What Are Patient Financing Fees in a Dental Practice?
Patient Financing Fees are the charges a dental practice pays to a third-party finance provider when offering patients the option to spread the cost of treatment over instalments.
These fees are typically a percentage of the treatment value and are deducted from the practice’s payout.
Why Do Patient Financing Fees Matter for Dental Practice Owners?
Patient finance schemes boost treatment acceptance rates for high-value procedures (e.g., Invisalign, implants, cosmetic work). But they come at a cost:
- Fees reduce the net revenue per case
- Poor tracking can distort treatment profitability
- Owners may misprice treatment if financing fees aren’t factored into margins
Example:
- £5,000 implant treatment financed over 24 months
- Finance fee: 7% = £350
- Net received by practice = £4,650
Without adjusting pricing, the £350 cost silently reduces profit.
How Are Patient Financing Fees Structured?
| Fee Type | Description |
| Percentage of Treatment | Most common — 5%–10% of treatment value |
| Flat Fee Per Application | Less common, fixed admin fee |
| Interest Subsidy | Practice absorbs interest cost to offer “0% finance” |
How Does DentPulse Manage Patient Financing Fees?
| Feature | Function |
| Treatment Profitability Index™ | Automatically deducts financing fees from treatment margins |
| Scenario Planning | Models impact of offering 0% vs interest-bearing finance |
| Profit-to-Pocket™ Overlay | Shows how financing costs reduce owner take-home |
| PulseBenchmark™ | Compares financing fee spend against top-performing practices |
DentPulse ensures patient finance drives growth, not margin erosion.
DentPulse Tip™
“Patient finance should open doors, not leak profit.
Always price high-value treatments with financing fees built in.”
Related Glossary Terms
- Treatment Profitability Index™ – tracks net margin per treatment after all costs
- Treatment Acceptance Rate – boosted by patient financing
- Profit-to-Pocket™ – links treatment-level costs to owner take-home
- PulseBenchmark™ – industry-standard comparisons for cost efficiency
- Variable Costs – includes financing fees, lab costs, and materials
Glossary Summary Table
| Term | Meaning |
| Patient Financing Fees | Costs paid to finance providers for offering instalment plans |
| Purpose | Enable high-value case acceptance while protecting margins |
| DentPulse Advantage | Auto-tracks financing fees inside treatment profitability dashboards |
