Best dental financing loans of November 2024

Dental care procedures can be expensive, especially if you don’t have insurance. Crowns, for example, tend to cost anywhere from $800 up to $2,000, according to Glen Burnie Dental Group.

So what should you do if the care you need costs more than you can or want to pay out of pocket? One potential solution is to turn to dental financing. Here’s a look at how it works and where you can find the best dental loans.

Compare dental loan rates of November 2024

Best dental financing

The best personal loans for dental financing offer better rates or longer terms than your dentist or credit card. Before applying for a personal loan for dental work, prequalify with several lenders to compare estimates for loan rates and terms. Prequalification won't hurt your credit, but it's not a guarantee of a loan offer. 

Compare rates between lenders and against other types of dental loans, like your credit card and provider financing. Note that once you choose a lender and complete an application, your credit score may temporarily drop by a few points because the lender will conduct a hard credit check.

Methodology

We evaluated the best personal loan lenders for dental financing based on factors such as customer experience, minimum fixed rate, maximum loan amount, funding time, loan terms, fees, discounts, and whether cosigners are accepted. Our team of experts gathered information from each lender’s website, customer service department, directly from our partners, and via email support. Each data point was verified by a third party to make sure it was accurate and up to date. 

Read our full lender rating methodology for more information.

How to compare dental loans

• Loan amount: Lenders vary in the loan amounts they offer. Some lenders can lend from $500 to over $100,000. Look for loans large enough to cover your dental expenses, but don’t take on more funds than needed. This will prevent paying off more debt than necessary. 
• Annual percentage rate (APR): The APR represents the percentage of the loan amount that you'd pay in interest and upfront fees spread over each year of the repayment term. Your APR is determined by the lender based on your financial profile, which includes your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, income, and overall debt amount. Generally, the higher your credit score, the lower your personal loan interest rate.
• Loan fees: Lenders may charge fees on top of interest, such as an origination fee, which could range up to 12% of the loan amount, depending on the lender. Fees can increase your borrowing costs or reduce your loan amount, so look for low- or no-fee offers.
• Loan term and monthly payment: The right loan term and payment amount for you will depend on your total loan amount, APR, and fees. If you need more time to pay or a lower monthly payment, look for a lender with longer terms. 

• Funding time: Some lenders can provide funds as soon as the same day, while others provide funds in up to 5 business days. If time is of the essence, look for a lender with fast funding times.
• Customer ratings: Check how past borrowers rate their experience with lenders to gain insight into their customer service quality. You can use sites like Trustpilot and Better Business Bureau (BBB) to look at credible reviews for each lender. 

• Discounts: Some lenders offer rate reductions in certain situations, such as if you enroll in autopay or have another financial account with them. 
• Cosigner option: If you’re having trouble qualifying on your own, you may be able to get approved with the help of a cosigner — often, someone with strong credit who agrees to repay the loan if you can’t. Not all lenders allow cosigners, so you may need to shop around to find those that do.

How do dental loans work?

Dental loans are any type of loan you can use to pay for dental work, as opposed to using a credit card. A personal loan is a type of installment loan that is commonly used to finance dental expenses. It provides the full loan amount upfront, which you can use to pay your provider. Then, you repay the loan in monthly installments, with interest, over a period of years. 

Types of dental financing

Dental insurance

Best for in-network care, routine maintenance, and preventive care

Dental insurance exists to make dental care more affordable, and preventive care is often covered. To get coverage, you typically enroll in a policy and pay a premium each month. If you need to see the dentist, you pay any applicable deductibles or copays and, typically, the dentist bills your insurance for the rest. If any amount is left uncovered, you’ll be responsible for the difference. 

Dental insurance is offered through employee benefit plans, private insurers, Medicaid (for children, as well as adults in certain states), and the health insurance marketplace.

CareCredit

Best for 0% financing options, but watch out for deferred interest

CareCredit is a health care credit card that finances out-of-pocket health and dental expenses from over 260,000 enrolled health care providers in the U.S. It stands out from other financing options because, upon approval, you can finance expenses of $200 or more over terms of up to 24 months with no interest if you pay them in full. Instead, you can choose a term up to 60 months for an APR on par with personal loan interest rates.

