Insurance We Accept and Financing That Actually Works
Valley Family Dental is in-network with 12 dental insurance carriers in Fort Smith, AR. CareCredit, Cherry, and Proceed Finance financing, plus HSA and FSA.
We are in-network with twelve carriers
Being in-network means we have a contracted fee with your insurance company, which almost always means you pay less than you would at an out-of-network office.
- Aetna
- America's
- Assurant
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Cigna
- Sun Life
- Guardian
- MetLife
- United Concordia
- Healthchoice
- Delta Dental Premier
- Principal
Not sure which category your plan falls into? Call us with your card in hand. Fort Smith (479) 226-3500, Roland (918) 503-6262. We will look it up while you are on the phone.
If your plan is not on that list, you can still come here
Most dental plans include out-of-network benefits, and many of them pay a similar percentage either way. The difference is usually in the fee the plan considers allowable, not in whether it pays at all.
Here is how we handle it. We verify your benefits before your appointment, we file the claim for you, and we tell you your estimated out-of-pocket cost in writing before treatment starts. You are not doing paperwork and you are not getting surprised at checkout.
An estimate is an estimate. Insurance companies make final determinations after the claim is processed, and occasionally they land somewhere different than what they quoted us. When that happens we tell you right away rather than letting it show up on a statement two months later.
Three financing options, and what each one is actually good for
We work with three lenders because they solve three different problems.
CareCredit — the everyday option No-interest plans over 6, 12, 18, or 24 months on purchases of $200 or more, if you pay the balance in full within the promotional period. For larger cases, extended plans run 24 to 60 months at 14.90% to 17.90% APR. This is the right tool for a crown, a root canal, or a filling schedule you would rather spread across a year without paying interest.
Cherry — the fast one Approval in about 30 seconds. If you are sitting in the chair and just found out you need work you were not planning on, this is the one that gets an answer before you leave. Soft credit check to see your options.
Proceed Finance — the big-case option Terms up to 96 months, rates starting at 3.99%, with payments starting around $157 a month. This is built for full-arch implants, All-on-4, and full-mouth reconstruction, where the number is large enough that a 24-month plan is not realistic. Stretching a major case over eight years at a single-digit rate is what makes it possible for a lot of people.
Approval, rates, and terms are set by each lender and depend on your credit. We do not make the decision and we do not see your credit file. Applying takes a few minutes and we can help you do it at the front desk.
Yes, use your HSA or FSA here
Dental treatment is a qualified medical expense, so your HSA or FSA card works for it. That includes cleanings, fillings, crowns, root canals, extractions, dentures, implants, and in many cases orthodontics.
Two practical notes. FSA funds usually expire at the end of the plan year, so if you have a balance sitting there in November, that is the moment to schedule the work you have been postponing. And HSA dollars are pre-tax, which effectively discounts your treatment by whatever your tax rate is. Check your plan documents for what qualifies. We are dentists, not tax advisors.
What we take at the front desk
Credit cards, debit cards, cash, and checks. HSA and FSA cards. Payment in full at the time of service, or a financed plan set up in advance.
If you are on our Smile Savers membership, you can pay annually or monthly.
Payment is due at the time of service unless you have arranged financing in advance, and we will always tell you the number before we start. If insurance is expected to pay part of it, you pay your estimated portion that day and we bill the rest to your carrier. When the claim comes back paying more than we estimated, you get a refund. When it pays less, we tell you why and what your options are. Nobody here is going to hand you a surprise on the way out the door.
If you have no dental insurance at all
Do not disappear. This is the most common reason people stop coming in, and it is the most fixable one.
Our Smile Savers membership plan costs $440 a year for one person, which is $36.67 a month. It covers two comprehensive or periodic exams, two limited exams, all needed X-rays, two cleanings, and fluoride, and it takes 20% off comprehensive treatment. There is no deductible, no waiting period, and no annual maximum. You can enroll and use it the same day.
Family pricing runs to five members. Two people are $770 a year, four are $1,430, and five are $1,755, which is $351 per person.
For anything the membership excludes, which is implants, CT scans, and orthodontics, the financing options above apply. Between the two, most people can get the care they need on a schedule that works.
The one thing that never works is waiting. Dental problems do not stabilize. They get more expensive on a predictable curve.
Common questions.
Do you take my insurance?
We are in-network with Aetna, America's, Assurant, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Sun Life, Guardian, MetLife, United Concordia, Healthchoice, Delta Dental Premier, and Principal. If yours is not listed, we will still file for you as an out-of-network provider.
Will you tell me what I owe before you start?
Yes. We verify benefits ahead of time and give you a written estimate of your out-of-pocket cost before treatment begins.
What if I cannot afford the whole treatment plan?
We sequence it. The urgent work first, the rest on a timeline you can manage. Combine that with CareCredit or Cherry and most plans become workable. Ask us to lay it out for you.
Do you offer in-house payment plans?
We use CareCredit, Cherry, and Proceed Finance rather than carrying balances ourselves, because their no-interest and low-rate options usually cost you less than a practice payment plan would.
Can I use my FSA before it expires?
Yes, and you should. Call us in the fall if you have a balance to use, and we will find appointment time before your plan year closes.
Is the Smile Savers plan insurance?
No. It is an in-house membership plan with published pricing, no deductibles, no waiting periods, and no annual maximums.
Request your appointment.
Four questions. Our care team calls you back within one business day. If you are in pain right now, call the office directly and we will get you seen.