DENTAL LIFETIME OF CARE STUDY
© 2023 Synchrony Bank
2
A GENUINE
SMILE IS A
PRICELESS
GIFT.
ABOUT THIS LOOKBOOK
Why study the lifetime cost of
dental care?
Contact Sheila Dreyer Van Buskirk,
VP Network Research and Insights
Sheila.dreyer@syf.com
Want more information?
Download
a PDF of
this study.
A smile can not only help brighten
someone’s day, it can also impact
a person’s overall health. Yet many
people delay, decline or compromise
their dental care because of cost.
The Synchrony “Dental Lifetime of
Care” study, created on behalf of
CareCredit, provides insights on people’s
perceptions of the cost of dentistry and
how that perception affects their
oral healthcare decisions.
We believe people should be informed about the value of dental
care, the average out-of-pocket cost of dental care over a lifetime,
and ways they can plan for and manage those costs. To that end,
we commissioned a study to more accurately identify the average
lifetime cost of dentistry for an individual.
Key findings indicate that 58% of respondents believe dental care
is not affordable, which may be the reason why the majority of
respondents (92%) said they would consider holding off on general
dental care because of cost, with 4 out of 5 (83%) saying the same for
emergency dental care.
The more informed a person is about care and the cost of care,
the better equipped they are to make decisions that are in the best
interest of their dental, overall and financial health. Dental teams are
perfectly positioned to educate their patients on the lifetime cost of
dentistry and how patients can prepare for and manage both general
and potential emergency or complex dental care.
Let’s take a closer look at the findings.
2
4
MORE THAN JUST
A PRETTY SMILE
1
ADA, “Oral Health”, https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/all-topics-a-z/oral-health, accessed on 8/08/23.
2
Mayo Clinic Staff, “Oral health: A window to your overall health”,
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/dental/art-20047475, accessed on 8/08/23.
Teeth are the only part of the body
that cannot heal themselves. Having
a nice smile is a good thing and can
positively impact a person socially
and psychologically. More importantly
teeth play a critical everyday role in a
person’s health. The mouth, including
teeth and gums, may indicate nutritional
deficiencies and general infection.
1
And
a person’s oral health may contribute to
systemic diseases that affect the entire
body including cardiovascular disease,
pregnancy and birth complications,
pneumonia and endocarditis.
2
The Synchrony “Dental Lifetime of Care” study
found the average out-of-pocket costs for the
average adult aged 20 – 79 is $51,000 to $95,000+.
This includes dental benefit premiums but does not include more
specialized or complex care like implants, veneers, orthodontics
or other cosmetic dental procedures.
People’s ability to pay these out-of-pocket costs impacts their
decision to seek dental care.
$51,000 to
$95,000+
Ages:
to
20
79
46
46% said they were not ready/prepared for
their largest out-of-pocket dental expense,
ranging from exams to implants
3 out of 4 don’t actively save
for dental expenses — Average
saved is $648
46%
NOT READY
Preparedness
find understanding dental
health expenses easy
Among those that do have insurance, 1 out of 2 did not know
their annual maximum and 1 out of 4 their annual premium.
30%
Understanding of Dental Cost and Benefits
Perception of Cost
The majority (58%) believe dental care is NOT affordable, which may
result in worry about their dental health.
53%
with dental
insurance
59%
with Dental
Savings Plan
75%
with no
insurance
24%
worry about how
to pay for dental
expenses
18%
worry about
not getting a
procedure because
of cost
20%
worry about
having a
catastrophic
dental event
What a person believes about the cost of care and their understanding of their dental
benefits or lack of dental benefits, unique dental care goals, needs and wants and
financial preparedness all affect how they make their dental care decisions.
UNDERSTANDING IS
THE FIRST STEP TOWARD
PREPARATION.
Worry about their oral healthBelieve dental care is not affordable
8
YOUR SMILE
IS YOURS TO
KEEP – AND TO
GIVE AWAY
Most people would prefer to keep their teeth for
life, be able to enjoy food without discomfort and
smile with confidence. This means oen dentistry
is need-based healthcare. Yet, patients indicate
they would or have ignored a procedure, delayed
care or chosen a less costly procedure.
Because of cost, respondents indicated they would…
consider holding off on general
dental care because of cost
92%
consider holding off on emergency
dental care because of cost
83%
Almost 1 out of 2
respondents have had a
dental emergency
1 out of 3
went to a
periodontist
Nearly half of the
survey respondents have
had orthodontic work
More than 1 out of 10 had cosmetic or non-essential dental procedures
ignored a
recommended
procedure
with 44% indicating it caused
addition dental issues
17%
delayed care,
with 22% indicating
it caused additional
dental issues
chose
less costly
treatment
29% 13%
…or have:
10
“SMILE! IT
INCREASES
YOUR FACE
VALUE.”
