{"id":328,"date":"2026-08-29T05:00:57","date_gmt":"2026-08-29T05:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fullarchmasters.com\/articles\/dental-financing-options-implants"},"modified":"2026-08-29T05:00:57","modified_gmt":"2026-08-29T05:00:57","slug":"dental-financing-options-implants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fullarchmasters.com\/articles\/dental-financing-options-implants","title":{"rendered":"Full-Arch Implant Financing: Close More Same-Day Cases"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Written by: Ryan Dunlop, CEO and Founder of Full Arch Masters and graduate from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways for Full-Arch Case Financing<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>Financing conversations must occur early, before patients hear the total fee, to protect same-day starts.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Deferred-interest products like CareCredit can create retroactive charges above $5,000 when balances remain after promotional periods.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Practices need a multi-lender waterfall (CareCredit, Cherry, Sunbit, Proceed Finance) to serve all credit profiles and sustain high close rates.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Mapping every lender option to the seven-step FAM Method workflow keeps approvals aligned with clinical milestones.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Full Arch Masters provides the Treatment Coordinator Bootcamp and proven systems that help practices convert more full-arch cases; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fullarchmasters.com\/\">learn more at Full Arch Masters<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How Deferred Interest Works in Dental Financing<\/h2>\n<p>Deferred interest is a financing structure where interest starts accruing on the full original purchase amount from day one of the promotional period. If any balance remains when the promotional window closes, the lender charges all accrued interest on the original amount, not just on the remaining balance. This charge is the default outcome when a balance remains at the deadline, not a penalty for late payment.<\/p>\n<p>The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has flagged deferred-interest products as a source of unexpected costs for consumers who make minimum payments and assume they have avoided interest charges. These hidden costs are one of several financing pitfalls that can derail full-arch case acceptance.<\/p>\n<h2>The Problem: Financing Conversations That Kill Same-Day Starts<\/h2>\n<p>Three workflow failures account for most lost full-arch cases at the financial close.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Late or reactive financing talks.<\/strong> Practices that present financing proactively usually achieve higher acceptance rates than practices that wait for a price objection. Every minute of delay between treatment recommendation and financing approval reduces acceptance probability by 2.1%.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Deferred-interest surprises that destroy trust.<\/strong> A patient who uses CareCredit&#8217;s 24-month promotional period and makes only minimum payments can face a retroactive interest charge of approximately $5,278 on an $8,000 case, bringing total cost above $13,000, because CareCredit&#8217;s standard Purchase APR of 32.99% accrues from day one. This surprise charge appears months after treatment is complete, with no advance warning from the lender. Because the practice presented the financing option, the patient assumes the practice understood this risk and chose not to explain it. When that bill arrives, the patient blames the practice.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Credit-score mismatches that strand patients.<\/strong> CareCredit approvals are commonly reported in the 620\u2013700+ FICO range. Below that threshold, a practice with only one lender relationship has no path forward. The case stalls, and the patient often disappears.<\/p>\n<h2>The Solution: Align Lenders With the Seven-Step FAM Method<\/h2>\n<p>The FAM Method, Full Arch Masters&#8217; proprietary digital workflow, delivers a screwed-in, same-day full-arch restoration in 2 to 4 hours. Each of its seven steps pairs with a specific financing action that keeps the case moving without a financial stall.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Preoperative records and data acquisition.<\/strong> This step is the moment to apply a proactive financing approach. The TC presents monthly payment ranges before the patient hears a total fee. Anchoring to \u201c$380\u2013$640 per month\u201d rather than \u201c$28,000\u201d reframes the decision as a budget question instead of a sticker-shock moment.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Photogrammetry and intraoral scanning.<\/strong> While the clinical team captures implant positions and intraoral data, the TC runs a soft-pull pre-qualification through Cherry or Sunbit. This approach avoids a hard inquiry and does not disrupt the clinical flow.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>CBCT and digital treatment planning.<\/strong> Approval results are available before the treatment plan is finalized. The TC can present a specific monthly payment tied to a specific lender, not a range and not a guess.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>exocad design.