Dental practices process some of the highest-dollar card transactions in healthcare. A crown runs $1,000–$1,500. Implants cost $3,000–$5,000. Orthodontic treatment plans reach $5,000–$7,000. Even routine cleanings and fillings generate $200–$500 per visit when insurance doesn't cover the full amount.
When patients pay their portion by credit card — and increasingly, they do — your practice pays 2.5% to 3.5% on every dollar. For a dental office processing $50,000 to $150,000/month in patient card payments, that's **$15,000 to $63,000 annually** in processing fees.
The Dental Practice Processing Challenge
High-Dollar Patient Payments
Dental work is expensive, and patient responsibility is growing as insurance coverage becomes less comprehensive. More patients are paying larger amounts out of pocket — and putting those amounts on credit cards.
| Procedure | Patient Payment | Processing Fee (3%) |
|---|---|---|
| Routine cleaning (copay) | $50 | $1.50 |
| Filling (2 surfaces) | $250 | $7.50 |
| Crown | $1,200 | $36.00 |
| Root canal + crown | $2,200 | $66.00 |
| Implant | $4,000 | $120.00 |
| Orthodontic down payment | $2,500 | $75.00 |
A single implant payment costs your practice $120 in processing. That's pure overhead.
Premium Cards Are Common
Dental patients — especially those paying for elective and cosmetic procedures — frequently use rewards and premium credit cards. These carry higher interchange rates, pushing your effective rate above the baseline.
Payment Plans Multiply Transactions
Many practices offer in-house payment plans for large treatments. A $6,000 orthodontic case split into 12 monthly payments means 12 separate card transactions, each carrying per-transaction fees. The total processing cost on that case could exceed $200.
Network Offset Pricing for Dental Practices
With Network Offset Pricing, patient statements and payment screens display both a cash/check price and a card price. Patients choose their preferred payment method with full transparency.
Patient payment example:
| Treatment Balance | Cash/Check | Card |
|---|---|---|
| $250 (filling) | $250.00 | $260.00 |
| $1,200 (crown) | $1,200.00 | $1,248.00 |
| $4,000 (implant) | $4,000.00 | $4,160.00 |
Patient Acceptance in Dental
- Patients expect professionalism, not hidden fees. Showing both prices is more professional than silently building processing costs into treatment fees.
- Many patients switch to check or ACH. Dental payments are planned, not impulse purchases. Given a clear price difference, many patients opt for lower-cost payment methods.
- Cosmetic and elective patients are less price-sensitive. Patients choosing veneers or whitening are not going to change providers over a 4% payment difference.
- Your front desk handles it easily. One brief explanation during checkout is all it takes.
The Numbers
| Monthly Patient Card Payments | Annual Processing (3%) | With Network Offset Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $14,400 | ~$0 |
| $75,000 | $27,000 | ~$0 |
| $120,000 | $43,200 | ~$0 |
| $200,000 | $72,000 | ~$0 |
Multi-Practice Dental Groups
| Locations | Monthly Volume/Location | Annual Cost (2.8%) | With NOP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | $75,000 | $75,600 | ~$0 |
| 5 | $75,000 | $126,000 | ~$0 |
| 10 | $75,000 | $252,000 | ~$0 |
What the Savings Mean for Your Practice
- New dental equipment (digital X-ray, CEREC machine, intraoral scanner)
- Additional operatory buildout
- Marketing for new patient acquisition
- Staff bonuses and retention
- Higher take-home for practice owners
$120
in processing. That's pure overhead.
Get Started
The first step to reducing your processing costs is understanding exactly what you are paying today. Request a free statement analysis and we will show you a side-by-side comparison of your current costs versus what you could save with Network Offset Pricing.