Financial Disclaimer: Financing is subject to credit approval by the respective lender — not by Mi Smile Family Dental. Terms, rates, fees, and availability may vary by applicant and state. The information below is sourced from CareCredit's and Sunbit's official websites and reflects publicly available terms as of March 2026. Always review the full lender agreement before applying. Mi Smile Family Dental does not guarantee approval.
Universal Financing Disclosure: Both CareCredit and Sunbit are third-party lenders — not Mi Smile Family Dental. Approval decisions are made solely by the lender. Subject to credit approval. Terms and availability may vary by applicant and state. Review the full lender agreement at the provider's website before applying. Mi Smile Family Dental does not receive referral fees from either lender.
At Mi Smile Family Dental, we accept Medicaid, most PPO insurance plans, and two third-party financing options for out-of-pocket amounts that insurance does not cover. Neither CareCredit nor Sunbit replaces your insurance — both help cover what your plan does not pay.
CareCredit — Healthcare Credit Card
Issued by Synchrony Bank · Subject to credit approval · Terms may vary by applicant and state
CareCredit is a healthcare credit card accepted at dental offices, optometrists, and other health providers. It is restricted to health and wellness expenses. Once approved, you can use available credit for future visits without reapplying.
6–24 mo
Promotional periods
$200+
Minimum purchase
26.99%
Standard APR (new accts)
Hard check
Credit inquiry applies
How CareCredit Promotional Financing Works
Short-term plans (6, 12, 18, or 24 months): Zero interest is charged on purchases of $200 or more when minimum monthly payments are made and the full balance is paid by the end of the promotional period.
Important — deferred interest: Interest accrues during the promotional period and will be charged retroactively to your account if the balance is not paid in full by the end of the promotional period. At 26.99% APR (standard rate for new accounts), this can be a significant amount. Treat the deadline as firm.
Longer-term plans (24–60 months): Available for larger purchases. These carry a reduced fixed APR — interest is not deferred on these plans. Minimum purchase thresholds apply.
Hard credit inquiry: Applying for CareCredit involves a hard credit check, which may temporarily affect your credit score.
Source: carecredit.com/dentistry/ and carecredit.com — Understanding Promotional Financing · Accessed March 2026. APR reflects new account standard rate. Existing cardholders: see your cardholder agreement. Subject to credit approval. Terms and availability may vary. Review full terms at carecredit.com before applying.
Apply at CareCredit.com
CareCredit — Healthcare Credit Card
Issued by Synchrony Bank · Subject to credit approval
CareCredit is a dedicated healthcare credit card accepted at dental offices, optometrists, veterinarians, and other health providers. It functions like a credit card but is restricted to health and wellness expenses. Once approved, you can use it for future visits without reapplying.
6–24 mo
Promotional periods
$200+
Minimum purchase
26.99%
Standard APR (new accts)
260K+
Locations nationwide
How the Promotional Financing Works
Short-term (6, 12, 18, or 24 months): No interest is charged on purchases of $200 or more if you pay the full balance by the end of the promotional period and make minimum monthly payments. Interest accrues during the promotional period but is waived if paid in full on time.
Important — deferred interest: If you do not pay the full balance by the end of the promotional period, interest that accrued during that period is added to your balance retroactively. This can result in a significant charge. The standard purchase APR for new accounts is 26.99% (minimum interest charge $2).
Longer-term plans (24, 36, 48, or 60 months): Available for larger purchases ($1,000+ for 24/36/48-month plans; $2,500+ for 60-month plans). These plans carry a reduced APR with fixed monthly payments — typically 14.9% to 16.9% APR depending on term and offer. Interest is not deferred on these plans.
Revolving credit: CareCredit is a revolving line of credit with no expiration. Once approved, you can use available credit for future dental visits or other health expenses without reapplying.
Hard credit check: Applying for CareCredit involves a hard credit inquiry, which may temporarily affect your credit score.
Source: CareCredit.com · carecredit.com/dentistry/ and carecredit.com — Understanding Promotional Financing · Accessed March 2026. APR figures reflect new account rates as of March 2026; existing cardholders should refer to their cardholder agreement. Not all promotional financing options are available at all providers. Ask our front desk team for current available options at our office.
Apply at CareCredit.com
Sunbit — Buy Now, Pay Over Time
Loans made by Transportation Alliance Bank (TAB Bank) · Subject to credit approval · Terms may vary by applicant and state
Sunbit is a point-of-sale financing platform that creates a separate installment loan for each purchase. Unlike CareCredit, it is not a revolving credit card. You apply in-office and receive a decision in approximately 30 seconds.
6–72 mo
Payment plan terms
87%
Approval rate (Sunbit.com, Mar 2026)
~30 sec
Application time
0–35.99%
APR range in Texas
How Sunbit Works
Repayment terms: Patients can choose to repay monthly over 6 to 72 months.
No hidden fees: There are no application fees, late fees, balloon interest, or prepayment penalties.
Fast, soft-check application: The application takes approximately 30 seconds without a hard credit check — applying does not affect your credit score.
High approval rate: Sunbit approves 87% of patients who apply, including those with limited or no credit history.
