SARATOGA SPRINGS
Financial Information for New Patients
Clear answers about costs, payment options, and insurance before your first visit.
At Saratoga Smiles, we believe financial concerns should never prevent you from receiving the care you need. As a fee-for-service practice, we provide transparent pricing, discuss costs before treatment begins, and offer flexible options to help you manage your investment in long-term dental health. This page explains how our financial process works so you can make informed decisions with confidence.
QUICK ANSWER
Saratoga Smiles is a fee-for-service practice. You pay directly for care at the time of service. We provide detailed documentation for insurance reimbursement, offer third-party financing through trusted partners, and discuss all costs transparently before any treatment begins.
How Our Fee-for-Service Model Works
Fee-for-service means your treatment is guided entirely by clinical judgment, not by what an insurance plan will or will not cover. This allows our doctors to recommend what is genuinely appropriate for your oral health without external limitations on materials, techniques, or time spent with you.
While we do not bill insurance companies directly, many patients with dental insurance submit claims and receive partial reimbursement. Our team provides all necessary documentation, including procedure codes and detailed receipts, to make the reimbursement process as straightforward as possible.
Transparent Treatment Estimates
Before any work begins, we provide a clear breakdown of recommended procedures, associated costs, and expected timelines. There are no surprise charges or hidden fees.
Insurance Reimbursement Support
We prepare detailed documentation so you can submit claims to your insurance provider. Many patients receive partial reimbursement for covered procedures. Our team can answer questions about the claims process.
Third-Party Financing
We partner with Cherry for patient financing. Cherry offers 0% APR options for qualified patients, fast approval, and no down payment required. You can check your rate in minutes without affecting your credit score. See the Cherry section below for monthly payment examples and direct apply link.
Phased Treatment Planning
For extensive treatment needs, we can develop a phased plan that prioritizes the most important work first and distributes costs across multiple visits over a manageable timeline.
No Unnecessary Treatment
Our conservative approach means we only recommend what is clinically necessary. We do not upsell procedures or push treatments that do not serve your long-term health. This approach often reduces overall costs.
Who This Information Helps
If you are a new patient considering Saratoga Smiles, understanding our financial model helps you plan ahead. Patients who have previously relied on insurance-driven practices may find our approach different but ultimately more transparent and more aligned with their actual dental needs.
This information is also relevant if you are comparing fee-for-service care to insurance-based practices. Many patients find that while the upfront cost structure is different, the long-term value of receiving the right treatment the first time reduces the need for repeat work and unexpected expenses.
If cost is a concern, we encourage you to discuss it openly during your consultation. We will work with you to find a path forward that respects both your oral health needs and your financial situation.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Your Experience
Pre-Visit Financial Discussion
Before your first appointment, our team can answer general questions about costs and payment options. We want you to feel informed before you arrive.
Treatment Estimate at Your Consultation
After your initial examination, we provide a detailed estimate for any recommended treatment. We explain what each procedure involves, why it is recommended, and what it costs.
Flexible Payment Arrangement
Once you decide to proceed, we help you choose the payment approach that works best — whether that is paying at the time of service, applying for financing, or developing a phased treatment schedule.
Accessible Care for Saratoga Springs Families
We understand that dental care is a significant investment for families in the Saratoga Springs area. Our goal is to make high-quality dentistry accessible through honest pricing, flexible payment options, and a commitment to recommending only the treatment you actually need. We are here to answer any financial questions before, during, or after your care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you accept dental insurance?
We are a fee-for-service practice and do not bill insurance directly. However, we provide complete documentation so you can submit claims to your insurance company for reimbursement. Many patients receive partial coverage for eligible procedures.
How much will my first visit cost?
The cost of your initial visit depends on the examination and any diagnostic imaging required. We can provide a general estimate when you schedule your appointment. All costs are discussed before any work is performed.
What financing options are available?
We work with third-party financing partners that offer payment plans with various term lengths. You can check eligibility quickly without affecting your credit score. Our team can walk you through the options during your visit.
Can I pay over time for larger treatments?
Yes. For extensive treatment plans, we can develop a phased approach that distributes both the work and the cost over multiple visits. Third-party financing is also available for patients who prefer monthly payments.
Why is fee-for-service often better value?
Insurance plans often limit the materials and techniques a dentist can use. Fee-for-service care allows us to use the best available materials and spend appropriate time on each procedure, which typically means work lasts longer and requires fewer repairs over time.
Have questions about costs or payment options? Contact us before your visit. We are happy to discuss financial details so you can plan with confidence.
Patient financing
How patients pay for care at Saratoga Smiles
You have four practical ways to cover treatment, in roughly this order of patient frequency: Cherry patient financing, HSA/FSA pre-tax dollars, dental insurance reimbursement, and (for medically necessary cases) medical insurance. Here’s how each works at Saratoga Smiles.
Cherry — our patient financing partner
Cherry offers 0% APR options for qualified patients with fast approval and no down payment required. Approval is typically returned within minutes, and you can use Cherry for any treatment scope — single tooth restoration, implant work, full-mouth rehabilitation, or anything in between.
Example monthly payments (Cherry promotional rates, qualified patients, 60-month term):
- $5,000 treatment — approximately $90–$105 per month
- $15,000 treatment — approximately $280–$315 per month
- $30,000 treatment — approximately $560–$625 per month
- $45,000 treatment — approximately $840–$935 per month
Actual rates depend on your approval, term length, and chosen plan. Apply through Cherry to see your specific options — checking does not affect your credit score.
HSA and FSA pre-tax dollars
Dental treatment is an eligible expense for Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). If you have an HSA or FSA through your employer or health plan, you can use those pre-tax dollars to cover treatment at our office. For most patients in the 22–37% federal tax bracket, that’s effectively a 22–37% discount on the post-tax cost. If your FSA expires at year-end, scheduling treatment before December 31st can save you from forfeiting unused funds.
Dental insurance and reimbursement
We are a fee-for-service practice, which means we do not bill insurance directly. However, many patients with dental insurance receive partial reimbursement by submitting claims themselves — and we make that process as simple as possible.
At consultation we review your specific plan, walk through what it likely covers (cleanings, exams, some restorative work, often a portion of crowns), and identify your remaining annual maximum. After treatment, we provide an itemized invoice with all procedure codes formatted exactly the way your insurance company expects. You submit, they reimburse you directly.
Why we don’t bill insurance directly: insurance contracts dictate which materials, techniques, and time we can use. Fee-for-service preserves the freedom to recommend what’s clinically appropriate for you, not what fits inside an insurance reimbursement maximum.
Medical insurance for medically-necessary care
Some dental treatment qualifies as medically necessary — treatment following accident or trauma, certain reconstructive work after disease, sleep apnea oral appliances, or treatment tied to a specific medical condition. In those cases, your medical insurance (separate from dental) may cover a portion of the cost. We help patients identify when this applies and prepare the documentation needed to submit for medical reimbursement.
Get a written estimate before any work begins
Every patient at Saratoga Smiles receives a written cost estimate before treatment begins. The number you see is the number you pay — no surprise add-ons, no insurance-driven scope creep. If financing makes the treatment more manageable, we’ll walk through your options at consultation.
Reviewed by Dr. Richard Dennis and Dr. Cody Gorman, Saratoga Smiles, Saratoga Springs, NY.