Best Dental Loans in 2024

Get a lump sum of cash as soon as today to painlessly finance your next dental procedure

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How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
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Best for:
Loans with another person
Achieve logo
Best for:
Lower rates for homeowners
Best Egg logo
Best for:
Small loans
First Tech logo
Best for:
Fair credit
Prosper logo
Best for:
Easy experience
Rocket Loans logo
Best for:
Emergencies
Sofi logo
Best for:
Bad or no credit
Upstart logo
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More Options

Dental loans at a glance

Achieve: Best for getting a dental loan with another person

(5,424)
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Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services.

(5,424)
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Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services.

8.99% - 29.99%

24 to 60 months

$5,000 - $50,000

620

1.99% - 6.99%

Pros
  • Rate discount for adding a second person to your loan
  • Each loan gets a designated consultant
  • Accepts less-than-perfect credit
Cons
  • Won’t work for dental procedures that cost less than $5,000
  • Will keep 1.99% - 6.99% of your loan as an origination fee
  • No live chat (loan consultants work over the phone)

What to know

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A loan that includes two people is called a joint loan. Joint loans can be easier to qualify for and be a streamlined way to share the cost of shared expenses with another person. In Achieve’s case, a joint loan can also snag you a rate discount.

Achieve’s loans start at $5,000, so they won’t work if you only need a little bit of dental financing. Achieve also charges an origination fee on every loan. You won’t have to pay this out of pocket. Instead, Achieve will take 1.99% - 6.99% off the top of your loan before sending it to you.

If you have questions during the Achieve application process, you (or your co-borrower) can contact your assigned loan consultant for help.

How to qualify

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Other than a credit score of at least 620, Achieve will typically ask you to provide the following documents and information:

  • Proof of income
  • Social Security number
  • Government-issued ID
  • Employment status

Best Egg: Best for getting lower rates as a homeowner

(2,665)
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Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services.

(2,665)
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Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services.

7.99% - 35.99%

36 to 84 months

$2,000 - $50,000

580

0.99% - 9.99%

Pros
  • Can save up to 20% off of your APR by using your home’s fixtures as collateral
  • Doesn’t require you to put your entire house on the line like you would with a home equity loan or HELOC
  • Can set up your automatic payments to be withdrawn biweekly instead of monthly
Cons
  • Loans that require collateral are riskier than ones that don’t
  • Will be complicated to sell your house before you’ve paid off your dental loan
  • Requires a high annual income and credit score to get the best rates

What to know

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Best Egg’s Secured Loan + Homeowner’s Discount is a unique dental loan that uses your home’s permanent fixtures as collateral. Examples of collateral include built-in cabinets, lighting and vanities.

But keep in mind that secured loans (or collateral loans) are risky. If you don’t pay, your lender will repossess your collateral. Also, you must earn at least $100,000 a year and have a credit score of at least 700 to qualify for Best Egg’s minimum APR.

How to qualify

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Best Egg uses your home’s permanent fixtures as collateral, but it doesn’t need to appraise the value of those fixtures. Instead, Best Egg will review your credit history and home equity to see if you qualify.

You must also meet the requirements below to qualify for a Best Egg loan:

Citizenship: Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident living in the U.S.
Administrative: Have a personal checking account, email address and physical address
Residency: Not live in the District of Columbia, Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia or U.S. territories
Credit score: 580

First Tech Federal Credit Union: Best for small dental loans

8.44% - 18.00%

6 to 84 months

$500 - $50,000

660

None

Pros
  • Loan amounts start at $500
  • By law, federal credit unions can’t charge rates higher than 18.00% on personal loans
  • Works with bad credit
Cons
  • Have to join the credit union to borrow
  • Must become a member of the Computer History Museum or Financial Fitness Association if you don’t qualify by other means
  • Can check rates without hurting your credit, but only for loans with two-year repayment terms

What to know

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It can be hard to find a dental loan if you only need a filling or two. Most personal loans start at $1,000. With First Tech Credit Union, you can borrow as little as $500. And since it’s a credit union loan, you’ll still get lower-than-average rates, even if you qualify with rocky credit.

You can check rates before becoming a member, but you have to join to accept your loan. First Tech makes it easy by paying your first years’ dues if you need to join a partner organization. Still, it’s an extra step in the process.

