Let’s be real for a minute: regular visits to dental clinics don’t come cheap. This is one of the main reasons why some people opt to abandon their biannual dental appointments. Thankfully, we live in an era where financial flexibility is made possible with the introduction of “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL) services. It has revolutionized payment services, allowing individuals immediate access to healthcare, including dental care. In today’s article, we’ll discuss why more patients are choosing Afterpay for dental treatments as well as the benefits of this service.
Bridging the gap: making dental healthcare affordable and attainable.
As mentioned above, one of the main reasons for the rise of Afterpay Dental is that it bridges the affordability gap. Dental visits are a must to keep our teeth healthy, and for adults, we’re required to at least get our teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year. Be that as it may, even professional cleaning has a pretty steep cost, ranging from $350 to $2,000. That’s professional cleaning alone, because certain dental treatments have a higher cost. Just take a look at a root canal; it has a baseline price of $900, which can rise to $3,400, which is not exactly cheap.
Individuals who don’t have insurance that can cover these costs would struggle to afford even the most basic of dental treatments, which is why Afterpay is a great option for them. For some patients, not having enough funds bars them from receiving timely and essential dental care, making them postpone dental checkups and treatments, thus worsening their conditions. But with Afterpay, they can now receive their treatment on the dot since they can pay for the total cost in interest-free installments over a certain period. Usually, the total cost is divided into four installments over a six- to eight-week payment period. By doing so, it eliminates the need for patients to shell out a large sum of money upfront and allows them to access dental care and treatment that’s within their financial capabilities. After all, leaving a dental condition unattended would not only worsen it but also cost them more pain and expenses down the line.
It offers convenience and transparency.
Besides providing affordability, Afterpay also showcases unmatched convenience and transparency; there’s no hassle or lengthy paperwork to complete and submit. Patients usually apply through a mobile app, and they can also receive instant approval within minutes, so there’s no need to wait for days to see their application status.
Transparency-wise, Afterpay has no hidden fees or interest charges as long as you pay on time. This makes them a better alternative compared to traditional financing options, which often have surcharges or hidden fees, giving patients added costs that can financially strain them.
Late fees only apply if they missed a timely payment, and even this is stated from the get-go. Such clarity is welcome since it encourages patients to make informed financial decisions and budget their funds wisely so they can make timely payments and, ultimately, reduce the stress of dealing with dental healthcare expenses.
A win-win for both parties: individuals get treated while dental clinics have continuous operations.
Last but not least, the introduction of Afterpay is mutually beneficial for both patients and dental practices; how, you ask? From the patients’ side, they can access dental healthcare easily since it’s made affordable thanks to the flexible payment solution Afterpay provides. They don’t need to push back their dental appointments to a later date if they can’t afford it because now, Afterpay provides an easy payment option that is fit for their budget.
For dental clinics, the introduction of Afterpay allows them to reach a wider demographic because more people can afford to access dental healthcare now. There’s no need to pay the full amount of the procedure if they don’t have the budget for it, since patients can just choose an option within their financial capabilities. Additionally, dental clinics can also convert more treatment plans into actual treatments, since they can receive payment upfront from Afterpay, thus improving cash flow. This also improves the patient experience, which could be converted into patient loyalty, given how smooth and hassle-free the payment experience with Afterpay is.
To wrap it up, the integration of Afterpay in most dental clinics has yielded many benefits from both the patients’ and dental practitioners’ sides. For the most part, it has addressed the financial struggle that prevents patients from accessing dental care. There’s no denying that Afterpay is revolutionizing the dental landscape by providing affordable and accessible dental care while also boosting dental practices’ reach.
