Dental Financing: Best Dental Loans of 2026 - NerdWallet

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.

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.

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.