Quality care, made affordable.
Cost should not stand in the way of the dental care you need. Gateway Smiles offers a range of payment and financing options that make every procedure manageable — including treatments not covered by insurance.
Payment & financing options
CareCredit Financing
CareCredit offers promotional financing for dental care, with 0% interest plans for qualified applicants on plans up to 24 months, and reduced-interest options up to 60 months. Apply in minutes and get an instant decision.
Apply for CareCredit →HSA & FSA Funds
Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts can be used for almost all dental procedures — preventive, restorative, and most cosmetic procedures with documented medical purpose. Use pre-tax dollars for substantial savings.
Cherry & Sunbit
Alternative financing options designed specifically for healthcare. Approval models are different from traditional credit and many patients qualify for affordable monthly plans even without strong credit.
In-House Payment Plans
For larger treatments, we can arrange in-house payment plans for established patients — typically a portion upfront with the balance over 3 to 6 months. No external financing or interest charges.
Making care affordable
Most dental treatments are far more affordable than patients expect, particularly when broken into monthly payments. Here are the strategies that work for our patients.
Combine resources
Most patients use a combination of dental insurance, HSA or FSA funds, and financing to cover treatment. For example, a patient considering a single dental implant ($4,500) might have insurance pay $1,000, use $1,500 in HSA funds, and finance the remaining $2,000 over 24 months at $85/month. The same is true for most major procedures — what looks like a large number breaks down into manageable monthly payments.
Phase larger treatment plans
When extensive treatment is needed, we often phase it across multiple calendar years to take advantage of two annual insurance maximums. We start with the most urgent issues and work systematically through the rest, so you are never overwhelmed financially or scheduled into hours of consecutive appointments.
Use HSA and FSA funds wisely
FSA funds typically expire at the end of the plan year — use it or lose it. If you have unused FSA funds and need dental work, late November and December are good times to schedule. HSA funds roll over indefinitely, so they can be saved for larger treatments when needed.
Take advantage of insurance maximums
Most insurance plans have an annual maximum that resets at the start of the new benefit year. If you have already used most of your benefits, scheduling additional needed treatment in January (when the new maximum kicks in) can save you significant out-of-pocket cost.
Don't delay
The single best way to keep dental costs low is to address problems early. A small cavity caught at your routine cleaning costs a fraction of what the same tooth might cost if it progresses to needing a root canal and crown. We strongly encourage every patient to maintain their twice-yearly preventive visits, which are typically fully covered by insurance and are the most cost-effective dental care you can receive.
Transparent pricing
We provide a written treatment plan and estimate before any procedure begins. The estimate shows the full fee, what we expect insurance to cover, and your estimated out-of-pocket cost. Final amounts may vary slightly from estimates because insurance coverage is not always confirmed until claims are processed, but our estimates are typically very accurate. There are no surprises.
If your treatment plan includes options at different price points, we will present them all and explain the differences. The decision about which option to choose is yours, and we will respect it.
If you cannot afford recommended treatment
Tell us. We can almost always find a path forward — phasing the work, simpler alternatives that meet your immediate needs, financing options you may not have considered, or addressing the most urgent issues first while you plan for the rest. The worst thing to do is stay home and let problems progress. Call us, and we will figure it out together.
Frequently asked questions
CareCredit is a healthcare financing credit card accepted at most dental, medical, and veterinary practices in the U.S. It offers promotional financing options including 6, 12, 18, and 24-month no-interest plans (with minimum monthly payments) and longer-term reduced-interest plans up to 60 months. Application is fast and most applicants receive an instant decision online.
We work with several lenders beyond CareCredit, including Cherry, Sunbit, and others. Many of these have approval models specifically designed for patients who may not qualify for traditional credit. We can help you compare options.
Yes — most dental procedures (preventive, restorative, surgical, and many cosmetic procedures with documented medical purpose) are eligible for HSA and FSA funds. Therapeutic Botox for documented TMJ may qualify; purely cosmetic procedures typically do not. We can help you understand which procedures qualify under your specific plan.
For larger treatments, we can offer in-house payment arrangements, typically with a portion paid upfront and the balance over 3–6 months without external financing. This option works best for established patients with good payment history. Contact our front desk to discuss.
We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), debit cards, cash, personal checks, HSA/FSA cards, CareCredit, and other approved financing. Online and over-the-phone payment options are also available.
We offer transparent fair pricing for all patients, with the same fees for insured and uninsured patients. We do not have a separate 'cash discount' but our standard fees are competitive in the area. Combined with HSA/FSA funds and financing, dental care is very affordable for our self-pay patients.