Unexpected dental work rarely arrives on a convenient payday. A cracked tooth, a root canal a dentist recommends after years of putting it off, or a crown that needs replacing can turn into a bill that feels bigger than the budget allows, and that gap is often the reason people delay care they actually need.
At Complete Dentistry, we hear this concern often from patients in Trophy Club, and it is one of the reasons we built flexible financing into how we practice. Two of our most-used options, CareCredit and Sunbit, are designed to spread out the cost of treatment so a bigger dental need does not have to mean a bigger financial strain all at once.
Why Cost Gets in the Way of Care
Cost is consistently one of the top reasons adults give for putting off a dental visit, according to the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute. That is true even for people who have insurance, since most plans cap annual benefits well below what a crown, a bridge, or a round of restorative work can cost.
The result is a familiar pattern. A patient knows they need treatment, understands the risks of waiting, and still puts it off because the number on the treatment plan feels too large to handle in one payment. Financing exists to close that specific gap, not by making dental care cheaper, but by making the timing of payment fit a real budget.
What CareCredit Offers Our Patients
CareCredit works like a healthcare credit card that we can apply directly toward treatment at our office, with approved credit lines available up to $18,000. For many procedures, patients qualify for a promotional period of six months with no interest, which works well for a single procedure like a crown or a set of veneers that a patient wants to pay off quickly.
For larger cases, such as multiple restorations or a more involved treatment plan, CareCredit also offers extended plans that run between 24 and 60 months with interest. Stretching a bigger balance over several years can turn a difficult lump sum into a manageable monthly line item, which is often the difference between starting treatment now and waiting another year. Used responsibly, a CareCredit account can also help patients build their credit history over time.
How Sunbit Fits a Different Kind of Budget
Sunbit approaches financing from a different angle. Rather than functioning like a traditional credit card, it works more like the short-term payment plans people already use for retail purchases, splitting a bill into a handful of manageable payments over a few months. Sunbit approvals are typically for smaller amounts than CareCredit or Proceed Finance, which makes it a natural fit for a single procedure rather than a large treatment plan.
This tends to appeal to patients who want predictability more than flexibility. A fixed schedule of equal payments is easier to plan around than a revolving balance, and Sunbit is often a good fit for patients who have limited or no credit history, since approval decisions can take a broader view of a person’s finances than a traditional credit score alone. Like CareCredit, on-time Sunbit payments can also contribute positively to a patient’s credit history.
Choosing Between the Two
Neither option is universally better than the other, and the right fit depends on the size of the treatment plan and how a patient prefers to pay it down. We walk through both during a treatment consultation so patients can compare real numbers instead of guessing.
The following questions tend to guide that conversation with our team:
- Is the treatment a single procedure or part of a larger plan spanning several visits?
- Would a short, interest-free window cover the balance, or does the case call for a longer payment timeline?
- Does the patient have an established credit history, or would a broader approval model serve them better?
Once we know the shape of the treatment plan, matching it to CareCredit or Sunbit usually becomes a straightforward decision rather than a guessing game.
Financing Alongside Insurance and Other Options
Financing is not meant to replace insurance, and we still encourage patients to use their dental benefits first whenever they apply. We work with several insurance plans, and for treatment costs that fall outside coverage or exceed an annual maximum, CareCredit and Sunbit pick up where insurance leaves off.
We also offer Proceed Finance for patients who need a longer-term loan structure, with financing available up to $70,000 for larger or more complex treatment plans. Between insurance, CareCredit, Sunbit, and Proceed Finance, most patients find a combination that fits their situation rather than a one-size-fits-all payment plan.
Get Started With Affordable Care at Complete Dentistry
We built our approach to cosmetic and restorative dentistry around the idea that a treatment recommendation should never come with an automatic no because of cost. From same-day consultations to detailed treatment plans, our team walks through pricing and financing before any procedure begins so patients know exactly what to expect.
If cost has been holding you back from a procedure you know you need, we may be able to help you find a payment option that actually works for your budget. Contact us to schedule a consultation and talk through your financing options with our team.
