Financial Options

We want to provide you and your family with the best options for dental care whether you have dental insurance or not.  These options may be different than what your benefit plan provides for. 

Let's talk about Dental Insurance

Dental insurance, unlike its medical counterpart, is a relative newcomer to the market.  Up until 1954, people always paid for their dental visits.  The first dental plans were introduced in California and gained popularity through the 1960’s. 

During the 1970’s, dental insurance plans were everywhere and Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO) became the mainstay.  PPOs are basically a contracted network of dentists who agree to  accept a reduced fee for those insured.  Coverage also extends to uncontracted (or out of network) dentists, with the patient usually picking up the difference between network and out of network fees. 

Surprisingly, the maximum annual benefit covered at that time was $1,000 - $1,500 per year, the same as today, nearly 70 years later.  If your policy had kept up with inflation, it would cover almost $10,000 of dental care per family member each year. 

Dental insurance is very different than medical insurance.  For example, when you hit your maximum with your medical insurance, who normally pays for additional care?  Your medical carrier!  When you reach your maximum with your dental plan, YOU pay for additional care at that point.  So it's really not "insurance", it's just a limited benefit program.  Dentists have nothing to do with dental insurance benefits and limitations, that is a negotiated contract between the insurance company and your employer. 

As employers struggle with the rising cost of medical benefits, dental benefits are getting reduced.  In addition, the already discounted reimbursements to dentists are being reduced and claim submission is getting more and more challenging.  A common  example is when a composite (tooth colored) filling is done and your insurance plan will only pay for a less expensive amalgam (silver) filling, which the vast majority of dentists don't even do any more.  Some dental carriers are now using AI (artificial intelligence) to scan claims leading to a higher rate of rejections and often requiring dentists to submit additional (and sometimes unnecessary) information on the care provided.  So dentists who rely on insurance have to see a lot of patients to keep their lights on and the quality of care to their patients usually suffers.  This is why you are seeing changes in the dental marketplace with corporate dental offices popping up around the country.  Those businesses are primarily insurance dependent and dentists at those offices commonly see 40-50 patients per day. 

We believe that insurance carriers and their plans should not determine what is best for you and your optimal dental health.  They are not dentists with thousands of hours of education and training in comprehensive dental care that care about what is best for you and your loved ones.  In essence, insurance companies are marketing programs that supply patients to dental providers, make money by collecting policy premiums paid by participants, provide limited benefits to those participants, and then reimburse dental providers at a significant discount if the participant decides to use their benefit.  That being said, dental insurance companies are highly profitable; some of their CEOs make more than the CEO of Apple. 

Dental insurance can be complex and challenging.   Often a person’s dental and medical plans will be provided by two different companies.  Our team has many years of experience in dental benefit administration in the dental office.  We file with all dental insurance carriers that allow you to choose your own dentist (both in and out of network) to help you maximize your benefit reimbursement.  We are here to help you utilize your benefits, but if you rely on dental insurance to maintain or improve your dental health, we understand how you may find yourself disappointed and frustrated. 

We are a contracted provider with some dental insurance companies.  There are thousands of dental plans out there with a wide variety of benefit options.  It is important that you, as the owner of the policy, are familiar with your plan and it's limitations.  It is also necessary that you provide policy  documentation and information to our administrative team prior to your first visit and as your plan changes, so that we can help you make informed decisions with any treatment planning.

There are other options...

The truth is, the majority of people don't have dental insurance.  And for many that do, their needs go beyond their amount of annual coverage. 

If you don't have dental benefits or are looking for another option, please click on the link under the Patients tab for information on our Simply Smiles VIP program.  This in-house membership program includes essential preventive treatments at no extra cost and also provides discounts for a large variety of cosmetic and restorative dental treatments including one day crowns, root canals, implants and dentures.  It's simple, easy and there are NO deductibles, NO maximums and NO wait limits!

We want to help you receive the dental care you deserve. We discuss all cost and payment options with you to make sure you are comfortable with your treatment plan and to answer any questions you have prior to the start of treatment.   

Simply Smiles Family Dental is not a Medicaid provider. 
Please refer to Missouri Healthnet for providers in our area that can serve you.

Popular Payment Options

We accept the following payment options so you can get the dental care you need when you need it.

• Cash & Checks
• Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express
• Simply SmilesSavers Membership Plan - free cleanings and discount on most services
• CareCredit®
• Sunbit Financial  Apply below - easy, quick and no hard inquiry on your credit report!