How to qualify

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To join First Tech (a requirement to get a loan), you must:

  • Work for a partnering employer
  • Be related to a current First Tech member
  • Live in Lane County, Ore.
  • Become a member of the Computer History Museum or Financial Fitness Association (First Tech will pay for your first year of membership, and you don’t have to maintain membership to keep your First Tech account)

Prosper: Best for fair credit

(3,651)
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Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services.

(3,651)
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Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services.

8.99% - 35.99%

24 to 60 months

$2,000 - $50,000

560

1.00% - 9.99%

Pros
  • Can still qualify with a 560 credit score
  • 15-day grace period for late payments
  • Free FICO scores available on mobile app
Cons
  • Peer-to-peer model means you’ll have to wait until individual investors fund your loan
  • Might need to wait up to 14 days for your money
  • No customer service on weekends

What to know

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Prosper offers peer-to-peer loans, and these types of loans are easier to qualify for. Peer-to-peer works a little like GoFundMe. Individual investors will fund your loan instead of Prosper itself.

There are some drawbacks to peer-to-peer, one being speed. When Prosper approves you, investors have 14 days to provide at least 70% of your requested loan amount. If your loan fails to reach this benchmark, Prosper will cancel your loan request.

How to qualify

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To get a loan with Prosper, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Age: Be 18 or older
  • Citizenship: Be a U.S. citizen
  • Administrative: Have a U.S. bank account and Social Security number
  • Residency: Not live in Iowa or West Virginia
  • Credit score: 560

Rocket Loans: Best for an easy dental loan experience

(47)
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(47)
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Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services.

8.99% - 29.99% (with autopay)

36 or 60 months

$2,000 - $45,000

640

Up to 9.00%

Pros
  • Verifies your information electronically
  • Could get your money the same day that you apply
  • Competitive maximum APR if you have fair credit
Cons
  • Only two repayment terms to choose from (36 or 60 months)
  • Can’t add a second person to your loan
  • Mobile app only applies to Rocket Mortgage, not personal loans

What to know

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The last thing you want to do when you’re in pain is upload a ton of documents. Rocket Loans makes it easy by verifying your income, identity and bank information electronically when you apply. To boost your chances of getting a same-day loan, be sure to apply by 1 p.m. ET on a business day.

However, Rocket Loans doesn’t have the lowest starting rate, which means it isn’t the cheapest if you have excellent credit. Rocket Loans also doesn’t have a mobile app that you can use to manage your personal loan.

How to qualify

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To qualify for Rocket Loans, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:

  • Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen
  • Income: Minimum annual income of $24,000
  • Residency: Can’t live in Iowa, Nevada or West Virginia
  • Credit score: 640

SoFi: Best for emergency dental loans

(97)
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Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services.

(97)
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Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services.

8.99% - 29.99% (with discounts)

Pricing Disclosure

Fixed rates from 8.99% APR to 29.99% APR reflect the 0.25% autopay interest rate discount and a 0.25% direct deposit interest rate discount. SoFi rate ranges are current as of 02/06/2024 and are subject to change without notice. The average of SoFi Personal Loans funded in 2022 was around $30K. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed and will depend on the term you select, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, and a variety of other factors. Loan amounts range from $5,000– $100,000. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 0%-7%, which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. Autopay: The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi. Direct Deposit Discount: To be eligible to potentially receive an additional (0.25%) interest rate reduction for setting up direct deposit with a SoFi Checking and Savings account offered by SoFi Bank, N.A. or eligible cash management account offered by SoFi Securities, LLC (“Direct Deposit Account”), you must have an open Direct Deposit Account within 30 days of the funding of your Loan. Once eligible, you will receive this discount during periods in which you have enabled payroll direct deposits of at least $1,000/month to a Direct Deposit Account in accordance with SoFi’s reasonable procedures and requirements to be determined at SoFi’s sole discretion. This discount will be lost during periods in which SoFi determines you have turned off direct deposits to your Direct Deposit Account. You are not required to enroll in direct deposits to receive a Loan.

24 to 84 months

$5,000 - $100,000

680

0.00% - 7.00% (optional)

Pros
  • Most SoFi borrowers get same-day loans
  • Loans come with no-cost financial planning
  • Live chat available seven days a week
Cons
  • Must borrow at least $5,000
  • Have to pay an optional fee to get the lowest rates
  • Won’t qualify if you have bad credit

What to know

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When a lender advertises same-day loans, you have to apply by a certain time of day, usually midafternoon. SoFi’s cut-off time is 7 p.m. EST (as long as you apply on a business day). As an added bonus, SoFi’s free financial planning can help you strategize the best way to pay off your new emergency loan.