<\/strong> The design phase is the window for phasing conversations. If a patient is approved for $18,000 but the case is $32,000, the TC maps a phasing plan that matches the approval window and schedules the first arch as a same-day start.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Immediate-load conversion.<\/strong> Surgery is scheduled at this point. The financing agreement is signed before the patient leaves the consult, so the same-day start is fully confirmed.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Final zirconia design and finishing.<\/strong> For phased cases, the TC initiates the second financing application at the right interval, timed to the approval window of the lender used in step two.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>FP1-specific design, team implementation, and workflow scaling.<\/strong> The TC tracks pipeline metrics such as offer rate, approval rate, close rate, and phasing conversion. These numbers inform the practice&#8217;s full-arch volume targets and growth planning.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>2026 Full-Arch Financing Options at a Glance<\/h2>\n<p>The table below compares four financing structures commonly used in full-arch implant practices. All figures are drawn from lender-published or independently reported sources. Monthly payment estimates are illustrative based on published APRs and terms; actual payments depend on individual approval terms.<\/p>\n<table style=\"min-width: 150px\">\n<colgroup>\n<col style=\"min-width: 25px\">\n<col style=\"min-width: 25px\">\n<col style=\"min-width: 25px\">\n<col style=\"min-width: 25px\">\n<col style=\"min-width: 25px\">\n<col style=\"min-width: 25px\"><\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Lender \/ Structure<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Loan Range<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>APR Range \/ Terms<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Deferred Interest?<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Credit Check Type<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Est. Monthly Payment ($25,000 \/ 60 mo.)<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noindex nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/carecredit.com\/providers\/insights\/carecredit-faqs-providers-dental\">CareCredit (Synchrony)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>$200+ (no published max)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>0% promo 6\u201324 mo., 17.90%\u201320.90% APR on 24\u201360 mo. installment plans, 32.99% standard Purchase APR<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Yes, on 0% promo plans, retroactive if balance remains at period end<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Hard inquiry<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>~$543\/mo. at 20.90% APR \/ 60 mo. (installment plan; $2,500+ purchase)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noindex nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/realdentalcosts.com\/en\/dental-credit-card\">Cherry<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>$35\u2013$65,000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>0%\u201335.99% APR, 1\u201360 mo. terms, true 0% plans available with no deferred interest<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>No<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Soft pull (pre-qual), 80%+ approval rate reported<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Varies by approved APR; at 0% \/ 60 mo.: ~$417\/mo.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noindex nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/realdentalcosts.com\/en\/carecredit-dental-financing\">Proceed Finance<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Not published (terms up to 120 mo. reported)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>~6.99%\u201335.99% APR, 24\u201360 mo. standard, up to 120 mo. available<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>No<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Hard inquiry<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>~$489\/mo. at 6.99% APR \/ 60 mo. (strong credit); higher at elevated APR<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>In-House Plan<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Typically $500\u2013$1,500 (practice-set)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>0% for short terms (\u226490 days to avoid TILA obligations), <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noindex nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/realdentalcosts.com\/en\/no-credit-check-dental-financing\">CFPB \/ TILA compliance required beyond 90 days<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>No (if structured correctly)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>None required, bad debt rate 8\u201315%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Not suitable as primary vehicle for $20,000+ full-arch cases<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><em>Note: APRs and terms are subject to change. Verify current rates directly with each lender before presenting to patients. Monthly payment estimates are calculated for illustration only.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>The Problem: Bad-Credit Patients and Phasing Bottlenecks<\/h2>\n<p>A single-lender practice hits a wall the moment a patient&#8217;s FICO score falls below 620. