The Smile Generation Credit Card is a financing option offered by Comenity Bank in partnership with Smile Generation dental practices. It allows patients to spread the cost of their dental treatments over time with monthly payments. Here’s what you need to know:
Features:
- Financing for Smile Generation treatments: Use the card to pay for various dental procedures at Smile Generation offices, including crowns, bridges, dentures, implants, orthodontics, and more.
- Promotional financing options: Depending on your creditworthiness and the treatment details, you might qualify for promotional financing terms such as 0% interest for a limited period.
- Standard interest rates: After any promotional period ends, standard interest rates apply to your balance. Check the official terms and conditions for the current rates.
- Monthly payments: Make minimum monthly payments to manage your balance.
- Online account management: Manage your account, view statements, and make payments online.
Things to consider:
- Interest rates: Before applying, understand the potential interest rates and associated fees to make an informed decision. Consider alternative financing options or paying upfront if possible to avoid high-interest charges.
- Creditworthiness: You’ll need to meet specific creditworthiness criteria to qualify for the card.
- Limitations: The card can only be used at Smile Generation locations for dental treatments.
- Debt management: Using this card adds to your overall debt. Responsible management is crucial to avoid financial strain.
Alternatives:
- Direct payment plans: Smile Generation might offer direct financing plans with different terms and conditions. Discuss options with your dental professional.
- Personal loans: Explore personal loans from other lenders and compare interest rates and terms before choosing.
- Health savings accounts (HSAs): If you have an HSA, you might be able to use pre-tax funds to cover eligible dental expenses.
Resources:
- Smile Generation Financial page: https://comenity.net/smilegeneration/
- Comenity Bank customer service: 1-877-287-8879
Remember, carefully evaluate your financial situation and explore different options before deciding if the Smile Generation Credit Card is the right choice for you. It’s crucial to understand the interest rates, fees, and terms before committing to any debt.
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Where can I use a Smile Generation Financial credit card?
The key aspect to remember about the Smile Generation Financial credit card is that it can only be used at “Smile Generation Trusted offices,” a network of over 950 dental offices in the U.S. This means it is not a widely accepted credit card and cannot be used for general purchases like groceries or gas.
Here’s a summary of where you can use it:
- Smile Generation Trusted offices: These are dental practices affiliated with the Smile Generation network. You can find a list of participating locations on the Smile Generation website: [[invalid URL removed]]([invalid URL removed])
- Specifically for dental care: The card is designed to finance dental procedures like cleanings, fillings, crowns, and other treatments offered by these affiliated practices.
Important points to remember:
- No acceptance outside the Smile Generation network: This card cannot be used at any other merchants or businesses outside the Smile Generation network.
- Not a major credit card network: It doesn’t belong to any major credit card networks like Visa or Mastercard, so its acceptance is limited to these specific dental offices.
I hope this clarifies the limitations of where you can use the Smile Generation Financial credit card.
What is a smile generation financially?
Smile Generation Financially refers to two main things offered by Smile Generation, a network of affiliated dental offices:
1. A network of lending partners: This essentially combines various financing options for dental procedures at Smile Generation offices. They partner with trusted lenders to offer:
- Dental financing plans: These offer loans with varying terms like 0% interest for limited periods, low monthly payments, and extended repayment periods (up to 60 months) depending on your creditworthiness and treatment cost. You can pre-qualify for these plans online with a soft credit check that doesn’t impact your score.
- Smile Generation Financial Credit Card: This is a private-label credit card specifically designed for use at Smile Generation offices. It has benefits like no annual fees in the first year (then charged annually), special promotions and discounts, and the ease of financing your dental treatments directly. However, keep in mind its interest rates are generally higher than traditional credit cards, and there’s an annual fee after the first year.
2. Smile Generation Dental Plan: This isn’t directly related to financing, but it’s another option offered by Smile Generation. It’s a discount dental plan, not dental insurance. You pay an annual fee upfront instead of monthly premiums, and it provides significant discounts on dental services at any Smile Generation office. There are no deductibles or annual maximums, and you can use it immediately without waiting periods.
So, depending on your specific needs and financial situation, Smile Generation Financially offers various options to make dental care at their affiliated offices more affordable, either through financing plans, a credit card, or a discount dental plan.