Note that SoFi lets its borrowers pay an optional origination fee to get a lower rate. Compare offers that do and don’t include this fee to see which is a better deal.

How to qualify

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You must meet the requirements below in order to get a loan from SoFi:

  • Age: Be the age of majority in your state (typically 18)
  • Citizenship: Be a U.S. citizen, an eligible permanent resident or a non-permanent resident (a DACA recipient or asylum-seeker, for instance)
  • Employment: Have a job or job offer with a start date within 90 days, or have regular income from another source
  • Credit score: 680

Upstart: Best for bad or no credit

(16,927)
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Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services.

(16,927)
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Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services.

7.40% - 35.99%

36 or 60 months

$1,000 - $50,000

300

0.00% - 12.00%

Pros
  • Has one of the lowest credit score requirements around
  • Eligible college students and grads don’t need credit to qualify
  • Loans starting at $1,000 can be helpful for midrange dental bills
Cons
  • Can’t apply with another person
  • If you have bad credit, prepare for a high origination fee
  • No mobile app for Android users

What to know

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You usually need at least fair credit to qualify for dental financing. Online lending platform Upstart accepts credit scores as low as 300. You might even be eligible with no credit, but you must be enrolled in or have graduated from an associate’s degree program or higher.

It’s a good thing that Upstart has easier requirements. You can’t add a second person to your loan to boost your approval odds. Bad credit loans don’t come cheap, either. You could have a rate of up to 35.99% and pay an origination fee from 0.00% - 12.00%.

How to qualify

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Upstart has transparent eligibility requirements, including:

  • Age: Be 18 or older
  • Administrative: Have a U.S. address, personal banking account, email address and Social Security number
  • Employment: Have a job or job offer that starts within six months, or have regular income
  • Credit-related factors: Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio no higher than 50% (45% in Connecticut, Maryland, New York and Vermont), no bankruptcies within the last year, fewer than six inquiries on your credit report in the last six months and no current delinquencies
  • Credit score: 300 (unless you’re an eligible college student or graduate, in which case Upstart could approve you with no credit)

What are dental loans?

A dental loan is a personal loan that you use to pay for dental work. Personal loans come as a lump sum of money, which you will pay back in equal monthly payments. Because personal loans have fixed rates, your interest rate will stay the same for the life of your loan.

There are two main types of personal loans: secured and unsecured.

An unsecured loan doesn’t require collateral; a secured loan does. Unsecured loans are the most common, but secured loans usually have lower rates. That’s because they are less risky for the lender. If you stop paying, your lender can repossess your collateral.

What can you use a dental loan to pay for?

Most lenders let you use your personal loan for just about anything. So whether your dental work is necessary or elective, you can probably use a personal loan to pay for it.

Get a quote from your dentist before applying for your loan. Unlike a credit card, you can only borrow from a personal loan once. If you need more money, you’ll have to take out another loan or find another form of dental financing.

In the meantime, here are some rough numbers to help you get an idea of what to expect (without insurance).

ProcedureEstimated cost
Teeth cleaning (routine)$125
Teeth cleaning (deep)$960-$1,260 (whole mouth)
Cavity filling$160 (amalgam)
$191 (composite resin)
Crown$800-$2,500
Tooth extraction$146-$300
Single veneer$1,765
Dental implant$3,000-$7,000
Metal braces$3,000-$7,000
Teeth whitening$300-$1,000
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How to find a dental loan with LendingTree

Researching loans one by one can be stressful, especially if you’re dealing with a sore tooth. Let LendingTree do the shopping for you in three easy steps.

  1. Check your credit score. Get your credit score for free with LendingTree Spring. It’s helpful to know where you stand before you shop so you have an idea of what rates you might qualify for.
  2. Tell us what you need. In just a few minutes, you could have offers from up to five lenders by using LendingTree’s loan marketplace. Our service is free, we have the nation’s largest network of lenders and checking rates won’t affect your credit score.
  3. Compare and save. After you’ve filled out our simple online form, we’ll show you loan options you could qualify for. You can also customize your loan to fit your budget. When you’re ready, we’ll help you take the next steps in finalizing your loan.

