How credit access, integrated financing, and technology help more patients get approved and receive care
Today, dental practices are at a pivotal point. While we all recognize the profound importance of oral health,1 cost remains a significant barrier to treatment2 or a source of anxiety1 when pursuing care. Practices aren’t just treating teeth; they’re navigating complex financial and emotional landscapes. My mission at CareCredit – and our shared opportunity – is to help ensure that essential care is never out of reach.
Bridging this gap – making it possible for patients to get the care they want or need while practices thrive – is a challenge I hear about all the time from providers. The American Dental Association confirms this, citing concerns like insurance complexities, staffing shortages, and rising overhead as top worries for 2026.3 These are barriers to delivering quality care, and can create immense stress for dedicated dental teams.
As we all head into the Chicago Dental Society’s Midwinter Meeting, I’m reflecting on the power we have to turn these challenges into opportunities, making both financial success and accessible care a shared reality. While financing has long been a focus, new technology solutions now allow practices to streamline operations, connect more seamlessly with patients, and embed financial tools into core workflows. Let’s explore three major ways thoughtful integration of technology and financing can empower practices to do just that.
- Financing is just the beginning
Our Synchrony Dental Lifetime of Care research shows that only a third of people find dental care expenses easy to understand – which can have a big ripple effect, creating stress and delays for patients and care teams. Financing partners need to do more – going beyond financing to enable care across the entire healthcare journey, connecting patients and providers with the right tools at every step.
I recently had the chance to speak with Katrina Sanders, RDH, on this very topic. As she powerfully put it: “When financing isn’t just available but intentionally built into the clinical workflow, provider–patient conversations can return to what they should be about: moving patients toward health. Financial options become a support tool, not a barrier to care or a distraction in the dialogue, allowing the focus to remain on lifelong patient wellness.”
By embedding financing into the clinical workflow, practices can turn what was once a barrier into a part of care, helping patients say “yes” to treatment without financial stress.
- Making credit access, care access
Did you know that over 45 million consumers are considered to be credit unserved or underserved in the United States, and may not qualify for financing?[4]
This group, sometimes called “credit invisible,” deserves access to care financing, too. Traditional credit scores are one-dimensional and often don’t take into account a person’s full financial history.
This is why I’m so passionate about innovations like Synchrony’s PRISM underwriting tool. It’s about opening doors for those historically overlooked. PRISM looks beyond a narrow score, using a broader, more human-centered view – from cash flow to rent payments – to offer a more complete picture of financial health. Crucially, this evaluation doesn’t impact credit scores, offering a respectful and accessible path forward.
PRISM is a powerful way to serve more patients and ensure no one is turned away by an outdated system.
- Enhancing operations for practices and patients
True innovation feels seamless and transforms without interrupting. CareCredit credit card functionality is embedded in 90% of dental practice management and patient relationship management software, enabling staff to offer financing directly within the platforms they already use.
The right financing partner should act as an extension of dental teams, integrated into the practice’s technology platforms, helping them focus on what they do best: care for patients. Practices embracing these solutions experience tangible benefits, better supporting staff and patients:
- Streamlined Workflows: Payment processing becomes part of the natural flow, not an added complication.
- Fast Payments, Healthier Practices: Prompt payments mean less financial stress for practices and consistent care for patients.
- Real-time Decisions: Quick credit prequalification decisions empower patients to make informed choices without delay, and with no impact to their credit score. Multi-source financing allows patients to easily connect with partner lenders if they don’t qualify for our solution.
- Reduced Administrative Burden: Staff spend less time on collections and more time connecting with patients.
Once these operational enhancements are in place, practices are better positioned to deploy solutions that directly address patient financial concerns.
By thoughtfully combining operational enhancements, dynamic financing solutions, and inclusive credit tools, we empower practices to thrive. The future of our industry is about health, dignity, and helping patients have the chance to say “yes” to the care they want.
Now, let’s make it happen – together.
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About Sonia Williams
About Sonia Williams, SVP & GM, Dental Practices at Synchrony
Sonia Williams is currently the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Dental division at Synchrony. Before stepping into this role, she led strategic initiatives for major clients in the apparel, furniture, and consumer electronics industries and held multiple positions in sales and marketing. Sonia has over 28 years of business leadership experience, including managing the TJX portfolio at Synchrony. She holds an MBA in marketing from Hofstra University and an undergraduate degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Sonia has been recognized with the 2023 Greg Pittman Leadership Award and is a leader in Synchrony’s Women’s Network+. She is also a member of The Executive Leadership Council C-Suite Academy.
Disclaimer
This content is subject to change without notice and offered for informational use only. You are urged to consult with your individual advisors with respect to any information presented. Synchrony and any of its affiliates, including CareCredit, (collectively, “Synchrony”) makes no representations or warranties regarding this content and accepts no liability for any loss or harm arising from the use of the information provided. Your receipt of this material constitutes your acceptance of these terms and conditions.
1 “The 2025 State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report.” Delta Dental, 2025. Retrieved from: https://www.deltadental.com/content/dam/ddpa/us/en/state-of-america%27s-oral-health-and-wellness-report/2025/State-of-Americas-Oral-Health-and-Wellness-Report.pdf.
2 “Dental Lifetime of Care Study.” Synchrony, 2023. (CareCredit is a Synchrony solution.) Retrieved from: https://www.carecredit.com/providers/insights/dental-lifetime-of-care-study/.
3 “The State of the U.S. Dental Economy: Q4 2025 Report.” American Dental Association, 2025. Retrieved from: https://www.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/ada-org/files/resources/research/hpi/state_us_dental_economy_q42025.pdf?rev=8b718466da3c4a32bcc42b0809efcbd3&hash=0613B5DD639FB3C3C47BDD8EDB98741D.
4 “Empowering Credit Inclusion: A Deeper Perspective on Credit Underserved and Unserved Consumers.” TransUnion, 2022. Retrieved from: https://newsroom.transunion.com/more-than-45-million-americans-are-either-credit-unserved-or-underserved—approximately-20-migrate-to-being-credit-active-every-two-years/.
