Equipping practices to tackle cost challenges
Partnering with third-party financing solutions has long helped dentists with the patient experience by enhancing financing options. As more ISVs integrate financial solutions into their workflow, it’s become easier for dental staff to offer financing to their patients. While most dentists do use some form of ISV, their systems tend to be older, legacy systems, or they still rely on analog tasks such as paper billing and filing.
As digitization transforms the dental landscape, some seasoned practitioners are hesitant to adopt new technologies and have voiced concerns about the learning curve and potential disruptions to their staff’s established workflows.4 This is where keeping pace with digital adoption can make a huge difference in the care journey, as many ISVs have expanded their services to include taking payments at the point of care, making credit access and payment acceptance nearly effortless.
Most dentists know CareCredit, a Synchrony solution, as the dental industry’s most trusted financing partner, with 30-plus years of expertise helping over 80% of dental offices and tens of millions of patients pay over time for their care.
Few dentists know that CareCredit is directly integrated with more than 40 ISVs, including many of the dental industry’s leading practice management software. By leveraging the integrated financing capability, practitioners can offer much-needed financing to their patients seamlessly and easily, without ever leaving the software that supports their everyday workflow.
For example, practitioners can send patients custom links to apply for CareCredit and process CareCredit transactions with a just a few clicks. Some practice management software even includes a “quick screen” function, where the practitioner can view their patient schedule for the day and see an icon next to each patient’s name that indicates whether the patient is a CareCredit member, is prequalified for CareCredit, or needs more information to apply. Dental providers need solutions that are easy to adopt, while patients need financing that is available from the start of their cost discussions.
Looking ahead to continued innovation
As dental practices evolve to meet patients where they are, seamless technology support will continue to be paramount to their success. By leveraging financial resources integrated with ISV offerings, providers can easily extend valuable payment options to patients, empowering them to feel confident in their ability to seek and accept care and drive treatment acceptance.
Editor’s note: This article appeared in the September 2025 print edition of Dental Economics magazine. Dentists in North America are eligible for a complimentary print subscription. Sign up here.
References
1. Dental lifetime of care study. Synchrony Bank. 2023 https://www.carecredit.com/sites/pc/pdf/dental-lifetime-of-care-study.pdf
2. Mena B. US consumer sentiment plummets to second-lowest level on records going back to 1952. CNN. April 11, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/11/economy/us-consumer-sentiment-april
3. Economic outlook and emerging issues in dentistry. CDC Health Policy Institute. 2025. https://www.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/ada-org/files/resources/research/hpi/q12025_hpi_economic_outlook_dentistry_slides.pdf
4. Kassim A, Alotaibi KF. Factors that influence the adoption of digital dental technologies and dental informatics in dental practice. Int J Online Biomed Eng. 2023. doi:10.3991/ijoe.v19i15.43015
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