Dental loans for bad credit

Qualifying for dental loans with bad credit can be hard, but it’s possible. Your best bet is to focus your energy on bad-credit loans. Rates can be high, but if your credit improves down the road, you could refinance your personal loan. Ideally, this will get you a lower interest rate.

If you have bad credit, beware of predatory lending and scams that promise quick cash with no credit checks. Look for lenders that offer APRs below 36% — anything above that could be considered predatory.

 Avoiding dental scams

Like doctors, dentists and dental professionals have to take an oath to do no harm. The vast majority are there to help you feel and look your best, but there is no guarantee that you won’t run into a dishonest dentist. Protect your wallet and your health by avoiding dental scams.

Get a second opinion: Trust your gut. If a dentist recommends a pricey procedure that doesn’t seem right, have another dentist take another look.

Stick to an independent practice: Some big dentistry chains have been accused of improper billing and conducting unnecessary procedures to maximize profits.

Check for official actions: Use your state’s dental board to see if any official actions have been taken against your dentist due to a patient complaint.

Saving money on dental expenses

 Ask about in-house financing options: Some dentists set their own interest rates and are willing to negotiate financing plans. Ask if you can set up monthly payments directly to your dentist. This may be a more affordable option than a personal loan.

  Consider if dental work out of country is for you: About 1.2 million Americans travel to Mexico for low-cost dental work each year. This might seem extreme, but medical tourism is a booming business and could save you a lot of money. Just be sure to do your research and include the cost of travel in your budget.

  Use your FSA benefits: A flexible spending account (FSA) is an employer-sponsored savings account that lets you use pretax dollars to pay for medical expenses or dental care. They’re typically funded with automatic payroll deductions. If you have an FSA, consider tapping it to pay for dental work.

Dental loan alternatives

CareCredit®

CareCredit® is a credit card specifically designed to pay for medical, dental and vet bills. If your dentist accepts it, you could get interest-free short-term financing between six and 24 months.

However, it’s very important that you pay your balance in full during this interest-free period. Otherwise, you’ll be on the hook for all of the interest that would have accrued during your financing period. This is called deferred interest.

0% APR credit card

A 0% APR credit card works similarly to CareCredit® except you can use it anywhere that accepts major credit cards. Also, most (but not all) 0% APR cards do not have deferred interest. You’ll still have an interest-free intro period. But if you don’t pay your balance in full, interest will only accrue on what you owe rather than be backdated.

Pay cash at a dental school

If you’re on a tight budget, consider making an appointment at a local dental school. Because those procedures are done by practicing dental students, you may be able to get it done at a lower cost.

For more information, check out this list of dental schools by state.

How we chose the best dental loans

We reviewed more than 33 lenders to determine the seven overall best dental loans. To make our list, lenders must offer dental loans with competitive APRs. From there, we prioritize lenders based on the following factors:

  • Accessibility: Lenders are ranked higher if their personal loans are available to more people and require fewer conditions. This may include lower credit requirements, wider geographic availability, faster funding and easier and more transparent prequalification and application processes.
  • Rates and terms: We prioritize lenders with more competitive fixed rates, fewer fees and greater options for repayment terms, loan amounts and APR discounts.
  • Repayment experience: For starters, we consider each lender’s reputation and business practices. We also favor lenders that report to all major credit bureaus, offer reliable customer service and provide any unique perks to customers, like free wealth coaching.

According to our standardized rating system, the best dental loans come from Achieve, Best Egg, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Prosper, Rocket Loans, SoFi and Upstart.

Frequently asked questions

You could find free or low-cost dentists through United Way. Dial 211 and ask if there are any dental charities in your area.

On average, a single dental implant costs between $3,000 and $7,000. Depending on how many implants you need, you could be looking at a huge expense. You’ll likely need very good credit to qualify for a big dental loan, so a credit score of 740 or higher.

If you qualify for a 0% APR credit card and can pay off your balance before your introductory period ends, a credit card is a better choice (you won’t pay any interest). Introductory periods typically last between six and 21 months. That timeframe could be tough, depending on how big your dental bill is.
 
If you need more time to pay, you could get approved for a dental loan with a lower rate than most credit cards. However, you usually need excellent credit for this to be the case.