before making decisions based on the right plan for you, make sure to source consistent and clear information. The information on this website serves as a guide, but it is best to contact the providers directly. When you start a payment plan, it is important to carefully read all of the terms and conditions, and keep an eye out for any hidden fees.

Payment plans can be used for a wide range of treatments, encompassing almost any work involving your teeth and gums or broader oral health. You can use a payment plan for general dentistry, including major treatments like root canals and dental implants. Plans can also cover cosmetic dentistry, including teeth whitening, crowns, and veneers, amongst many other procedures. You can use a plan for orthodontics, including all types of braces. Even less common treatments can sometimes be covered, including dental solutions for snoring and sleep apnoea.

However, be aware that dentists may only accept payment plans for significant procedures with high costs. Indeed, some plans are only available in thousand-dollar increments: minor procedures with low costs, such as check-ups, are unlikely candidates.