Dental Financing & Payment Options in Summerville, SC
Facing a treatment plan without knowing how you will pay for it can turn a simple dental visit into a source of stress. Whether you need a filling, a crown, or a full smile makeover, the cost of care can feel like the biggest obstacle standing between you and a healthier smile.
At Old Trolley Dental Associates, we believe cost should never be the reason you put off care you need. We built our financing and payment options around real flexibility, so you can move forward with treatment on a timeline and budget that works for your life. Below, we walk through the ways we help make dental care in Summerville more accessible, from insurance to financing partners to our own in-house plan.
Why Payment Flexibility Matters in Dentistry
Cost is consistently the biggest barrier standing between patients and the dental care they need. According to American Dental Association research, 13% of the population reported cost barriers to dental care, compared to only 4% to 5% for other types of health care services. That gap tells us something important: dental care is often treated as optional, even when it directly affects your overall health and comfort.
We see this play out in real conversations every week. A patient needs a crown after a cracked tooth, or a family wants to move forward with braces for their teenager, and the sticker shock stops the conversation before it starts. We want you to know upfront that there are more ways to make treatment work financially than most patients realize, and our team is happy to walk you through every one of them before you commit to anything.
You Deserve To Understand Your Options Before You Decide
Every patient’s situation looks different. Some of you have strong dental insurance and just need help understanding your benefits. Others are uninsured and want a straightforward, predictable way to budget for care. We take the time to explain what applies to you specifically, rather than handing you a generic breakdown that does not reflect your circumstances.
Insurance Coverage at Our Practice
We participate with a wide range of PPO insurance networks, which means many of our patients see meaningful savings on covered procedures. If you have dental insurance through your employer or purchased individually, there is a good chance we accept your plan or can still work with your out-of-network benefits to help you get the most value from your coverage.
We do not accept Medicaid, TRICARE, or VA dental benefits, and we want to be upfront about that so you can plan accordingly. What we can do is help you understand your specific plan, including your annual maximum, deductible, and what percentage of common procedures like dental crowns or root canal therapy your plan typically covers. Our front desk team reviews your benefits before treatment begins, so you know what to expect instead of being surprised by a bill later.
Insurance Is Only Part of the Picture
Even with strong coverage, most plans still leave a portion of larger procedures unpaid. That is where financing and our in-house options come in, giving you a way to cover the gap without draining your savings or delaying treatment you need now.
Financing Through Cherry and CareCredit
For patients who want to spread out the cost of treatment, we offer financing through Cherry and CareCredit. Both let you apply in minutes, often with a decision in seconds, so you are not left waiting to find out if you can move forward with care.
Cherry has become our most popular financing option because of how smooth the application process is and the range of payment terms available. Many patients use it for larger treatment plans, including dental implants or a full restorative dentistry plan, since it allows you to break a significant investment into manageable monthly payments. CareCredit works in a similar way and gives you another option if Cherry does not fit your situation.
Neither financing option requires you to pay your entire treatment cost upfront, and both are designed to fit a variety of credit profiles. We can walk you through the application at your appointment or help you apply ahead of time if you would rather have financing sorted out before you sit down in the chair.
Choosing Between Financing Providers
We understand that comparing two financing companies can feel like one more decision on top of an already stressful situation. Our team can explain the differences in approval requirements and payment terms between Cherry and CareCredit, so you can pick the option that actually fits your budget rather than guessing.
Our In-House Membership Plan
If you do not have dental insurance, our in-house membership plan gives you a predictable way to budget for care. Instead of paying full price for every visit or going without preventive care altogether, you pay one straightforward membership fee that covers routine services like cleanings and exams, along with discounts on additional treatment.
This plan works well for patients who are self-employed, between jobs, or whose employer does not offer dental benefits. It also appeals to families who want simple, predictable costs rather than tracking deductibles and annual maximums across multiple insurance plans. We can review the details of our membership plan with you and help you decide if it makes more sense than traditional insurance for your household.
We think every patient deserves a clear answer about what their care will cost and how they can pay for it. If a treatment plan feels out of reach financially, we want you to bring that concern to us directly rather than skipping the appointment altogether.
Getting Started at Old Trolley Dental Associates
Since 2007, Dr. Scott Kibler has led our practice in Summerville, joined in 2015 by Dr. Michael Skovira, and together they have built a reputation for care that puts patients first. Both doctors bring a veteran-owned, community-rooted approach to dentistry, and that same philosophy carries through to how we handle payment. We do not want finances to be the reason you or your family avoid the dental care you need.
Whether you are exploring insurance benefits, comparing Cherry and CareCredit, or thinking about our membership plan, our team is ready to help you find the option that fits. Contact our office today to talk through your specific situation, and let us help you find a payment path that makes sense for your smile and your budget.