How to pay in instalments for dental treatment
Cost should not be the reason you put off treatment you need. Here is how buy now, pay later works for dental care in Sharjah, what you can use it for and how to use it wisely.
Spreading the cost, sensibly
Many people delay dental treatment because of the upfront cost, and small problems quietly turn into bigger, more expensive ones. Buy now, pay later services have made it much easier to pay in instalments for treatment such as braces, veneers, crowns and whitening, especially when insurance doesn’t cover them.
At Al Jazeera Dental Clinic you can pay in instalments with Tabby, Tamara or Toothpick. This guide explains how each works in general terms, what treatments people use them for, how to combine instalments with insurance, and some sensible questions to ask before you commit.
Three ways to pay in instalments
Tabby
A buy now, pay later service that splits eligible payments into smaller instalments, subject to Tabby’s approval and terms.
Tamara
Another buy now, pay later option that lets you pay over time, subject to Tamara’s approval and terms.
Toothpick
A dental-focused platform for booking and paying for dental care, including payment plans where available.
How buy now, pay later works
When you choose to pay in instalments, the provider pays the clinic and you repay the provider over an agreed schedule. Approval, limits and the terms you see are decided by each provider, usually through their app at checkout. Always read the schedule and any fees shown before you confirm. We don’t add anything to the price of your treatment when you use these services; the treatment cost in your written plan stays the same.
What people use instalments for
The most common reason to pay in instalments is treatment that insurance usually does not cover, or the co-payment on a larger plan. Orthodontic treatment such as braces and clear aligners is a typical example, because it runs over many months. Cosmetic treatment like veneers, a Hollywood smile or whitening is another. Some patients use instalments for crowns, bridges or dentures when their plan pays only part of the cost.
Often used for
- Braces and clear aligners
- Veneers and Hollywood smile
- Teeth whitening
- Crowns, bridges and dentures
- Your share of a larger plan
Combining insurance and instalments
If your insurance covers part of your treatment, such as fillings or root canal therapy, we claim that part first. You can then pay in instalments for your share, or for any treatment your plan excludes. Your written plan shows clearly what insurance is expected to pay and what you pay, so you can decide how to split it. We accept FMC, NGI, Inayah, Aafiya, SAICO / Damana, GlobeMed, MSH, Fazaa and Esaad. See our guide to dental insurance in the UAE.
Not sure what you need?
Get a free check-up and X-ray. A dentist explains your options and gives you the cost in writing. Open until 10 PM on Al Khan Street, Al Majaz.
Why spreading the cost can save money
Dental problems rarely stay the same size. A small cavity treated now with a filling can become a root canal and crown if it is left for a year. Gums that bleed today can become gum disease that needs deeper cleaning. When people can pay in instalments, they are more likely to treat problems early, which is almost always cheaper and more comfortable than waiting.
Questions to ask before you commit
Instalments are a useful tool, but they are still a commitment. Before you pay in instalments for any purchase, check the total amount, the number and size of payments, the dates, and what happens if a payment is late. Make sure the payments fit comfortably within your monthly budget. If you’re unsure, ask us to stage your treatment so you start with the most urgent work first.
Check before you confirm
- The total amount
- Number and size of payments
- Payment dates
- Any fees shown by the provider
- What happens if a payment is late
How to pay in instalments with us
Free consultation
We examine your teeth and explain what you need and why.
Written plan
You get the full treatment plan and cost in writing.
Choose how to pay
Insurance, cash or card, or pay in instalments with Tabby, Tamara or Toothpick.
Start treatment
Once you are happy with the plan and payments, we begin.
Staging treatment to fit your budget
If you need several treatments, we can plan them in stages. Urgent problems such as pain, infection or a broken tooth come first. Less urgent work, such as replacing old fillings or cosmetic improvements, can follow over the coming weeks or months. Staging can be combined with insurance limits and instalments so the total feels manageable and nothing important is left untreated.
Transparent pricing first
Whichever way you pay, you should know the full cost before treatment starts. At Al Jazeera Dental Clinic your consultation and X-ray are free, and every plan is given in writing. Nothing is added once you are in the chair. Read our guides to the braces cost and Hollywood smile cost in Sharjah for examples of what affects the price. For general consumer guidance on buy now, pay later, the Central Bank of the UAE publishes information for consumers.
Example: planning braces over a year
Imagine a teenager who needs fixed braces for about eighteen months, and a family plan that covers only part of the orthodontic cost. At the free assessment we explain the treatment, give the full cost in writing and check the insurance benefit. The family can then pay in instalments for the remaining share rather than paying it all at the start. Adjustment visits, retainers and repairs are listed in the plan, so there are no surprise bills halfway through.
The same approach works for adults choosing clear aligners, or for a smile makeover that combines whitening and veneers.
The plan shows
- Total treatment cost
- What insurance is expected to pay
- Your share
- How you choose to pay it
- What is included, such as retainers
Family treatment and instalments
Families often have several dental needs at once: a check-up and clean for parents, fillings for a child, braces for a teenager. Booking everyone together saves time, and a single written plan for the family makes it easier to see the total, decide what to do first and choose whether to pay in instalments for the larger items. Routine care such as check-ups and cleans is usually covered by insurance, so it’s worth using those benefits every six months while spreading the cost of bigger treatment.
When it’s better not to borrow
Instalments are helpful, but they are not right for everyone. If repayments would put pressure on essential bills, it’s better to stage treatment or start with the most urgent work only. We’re always happy to discuss a smaller first step, such as treating pain and infection now and planning cosmetic work later. Good dental care should improve your life, not add financial stress, and our team will never push you to pay in instalments if a simpler plan suits you better. Ask us for a staged plan whenever you need one.
Emergencies and instalments
Dental emergencies are, by definition, unplanned. If you arrive with severe pain, a broken tooth or swelling, our first priority is to relieve the pain and treat the infection. Most emergency care is covered by insurance plans with dental benefits. If further treatment is needed, such as a crown after a root canal, we give you the plan in writing and you can choose to pay in instalments for the part that isn’t covered, so a sudden problem does not have to become a financial shock. See our emergency dentist page for what to do when it hurts.
Instalment questions
Can I pay in instalments for dental treatment?
Does paying in instalments cost more at the clinic?
Which treatments can I pay for in instalments?
Can I use insurance and instalments together?
Do I need to decide at the consultation?
Want to spread the cost?
Free consultation, written plan, and the option to pay in instalments.
About our clinic
Written by the dental team at Al Jazeera Dental Clinic, a family clinic on Al Khan Street, Al Majaz 3, Sharjah, looking after Sharjah families since 1998, and medically reviewed by Dr Ranjeet Kumar, Medical Director (BDS, Diploma in Endodontics), October 2026. This is general information, not a diagnosis. If something feels wrong, come in and let us look.
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