Interest applies on most plans: APR ranges from 0% to 35.99% in Texas depending on creditworthiness and loan amount. A down payment is required at checkout. Review total cost before accepting any offer.
Credit reporting: Payment activity is reported to a major credit bureau. On-time payments can help build your credit history.
Source: sunbit.com/merchant-benefits/dental/ and sunbit.com/how-it-works/ · Accessed March 2026. 87% approval rate per Sunbit.com, March 2026. Loans made by TAB Bank (NMLS ID 196745). Sunbit Now, LLC NMLS ID 1760582. Subject to credit approval. Terms and availability may vary. Review full terms at sunbit.com before applying.
Sunbit — Buy Now, Pay Over Time
Loans made by Transportation Alliance Bank (TAB Bank) · Subject to credit approval
Sunbit is a financial technology platform that offers point-of-sale payment plans at dental offices. Unlike CareCredit, Sunbit is not a revolving credit card — each purchase creates a separate installment loan. You apply in-office or at our front desk and receive a decision in approximately 30 seconds.
6–72 mo
Payment plan terms
87%
Approval rate
~30 sec
Application time
0–35.99%
APR range (TX)
How Sunbit Works
Soft credit check only: Applying does not affect your credit score. Sunbit uses a soft inquiry for the approval decision.
High approval rate: Sunbit approves approximately 87% of applicants who apply, including those with limited or no credit history. Source: Sunbit.com, accessed March 2026.
No application fees, no prepayment penalties: There are no fees to apply. You can pay off your balance early without penalty.
Interest applies: Most Sunbit plans carry interest. The APR ranges from 0% to 35.99% in Texas depending on creditworthiness and loan amount. A down payment is due at checkout. Example from Sunbit.com: a $885 purchase with 28.99% APR, $133.38 down payment, and a 6-month term would have monthly payments of $136.09 and a total cost of $949.93.
Credit reporting: Account openings and payment activity are reported to a major credit bureau. On-time payments can help build your credit history.
Purchase range: Sunbit plans are available for amounts from $50 to $20,000 at participating dental locations.
Source: Sunbit.com · sunbit.com/merchant-benefits/dental/ and sunbit.com/how-it-works/ · Accessed March 2026. 87% approval rate per Sunbit.com merchant page, March 2026. APR example from Sunbit.com consumer page. Actual terms depend on creditworthiness, state of residence, and other factors. Loans made by Transportation Alliance Bank, Inc. (TAB Bank), NMLS ID 196745. Sunbit Now, LLC NMLS ID 1760582. Not available in Vermont, West Virginia, or Wyoming.
CareCredit vs. Sunbit — Side by Side
Both options can help with out-of-pocket dental costs. They work differently — here is a plain-language comparison to help you decide which to ask about at your appointment.
CareCredit
- Revolving credit card — reuse for future visits
- No-interest option if paid in full during promo period
- Interest accrues retroactively if not paid in full
- Hard credit check — may affect credit score
- Accepted at 260,000+ locations nationwide
- Apply online or at our office
- Best if: you want reusable credit and can pay off during promo period
Sunbit
- Installment loan — one loan per purchase
- Interest applies on most plans (0–35.99% APR)
- No retroactive interest — you see the full cost upfront
- Soft credit check only — no credit score impact to apply
- 87% approval rate (per Sunbit.com, March 2026)
- Apply at our front desk in ~30 seconds
- Best if: you want a quick in-office decision and have limited or no credit
This comparison is for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available terms as of March 2026. Neither option guarantees approval or specific terms. Your actual rate, payment amount, and eligibility depend on your individual credit profile. Mi Smile Family Dental does not benefit differently from one option versus the other — we offer both to give patients choice. If you have questions about either option, ask our front desk team.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Approval for CareCredit or Sunbit is determined entirely by the lender — Synchrony Bank for CareCredit, and Transportation Alliance Bank for Sunbit. Mi Smile Family Dental has no role in the approval decision and cannot guarantee any specific outcome. Sunbit approves approximately 87% of applicants (per Sunbit.com, March 2026), but that means some applicants are not approved.
Yes. Both CareCredit and Sunbit are designed to cover out-of-pocket amounts that your insurance does not pay. For example, if your PPO plan covers 50% of a crown, you could use financing for the remaining 50%. We apply your insurance first and then you can apply financing to your portion.
If you do not pay the full balance by the end of your promotional period, Synchrony Bank will add all interest that accrued during the promotional period to your balance. This is called deferred interest. At the standard 26.99% APR (for new accounts), this can be a significant amount. We recommend treating the promotional period as a firm deadline if you choose CareCredit.
Applying for Sunbit involves only a soft credit inquiry, which does not affect your credit score. However, if you are approved and open an account, Sunbit reports your payment activity to a major credit bureau — so on-time payments can help build your credit, and missed payments could negatively affect it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Your Payment Options?
Our front desk team can walk you through CareCredit and Sunbit at your appointment. We will also verify your insurance benefits beforehand so you know exactly what your out-of-pocket amount will be.
Request An Appointment 832-779-5522