Ways to pay
We make excellent dentistry affordable
Most people do not hesitate over dental treatment because they doubt they need it. They hesitate because of what it does to this month. If you have been given a treatment plan and a number, here is how to handle that number.
Dental insurance
We file all your claims for you
There is an on-site benefits specialist to help you navigate the tricky world of dental insurance. Coverage differs a great deal between plans, so call with your plan details before your visit and the office can check what applies to you.
Financing options
Cherry, CareCredit and self-pay
Whatever your insurance does not cover, the options below spread or reduce what remains. Please call the office if you have any questions about which fits your situation.
The four routes
Cherry
Monthly payment plans for the treatment itself, arranged at the practice.
- Short application on your phone
- Soft credit checkDoes not affect your credit score
- Approval is not guaranteedAmount and rate depend on your circumstances
- First monthly payment taken at checkout
CareCredit
A healthcare credit card issued by Synchrony Bank. It stays available once approved.
- Subject to credit approval
- Check if you prequalify firstWithout affecting your credit score
- Promotional financing on qualifying purchases
- Suits repeat treatment over time
Always Smile Access
A membership bought directly from the practice, not insurance. It reduces the bill rather than spreading it, which changes the number you are financing in the first place.
Adult $299 a year or $25 a month. Children 12 and under $259 a year or $22 a month, plus 15% off treatment.
Paying directly
For smaller treatments it is often simplest to pay at the visit. Ask for a written estimate first, and ask whether joining the membership would bring the total down before you pay.
Read the promotional terms before you accept them, particularly what happens at the end of a promotional period. Those terms are set by the finance provider, not by the practice, and approval for both Cherry and CareCredit is decided by them rather than by the dental office.
Comparing the options
| Option | Best for | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Dental insurance | Anyone with a plan | The practice files the claim for you |
| Cherry | One treatment, spread over months | Short application, soft credit check |
| CareCredit | Ongoing or repeat treatment | Credit card application, subject to approval |
| Membership | Routine care across the year | Flat monthly or annual fee |
| Self-pay | Smaller treatments | Paid at the visit |
How to choose
Insurance with a gap to cover
Use the plan first, then finance the remainder if the balance is awkward.
One large treatment
Cherry is usually the most direct route when you have a single number to deal with.
More work expected over time
CareCredit stays available after the first treatment, and membership pricing applies at every visit.
Routine care is the main cost
The membership will usually beat financing, because it reduces the bill rather than spreading it.
Before your appointment
- Bring your insurance card and plan details if you have them
- Ask for a written estimate before treatment starts
- Ask which parts are urgent and which can reasonably waitNot everything has to happen at once
- Apply for financing before the appointment if you canSo it is not being sorted out while you are in the chair
Check Medicaid first. New Jersey covers dental treatment for adults and children who qualify for NJ FamilyCare or Medicaid, and the thresholds catch more households than people expect. Always Smile Dental Care sees Medicaid patients. See the NJ Medicaid dentist page before arranging financing.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Monthly payment plans are available through Cherry, and CareCredit is accepted as a healthcare credit card. Both are subject to approval by the finance provider rather than by the dental office.
Cherry uses a soft credit check to assess the application, which does not affect your credit score. Payment activity is typically reported to credit bureaus once a plan is under way.
No. Neither Cherry nor CareCredit guarantees approval, and the amount and terms offered depend on individual circumstances. If an application is declined the practice can discuss other ways to sequence treatment.
Yes. The membership reduces the cost of treatment and financing spreads what remains, so the two can be used together.
The practice accepts a number of dental plans and files claims on your behalf. Because coverage varies between plans, call with your plan details and the office can check what applies before you book.
No. You can take a written estimate away and arrange payment before returning. For urgent problems it is worth asking which part needs doing now and which can wait.
No. It is a membership plan bought directly from the practice with no insurance company involved. It has no waiting periods or annual maximum, but only applies at this practice.
Talk it through before you commit
The front desk deals with this every week and can tell you what your options look like in practice, including what a membership would save against the treatment you have been quoted.
