Dental Financing: Best Dental Loans of 2026

How do dental loans work?

A dental loan can be a fast and flexible way to pay for expensive dental expenses not covered by insurance. Procedures a dental loan might cover include implants, braces or oral surgery.

Most dental loans are unsecured personal loans offered by an online lender, bank or credit union that can be used for any purpose, including dental care. Personal loan rates generally range from 7% to 36%, and terms are from two to seven years.

To qualify you, lenders consider your credit score, income and existing debts. If approved for a dental loan, you’ll receive the money in a lump sum in your bank account, typically within a few days. You then use the loan proceeds to pay for dental or orthodontic care. Going forward, you’ll make fixed monthly payments to your lender until the end of the loan term.

Each type of lender has different borrower requirements, rates and loan terms. It’s best to pre-qualify with multiple lenders to compare potential loan offers and find a monthly payment that fits your budget.

NerdWallet’s picks for the best dental loans

Our list includes lenders with different credit score requirements as well as consumer-friendly features like low rates and fast funding. Here’s more on what makes these lenders stand out.

LendingClub: Best overall for dental loans

LendingClub offers an all-around solid personal loan. We like its relatively low minimum credit score requirement and broad range of loan amounts that can cover small to large dental expenses. It also approves applications fast and can fund your loan within 24 hours.

One thing we don’t like is LendingClub may charge an origination fee up to 8%.

SoFi: Best for good to excellent credit

SoFi’s rates start a bit higher than competitors, but it offers a couple discounts that can lower your rate. We also like that SoFi offers joint loans, which give you the option to add a co-borrower to your loan and potentially receive an even lower rate.

Note that SoFi’s minimum loan amount is $5,000, so it’s not a good option for smaller dental bills.

Upgrade: Best for fair to bad credit

Year after year we choose Upgrade for our best-of lists. That’s because it accepts a range of credit scores, offers multiple rate discounts and can quickly approve and fund your loan. It also lets you apply with a co-signer or collateral —, options that can boost your chances of qualifying.

One drawback is Upgrade charges an origination fee that subtracts from the amount you receive and adds to your loan cost.

LightStream: Best for low rates and no fees

LightStream is among the few online lenders that charge zero fees. Pair that with its relatively low rates, and it might be the least expensive loan on our list. But only borrowers with strong credit — at least 660 — have a chance of qualifying and getting those low rates.

Upstart: Instant approval and next-day funding

Not only does Upstart fund loans fast, it also doesn’t require you to have good credit or a long credit history. We also like Upstart’s wide range of loan amounts, starting at $1,000.

You’ll likely pay an origination fee, up to 12%, which is higher than any other lender we review.

Universal Credit: Best for no minimum income requirement

Universal Credit is among a handful of lenders that don’t have a minimum income requirement. It also has low minimum credit score requirements. But you’ll have to rely on only your credentials; Universal Credit doesn’t accept co-applicants or collateral.

Best Egg: Best for secured loans

If you need the benefit of a secured loan, Best Egg lets you pledge a vehicle or permanent fixtures in your home to back your loan. You may get a lower rate with a secured loan, but you also risk losing your property if you can’t repay the loan.

» MORE: Best medical loans

How to compare personal loans for dental work

APR and fees. A personal loan's annual percentage rate can be higher than its interest rate because it reflects the entire cost of a loan, including any fees. Some lenders charge origination fees ranging from 1% to 10% of the loan amount. Other possible fees include late payment and returned payment fees.

Borrower requirements. Some lenders have minimum income or credit score requirements. Or they may allow a maximum amount of debt compared to your income, expressed as a debt-to-income ratio.

» MORE: What are the requirements for a personal loan?

Time to fund. While some lenders offer same-day funding, others can take up to a week. You can speed up the application process by gathering all the required documents before applying and promptly responding to lender questions.

Repayment term. A longer loan term can mean smaller monthly payments, but it can also result in more interest over the life of the loan.

For example, a $2,500 loan with a five-year term and 8% APR will require a $51 monthly payment and cost $541 in total interest. The same loan with a seven-year term would put the monthly payment at $39 but cost $773 in interest.

Estimate your loan payments

Use our calculator to see what your monthly payment might be, based on the loan amount, APR and term.

How to apply for a dental loan

Once approved, depending on the lender, it could take anywhere from a day to a week to receive your loan funds.

Dental loans for bad credit

Borrowers with fair or bad credit (a score in the low 600s or lower) can apply for a dental loan, but you’ll likely get a rate on the high end of a lender’s APR range.

Some bad-credit lenders may look beyond credit score and consider other factors like cash flow, employment and education history, which can boost your chances of approval.

Avoid loans with APRs above 36%, which is the maximum rate deemed affordable by financial experts and consumer advocates. A three-year, $3,000 loan with a 36% APR costs almost $2,000 in interest.If you have bad credit, consider a co-signed, joint or secured loan to receive a lower rate.

» MORE: How to get a personal loan with bad credit

Alternative dental financing options

Personal loans can be an expensive way to finance dental work, so weigh other options before applying for a loan.

Here are alternative ways to fund dental work:

Financing through your dentist. Some dentists offer in-house payment plans for patients facing hefty bills. However, a growing number of providers are now partnering with third-party companies to offer financing instead of working out payment plans directly with patients. Before you sign an agreement, make sure you understand whether you’ll owe your dentist or a financing company.

Payment plans can be a good option if you don’t have insurance or would rather make monthly payments toward the procedure. You may be charged interest or a fee for setting up a payment plan.

You may also be able to negotiate a lower cost with your provider. Check the prices in your area using a site like fairhealthconsumer.org, and see how your dentist's costs compare.

Dental school. Dental schools offer procedures at reduced prices so students can get experience under the supervision of skilled dentists. You can check the American Dental Association’s list of dental programs to see whether there’s a school near you.

Credit card for medical expenses. Some offices offer financing through a credit card for medical expenses like CareCredit. The standard APR for CareCredit financing is 32.99%, but you can get 0% interest if you charge $200 or more and pay it off within a six, 12, 18 or 24-month term. If you aren’t able to pay off your balance, you’ll be charged interest retroactively from the start of the term.

0% credit card. If you have good or excellent credit (a score in the mid-600s or higher), you might qualify for a 0% APR credit card. These cards have an introductory period — usually 15 to 21 months — when you won’t accrue interest on purchases. If you can pay off your balance within that period, you’ll pay for the procedure interest-free.

Dental discount plan. A dental discount plan could be an affordable option to cover dental costs, as they allow you to pay a monthly or annual fee to receive discounts from dentists in the plan’s network. This can be a viable option for patients without dental insurance coverage.

HSA or FSA. A health savings account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged account you can use to save for medical expenses if you have a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). You can use your HSA for dental care as long as the treatment is medically necessary. If you have a flexible spending account (FSA) through your employer, you can also use account funds to pay for many dental expenses.

» LEARN: How to pay off your medical bills