What is the phone number for Smile Generation credit card payment?
The phone number for Smile Generation credit card payment depends on whether you want to make a payment or need assistance with your account. Here are the two options:
1. Make a payment:
If you simply want to make a payment on your Smile Generation credit card, you can use the following methods:
- Online: Log in to your Comenity Bank account online at https://www.comenity.net/comenitycard/.
- Phone: Call the Comenity Bank automated payment system at 1-800-695-9473.
- Mail: Send a check or money order along with your payment coupon to:
Comenity Bank
P.O. Box 659903
San Antonio, TX 78265-9903
2. Need assistance with your account:
If you need help with your account, such as reporting a lost or stolen card, changing your payment due date, or disputing a charge, you can contact Comenity Bank customer service at:
- Phone: Call 1-877-287-8879.
- Online: Send a message through the secure messaging center on your Comenity Bank account online.
I hope this helps! Remember, it’s important to keep your financial information safe and secure. Never share your credit card number or other personal information over the phone unless you initiated the call and are confident you’re speaking with a legitimate representative.
Who is the founder of Smile Brands?
Smile Brands wasn’t founded by a single individual, but rather by a management team in 1998. While there were several key players involved, the two most prominent figures were:
1. Steve Bilt: He serves as the CEO and co-founder of both Smile Brands and OneSmile, LLC. OneSmile was a separate company focused on dental services before merging with Smile Brands in 2016. Steve played a crucial role in Smile Brands’ early acquisitions and growth, including the Monarch Dental and Castle Dental acquisitions. He is recognized for his leadership and entrepreneurial achievements, receiving awards like the “Healthcare CEO of the Year” and “Entrepreneur of the Year.”
2. Brad Schmidt: He is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of both Smile Brands and OneSmile. He co-founded OneSmile alongside Steve and served as Smile Brands’ Vice President and Controller from 1998 to 2002, then as CFO for over a decade. Under his financial leadership, Smile Brands grew from a startup to a major dental support organization in the United States.
So, while Smile Brands doesn’t have a single founder, the leadership and vision of Steve Bilt and Brad Schmidt have been instrumental in its success and growth.
How many Smile Brands locations?
As of today, February 17, 2024, there are two different sets of information available on the number of Smile Brands locations:
1. Smile Brands official website: Their website states that they support nearly 700 affiliated dental offices across 30 states. This information can be found on their locations page here: [https://smilebrands.com/smile-brands-locations/]
2. Third-party data provider: ChainXY, a company that tracks business locations, listed 618 locations for Smile Brands Inc. as of January 8, 2024. You can find this information on their website here: [https://chainxy.com/products/smilebrands]
The slight discrepancy could be due to several factors:
- Date difference: The ChainXY data is slightly older than the information on Smile Brands’ website.
- Definition of “affiliated office”: Smile Brands may consider some locations affiliated for branding purposes while ChainXY uses different criteria.
- New partnerships: Smile Brands occasionally announces new partnerships with existing dental practices, which could add to their total number of locations.
So, while a precise number might be slightly elusive, it’s safe to say that Smile Brands has around 650-700 affiliated dental offices spread across 30 states in the US.
What is the revenue of Smile Brands?
The revenue of Smile Brands depends on the specific year and source you’re looking at. Here’s some information:
Most recent reported revenue:
- $1.5 billion: This is the figure reported by Zippia, a data science company, as Smile Brands’ peak revenue and its current estimated annual revenue (as of February 17, 2024).
Other reported figures:
- $456.5 million: This is from Smile Brands’ financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009. This is significantly lower than their current estimated revenue, reflecting their growth over the past decade.
- Information unavailable: Smile Brands is a privately held company and does not publicly release its financial statements. Therefore, recent and updated revenue figures might not be readily available.
Considerations:
- The most recent official revenue figure for Smile Brands might not be publicly available.
- Zippia’s estimated figure seems reasonable given Smile Brands’ size and growth trajectory.
- Be cautious of outdated or inaccurate information found online.
Hopefully, this clarifies the information about Smile Brands’ revenue. If you need more specific or official figures, it might be best to contact Smile Brands directly.