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noindex nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/realdentalcosts.com\/en\/no-credit-check-dental-financing\">Sunbit approves applicants starting at a 500 credit score with an 87% approval rate<\/a> using a soft credit pull only. Cherry&#8217;s soft-pull pre-qualification reports approval rates above 80% across the credit spectrum. A multi-lender waterfall, with CareCredit first for prime credit, Cherry or Sunbit second for near-prime, and Proceed Finance for longer-term needs, covers the full patient population a full-arch practice sees.<\/p>\n<p>For phased cases, the TC decision framework follows a clear sequence.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<p>Determine total case fee and the patient&#8217;s approved credit limit. This gap calculation sets the path for the rest of the conversation.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>If the gap is less than $5,000, present an in-house down payment to bridge it. Small gaps are easier to close with practice-held financing than by waiting for another lender approval.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>If the gap exceeds $5,000, phase the case. Schedule arch one within the approval window, document the phasing plan in writing, and calendar the second financing application at the appropriate interval. Larger gaps require a formal phasing structure to keep momentum while the patient rebuilds credit or income.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Never let a patient leave without a scheduled next step, because even a phased case counts as a same-day start for arch one. Momentum fades the moment a patient walks out without a calendar commitment.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>The Problem: Objections That Stop the Clock<\/h2>\n<p>Three objections account for the majority of stalled full-arch consultations. Each has a verbatim response that keeps the conversation moving.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cI need to think about it.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The recommended TC response: <em>\u201cOf course, what specifically would you like to think through? Most patients in your position are weighing one of three things: timing of the procedure, financing comfort, or family input. Which of those is the biggest one for you right now?\u201d<\/em> This script identifies the real objection in the same visit rather than pushing the decision to a low-conversion follow-up.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cI need to ask my spouse.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The TC validates the objection, provides a one-page written summary that includes total investment, insurance coverage, patient portion, monthly payment, lender, and term, and offers a same-day spouse call.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cIt\u2019s too expensive.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The TC response: <em>\u201cI completely understand. Can I ask, is it the total number, or is it more about how it fits into your budget right now?\u201d<\/em> This question separates sticker shock from a cash-flow concern and guides the next step.<\/p>\n<h2>The Problem: Deferred-Interest Pitfalls in Real Cases<\/h2>\n<p>CareCredit&#8217;s promotional financing is the most recognized dental financing product in the United States, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noindex nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carecredit.com\/about\/\">accepted at 285,000+ provider and retail locations nationwide<\/a>. Its deferred-interest structure is also its primary risk for full-arch patients.<\/p>\n<p>The $8,000 deferred-interest scenario described earlier illustrates how a patient can face thousands of dollars in retroactive interest after making only minimum payments. The CFPB has specifically warned consumers about this outcome.<\/p>\n<p>The TC&#8217;s role is to present this risk explicitly, not to steer patients away from CareCredit, but to ensure they understand the payoff requirement. For patients who cannot commit to paying the full balance within the promotional window, Cherry&#8217;s true 0% plans or Proceed Finance&#8217;s fixed-installment structure offer safer repayment paths. In-house plans complement external financing for bridge amounts, because a $2,000 down payment collected in-house reduces the financed balance and the deferred-interest exposure at the same time.<\/p>\n<h2>The Solution: Train the Treatment Coordinator Closer<\/h2>\n<p>The financing system described in this article works only when the person running it has been trained on it. FAM&#8217;s in-house treatment coordinator, Nikki O&#8217;Neal, a 26-year dental industry veteran, maintains a high closing rate on full-arch consultations. She teaches the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noindex nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/pci.jotform.com\/form\/250515014933146\">Treatment Coordinator Bootcamp<\/a>, a two-day course covering new patient acquisition, sales process, objection handling, patient financing, pipeline nurture, and drip campaigns.<\/p>\n<p>The Bootcamp centers on role-play and live patient scenarios, the same situations a TC encounters in a high-volume full-arch practice. Practice owners attend alongside their TC and office manager so the entire front-office function leaves aligned on the same playbook. The curriculum covers the multi-lender waterfall, the phasing decision framework, the spouse objection script, and the 30-day follow-up nurture sequence.