Dental savings plans

Best for discounted services and procedures

A dental savings plan is a type of membership plan offered by some insurance providers. You typically pay an annual fee to join the program and then get a discount on some of the provider’s dental services. Going this route, you don’t have to worry about claims, copays, or deductibles. You pay your annual fee, get a discounted price list of the office’s dental services, and then pay the reduced rate at the time of your visit.

Personal loan

Best for longer repayment terms and large loan amounts

Many lenders offer loans from $2,000 to $50,000, but the loan amount you’ll qualify for is based on your credit score and income. Repayment terms typically range from two to seven years, depending on the lender. Dental loans may be used to cover various procedures such as dental implants, veneers, teeth aligners, braces, dental crowns, and emergency treatments.

Personal loans for dental work are available from online lenders, banks, and credit unions. Typically, personal loan interest rates range from around 7% to almost 36%.

Lenders will evaluate your credit score, income, and existing debts to determine your eligibility for a dental loan, your rate, and how much you can borrow. 

If available, look at prequalifying with multiple lenders to explore potential loan amounts and payment terms. Prequalification requires a soft credit check that won’t impact your score, and the terms presented to you are not an official offer. Once you apply for a loan, the lender will run a hard credit check that could ding your credit score temporarily.

Check Out: Best personal loans

0% APR credit card

Best for 0% financing without deferred interest 

Many credit card providers offer cards with promotional 0% APR introductory periods that can last up to 21 months or longer. If you can get approved for one with a credit limit high enough to cover your dental expenses, you can use it to finance the care you need. As long as you pay off the balance before the promotional period ends, you won’t have to pay any interest. If you can’t pay the balance off in time, it’ll be subject to the normal APR on your credit card agreement.

In-house dental financing

Best for nontraditional financing and convenience

Dentists may also offer in-house dental financing. In this case, the dentist becomes your lender and allows you to pay off your balance, typically with interest, over time through installment payments. Availability, rates, and terms vary from one provider to the next.

How to apply for a dental loan

If you want to apply for a personal loan to finance dental care, you can usually start the process online or over the phone.

1. Gather information: Lenders often ask for personal identifying information like your name, address, birth date, and Social Security number. They’ll also need to know about your income and employment through pay stubs and your employer’s address.
2. Get prequalified: Most will perform a soft credit check (which won’t affect your score), review the information you provide, and let you know if you’re prequalified. Upon prequalification, lenders typically provide you with a loan quote that includes your potential loan amount, term, APR, and fee options. Prequalifying is not a guarantee of credit, however, and your final rate may be higher.
3. Shop around: Compare a few quotes to see which lender may offer you the best deal.
4. Apply for the loan: Once you decide on a dental loan, move forward with the full application process. In this step, the lender will likely ask for proof of the information you provided previously, such as a pay stub to prove income. You’ll also have to undergo a hard credit check, which may temporarily ding your score.
5. Finalize the loan: If all goes well, you’ll receive final loan approval. If you agree to the loan terms and fees, you’ll need to sign your loan contract.

Learn More: How to get a personal loan

Dental financing FAQ

What are the best dental financing options for individuals without insurance?

If you don't have insurance, you can likely find the best deals on dental financing through a 0% APR credit card, in-house dental financing, or a personal loan. The right fit for you will depend on factors like your dentist, your credit score, and the rates and terms you can get.

Can I get a dental loan with bad credit?

If you have bad credit, you can try getting a dental loan through personal loan lenders that cater to those with poor credit, like Upstart or Avant. You may also have luck getting approved with CareCredit or in-house dental financing. If all else fails, consider enlisting the help of a cosigner that has good credit, or asking a loved one for a loan.

How do I know if my dental insurance covers a specific procedure?

You can find the specific procedures covered under your dental insurance plan by reviewing your policy. It should be available online via your insurer’s portal. If you can’t find it, you can ask your insurer to send it to you via mail, email, or secure message. You can also directly ask your agent.

Read More:

• Where can I get a personal loan?
• How personal loans affect your credit score
• Best personal loan rates
• Best emergency loans
• Best installment loans
• No-credit-check loans