– ROBERT HARLING
Overall, 9% do not visit the dentist
out of fear and 9% because of time.
9%
Only 73% of respondents went to see their
general dentist in the past 12 months. Of those
who did not, 54% cited “expense” as the reason.
73%
54%
Parents with dependent
children under age 19
People with
insurance
Baby
Boomers
Singles
People without
dental benefits
The Silent
Generation
Those most likely to visit the dentist:
Least likely:
12
UNDERSTANDING
AND EMPATHY START
WITH A SMILE.
The insights provided by Synchrony’s Dental Lifetime of Care study
can help the dental community, especially doctors and teams, better
educate patients on key decision-making factors.
According to the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP), at the year-end of 2020,
nearly 80% of the population had dental benefits
1
. Helping patients better understand
how their benefits contribute to the cost of their dental care and how to best use their
annual maximum may help more access care.
People proactively prepare for expenses when they believe that they will need or want
to pay those expenses in the future. Helping patients understand the average cost of
care may encourage more to proactively save and be prepared for their dental needs,
especially emergency treatment.
Many dentists are choosing not to extend credit to patients through their practice due
to the cost of billing and collections, cash flow and laws associated with extending credit
to consumers. However, many practices are seeking to partner with third-party financial
solutions that are able to help both the practice and patient’s needs. According to
cardrates.com, virtually all dental practices accept credit cards
2
. Adding a health and
wellness credit card may be appreciated by patients who would like to reserve their
general purpose credit cards for household or other expenses.
Increase understanding of dental benefits
Encourage patients to be prepared for the cost of dentistry
Offer a payment solution
58%
58% of respondents
indicated they would
probably or definitely
choose a payment option
that provided predictable,
set, equal payments
without having to use their
general purpose
or retail credit cards.
1
“Why Dental? Understanding Dental Benefits”, National Association of Dental Plans
https://www.nadp.org/about-dental-plans-care/understanding-dental-benefits/, accessed on August 8, 2023.
2
Bank, Eric (2023, July 7) “6 Best Credit Cards for Dental Work”, CardRates.com retrieved from:
https://www.cardrates.com/advice/best-credit-cards-dental-work/#:~:text=Virtually%20all%20dentists%20accept%20credit%20card%20payments
14
METHODOLOGY
ABOUT
SYNCHRONY
AND
CARECREDIT
As the leading financial solutions provider in the dental space, Synchrony conducted the research
because we believe it is important to build awareness among consumers and dental providers of
the costs of dental care over a lifetime, how these costs can impact decisions about care and the
importance of financially preparing for future dental care needs. The “Lifetime of Dental Care Costs”
study was performed by ASQ360° Market Research/Stephens & Associates on behalf of Synchrony.
Researchers surveyed 1,335 respondents in the U.S. (aged 20-79+)
who had a general to good understanding of their dental expenses.
Respondents invested an
average of 10:45 minutes to
complete the survey
The survey and interviews were
conducted in January 2023
20-79+
U.S.
1,335
Survey
participants
quick glance:
71%
8%
21%
71% had dental insurance
8% had dental savings
card or plan
21% had no dental
insurance
61% individuals
23% married/partner
16% with kids in household
61%
23%
16%
Researchers conducted
22 dentist/practice
manager in-depth
interviews
Synchrony has been the leading financial solutions provider in the dental space for more
than 35 years, with the CareCredit health and wellness credit card now accepted at close
to 80% of dental practices in the U.S.
Synchrony’s CareCredit credit card was established in 1987, to help patients pay for their
dental implants and get the care they needed — allowing dentists more time to focus on
dentistry and running their practice. Since then, CareCredit has grown to be accepted at
more than 266,000 enrolled provider and health-focused retail locations across the country.
With a comprehensive suite of financing solutions, Synchrony equips dentists with modern
billing technology and data tools to meet the demands of today’s consumers, while also
improving financial workflows and simplifying revenue cycle management.
Synchrony’s CareCredit credit card is a convenient and reliable solution that offers financing
options for qualified consumers. It fulfills the evolving needs and expectations of patients,
empowering people to pay for the healthcare they want and need in a way that works for
themselves and their families.
Generation Z (born aer 1996) - 93 members
Millennials (born 1977 to 1996) - 360 members
Gen X (born 1965 to 1976) - 374 members
Boomers (born 1946 to 1964) - 427 members
Silent Generation (born before 1946) - 81 members
360
374
427
81
93
DENTAL LIFETIME OF CARE STUDY
© 2023 Synchrony Bank