<\/p>\n<p>Practices that implement a structured financing presentation that is proactive, multi-lender, and scripted report case acceptance rising from 41% to 55.4% within 90 days, along with reduced time from presentation to acceptance. Faster acceptance supports more consistent same-day starts.<\/p>\n<p>Full Arch Masters courses are AGD PACE-approved for continuing education credits, with 32 CE credits available for core courses.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<h3>What is the difference between deferred interest and a true 0% APR loan?<\/h3>\n<p>Deferred interest means interest accrues on the full original balance from the first day of the promotional period. If any balance remains when the promotional window closes, all of that accrued interest is charged retroactively. A true 0% APR loan charges no interest during the promotional period, and if a balance remains after the period ends, only the standard APR applies to the remaining balance going forward, with no retroactive charge. CareCredit&#8217;s promotional plans use deferred interest. Cherry&#8217;s 0% promotional plans do not.<\/p>\n<h3>Which financing option works best for patients with bad credit seeking full-arch implants?<\/h3>\n<p>For patients with FICO scores below 620, Sunbit and Cherry are usually the most accessible options. Sunbit approves applicants starting at a 500 credit score using a soft credit pull and reports an 87% approval rate. Cherry uses a soft credit pull and reports approval rates above 80% across the credit spectrum, with loan amounts up to $65,000. In-house plans can bridge smaller gaps but are not a primary vehicle for $20,000+ full-arch cases because of bad debt risk and Truth in Lending Act compliance requirements for plans extending beyond 90 days.<\/p>\n<h3>When in a full-arch consultation should financing be introduced?<\/h3>\n<p>Financing should be introduced before the patient hears the total fee, ideally during the preoperative records and data acquisition step of the FAM Method, when the TC anchors the patient to a monthly payment range. Presenting financing proactively often produces higher acceptance rates than waiting for a price objection. Soft-pull pre-qualification through Cherry or Sunbit can run during the photogrammetry and intraoral scanning step, so approval results are available before the treatment plan is presented.<\/p>\n<h3>How does the FAM Method Treatment Coordinator Bootcamp address patient financing?<\/h3>\n<p>The Treatment Coordinator Bootcamp is a two-day course taught by FAM&#8217;s in-house treatment coordinator, who maintains a strong closing rate on full-arch consultations. The curriculum covers the multi-lender waterfall, scripted financing presentations, objection handling for cost, spouse, and timing objections, phasing decision frameworks for patients with partial approvals, and a 30-day pipeline nurture sequence. Practice owners attend alongside their TC and office manager so the entire front-office function stays aligned on the same system from day one.<\/p>\n<h3>Can in-house payment plans work for full-arch implant cases?<\/h3>\n<p>In-house plans work best for bridge amounts, such as a $1,500\u2013$2,000 down payment collected in-house to reduce the financed balance on a third-party loan, or a short-term plan for an established patient with a sub-$1,500 balance. For the full fee of a $20,000\u2013$50,000 full-arch case, in-house plans carry an 8\u201315% bad debt rate, place all collection risk on the practice, and require Truth in Lending Act compliance for any plan extending beyond 90 days with a finance charge. Third-party lenders pay the practice within two business days and remove patient non-payment risk entirely.<\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion: Turn Financing Into a Clinical System<\/h2>\n<p>Financing is not a front-desk afterthought in a full-arch practice; it functions as a clinical workflow step. When mapped to the seven-step FAM Method, a multi-lender waterfall with scripted TC conversations converts high-value consultations into same-day starts at a level that can compound into $1M+ in added annual practice revenue for FAM alumni. The lender comparison table, phasing framework, and objection scripts in this article form the operational foundation. The Treatment Coordinator Bootcamp provides the training that makes this system repeatable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stop losing full-arch cases to financing friction. Full Arch Masters&#8217; 7-step FAM Method turns lender options into same-day starts. Learn how.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":119,"featured_media":327,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fullarchmasters.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fullarchmasters.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fullarchmasters.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fullarchmasters.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=328"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.fullarchmasters.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fullarchmasters.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/327"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fullarchmasters.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fullarchmasters.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fullarchmasters.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}