When Credit Meets Care: Powering Patient Access with Synchrony PRISM

Dental care is foundational to our overall health and quality of life — but affordability challenges are creating a growing crisis of access to dental care. When cost or credit stands in the way, we risk widening health disparities and leaving patients without the care they want. In fact, nearly half of U.S. adults reported worrying about paying for necessary healthcare this year, and 92% of respondents in Synchrony’s Dental Lifetime of Care study said they’ve considered delaying dental care due to cost.

At Synchrony, addressing barriers is part of our DNA. As Senior Vice President and General Manager of Dental Practices, my focus is on tackling financial barriers to care through innovative financing solutions. CareCredit, powered by Synchrony PRISM, enables credit decisions using an enhanced view into the financial health of patients, expanding access and increasing treatment acceptance for practices. In turn, this ultimately makes a more inclusive healthcare system possible for everyone. It’s an approach that informs every part of my work and sets Synchrony apart.

The Impact of Credit Decisioning Innovation

When patients can’t access financing and treatment is delayed, care may become fragmented, and practices miss opportunities to deliver needed services. That’s a public health issue.

Millions of responsible consumers are “credit invisible,” meaning they don’t have enough traditional credit history to qualify for financing. This group includes young adults, recent immigrants, and people who rely primarily on cash or debit. They have steady income, responsible financial habits, and a strong desire to pursue care, but traditional lending models overlook them.

Fortunately, financial technology is revolutionizing how we assess creditworthiness. At Synchrony, our next-generation proprietary credit decisioning systems (PRISM) goes beyond the traditional one-dimensional credit score by incorporating alternative data like rent payments, cash flow patterns, and purchasing behavior to better understand a patient’s real financial creditworthiness. The platform evaluates 20,000+ data points to give a fuller, more complete and human view of financial health. Factors such as stability in checking and savings account balances and consistent bill payments add important context to customer behavior and paint a full picture of someone’s financial history. 

This allows us to identify individuals who might be “credit invisible” yet are fully capable of managing payments responsibly, resulting in better credit decisions. Ultimately, this enables dental practices to connect more patients with financing options that are transparent, predictable, and tailored to each patient’s situation.

Speed also makes a difference. Unlike traditional credit reports that can be weeks or months old, Synchrony PRISM uses real-time insights to deliver faster, more accurate decisions. With a customer-centric approach, agile teams continuously refine the platform to better understand each patient’s financial picture. This isn’t just about approving more applications. It’s about making care more inclusive, predictable for practices and empowering for patients.

Why It Matters

“At Synchrony, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to say ‘yes’ to desired care,” said Max Axler, Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer at Synchrony. “Expanding credit access isn’t just good business. It’s good health. Synchrony PRISM gives us a comprehensive financial picture, so we can responsibly extend financing to more individuals who want it.”

For dental practices, the benefits of inclusive credit decisioning can extend beyond patient care. When patients can say yes to treatment confidently, case acceptance improves, and scheduling becomes more predictable. Staff spend less time on collections and more time focused on care. Prequalification tools also allow patients to explore options without affecting their credit, giving them clarity and confidence before committing to treatment. 

CareCredit integrates seamlessly within 90% of dental practices’ patient management systems through partnerships with leading independent software vendors (ISVs). This simplifies financial processes and empowers care teams, supporting growth at scale.

By designing systems that meet people where they are — financially and emotionally — we can foster stronger patient relationships and enhance operational efficiency for practices while making care more human and accessible.  It’s about consistent inclusion — not a one-off initiative, but a core principle guiding how we approach health, leadership and patient experience.

Looking Ahead

Ultimately, true innovation in dental financing means cultivating systems where every patient can confidently pursue the care they want, and every practice delivers it without hesitation.

When we expand credit access and remove barriers, we don’t just improve dental outcomes; we empower patients, strengthen practices, and reinforce that everyone deserves the chance to say yes to care — without compromise.

Disclaimer

This content is subject to change without notice and offered for informational use only. You are urged to consult with your individual advisors with respect to any information presented. Synchrony and any of its affiliates, including CareCredit, (collectively, “Synchrony”) makes no representations or warranties regarding this content and accepts no liability for any loss or harm arising from the use of the information provided. Your receipt of this material constitutes your acceptance of these terms and conditions.

About Sonia Williams, SVP & GM, Dental Practices at Synchrony

Sonia Williams is currently the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Dental division at Synchrony. Before stepping into this role, she led strategic initiatives for major clients in the apparel, furniture, and consumer electronics industries and held multiple positions in sales and marketing. Sonia has over 28 years of business leadership experience, including managing the TJX portfolio at Synchrony. She holds an MBA in marketing from Hofstra University and an undergraduate degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Sonia has been recognized with the 2023 Greg Pittman Leadership Award and is a leader in Synchrony’s Women’s Network+. She is also a member of The Executive Leadership Council C-Suite Academy.