There are lots of reasons an upcoming dental appointment might fill you with anxiety, but paying the bill shouldn't be one of them. If you don't have dental insurance (or your provider won't cover enough of your visit's cost), a personal loan can help prevent a trip to the dentist's from taking too big a bite out of your budget.
Below, CNBC Select rounded up some of the best dental loans available. We considered a variety of features, like funding amount, credit score requirements and more. See below for our methodology.
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Best for bad credit: Upstart
Who's this for? Upstart considers applicants with credit scores as low as 300. It also accepts borrowers with an insufficient credit history, using income, education, employment history and other factors to determine creditworthiness.
Standout benefits: Borrowers can receive funding as early as the next business day if they accept their loan before 5 p.m. ET on a weekday.
We like that Upstart considers factors besides credit score, including education, income and employment history. Co-signers aren't accepted.
- Accept applicants with bad or no credit
- Minimum APR is lower than many competitors'
- Approves personal loans up to $75,000
- Most loans are funded the next business day
- Origination fee of 0% to 10%
- Doesn't allow co-signers or co-borrowers
Best for affordability: LightStream
Who's this for? LightStream offers some of the lowest APRs on this list for applicants with good or excellent credit.
Standout benefits: LightStream offers a 0.50% discount for signing up for autopay.
We like that LightStream offers competitive APRs, no late or origination fees and long loan term options. But you can't prequalify and the loan minimum may be too high if you only need to borrow a small amount.
- Same-day funding available.
- Loan amounts up to $100,000.
- No origination fee or late fee.
- The minimum loan amount is $5,000.
- Prequalification not available.
- No option to pay your creditors directly.
Best for a larger loan: SoFi
Who's this for? If your procedure is pricier, SoFi is a good choice. While many lenders cap out at $50,000, it offers loans up to $100,000.
Standout benefits: Eligible applicants may receive their funding on the same business day.
No origination fees required, no early payoff fees, no late fees
- No origination fees required, no early payoff fees, no late fees
- Unemployment protection if you lose your job
- DACA recipients can apply with a creditworthy co-borrower who is a U.S. citizen/permanent resident by calling 877-936-2269
- Can have more than one SoFi loan at a time (state-permitting)
- May accept offer of employment (to start within the next 90 days) as proof of income
- Co-applicants may apply
- Applicants who are U.S. visa holders must have more than two years remaining on visa to be eligible
- No co-signers allowed (co-applicants only)
Fixed rates from 8.74% APR to 35.49% APR. APR reflect the 0.25% autopay interest rate discount and a 0.25% SoFi Plus interest rate discount. SoFi Platform personal loans are made either by SoFi Bank, N.A. or, Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, operating from its Delaware branch, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. SoFi may receive compensation if you take out a loan originated by Cross River Bank. These rate ranges are current as of 02/23/26 and are subject to change without notice. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See SoFi Personal Loan eligibility details at https://www.sofi.com/eligibility-criteria/#eligibility-personal. 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 above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, income, and other factors.
Best for smaller loans: PenFed Credit Union
Who's this for? You may not need thousands of dollars for your procedure. PenFed approves personal loans for as little as $600, the lowest minimum on this list.
Standout benefits: PenFed doesn't charge an origination fee or a prepayment penalty.
PenFed is worth considering if you have good-to-excellent credit and want a straightforward personal loan with competitive rates and few fees. We like that you don't have to be a PenFed member to apply — you can join during the application process.
- Approves loans as small as $600
- Membership available with a $5 deposit in a savings account
- Can pick up a physical check at a branch
- Can apply with a co-borrower
- Maximum loan amount is $50,000
- Generally need good to excellent credit
- Most physical branches are in D.C., Maryland and Virginia
Best for a variety of dental expenses: Prosper
Who's this for? Prosper offers dental loans cover a variety of emergency and cosmetic procedures, as well as pre- and post-operative expenses, like x-rays, consulations and pain medications.
Standout benefits: Prosper approves loans for living expenses resulting from unpaid time off during recovery. Co-borrowers are also welcome.
You can sign with collateral or a co-borrower to better your approval odds and secure a lower rate. Funding can be quick.
- Approves loans of up to $50,000
- Repeat borrowers may qualify for an APR discount
- Borrowers can choose their payment date
- Co-borrowers permitted
- Higher maximum APR than other lenders
- Funding may take several days
- No direct payment to creditors
- Numerous fees
How can you use a personal loan?
Personal loans are versatile and meant to be used in a variety of ways. You can use them to cover a bill from the dentist, other medical bills, a wedding, a funeral, vacations, home repairs and more. You apply for a specific amount of money and the funds get disbursed as a lump sum to your personal checking account.
Always double check the terms and conditions of your loan since personal loans cannot be used for illegal activities and some lenders have prohibited uses they may outline.
How do you repay a dental loan?
You'll make loan payments in fixed, equal amounts on a monthly basis for an agreed upon number of months (the loan term). In addition to repaying the principle (the amount you borrowed), you'll also need to pay interest, which also gets tacked onto your monthly payment.
You can repay the loan before the end of the term but just make sure your lender doesn't charge an early payoff fee (also known as a prepayment penalty).
How to shop for a dental loan
When shopping around for a dental loan or personal loan to cover medical costs, here's what to look out for:
- APR: A higher rate means you'll be paying back more money over the loan's term. However, some lenders offer a reduced APR if you sign up for autopay.
- Fees: An application fee, origination fee, prepayment penalty and late payment fee are common fees associated with personal loans. However, some lenders offer loans without these fees.
- Loan term: A loan's term is how long you have to repay it. A longer loan term can mean smaller monthly payments, which can be easier on your budget. However, you'll likely pay more money in interest over the life of the loan.
Dental loan pros and cons
If you're unsure about whether you need a loan to brighten that smile, consider the following pros and cons.
- You receive a lump-sum payment to cover your procedure.
- Lenders may consider borrowers with low or no credit scores.
- Co-signers usually allowed
- May cover pre- and post-operative expenses.
- Lenders may require the loan be secured with collateral
- Personal loans with relaxed qualification standards may come with higher fees.
- Lower borrowing limits.
FAQs
What credit score is needed for a dental loan?
Credit score minimums can vary by lender. Generally, the higher your credit score the better your chances of getting approved for your desired loan.
How fast can you get a dental loan?
Some lenders will deposit money within one business day of approval, while others may require an additional day or two. In rare cases, you may need to visit a bank branch to pick up a check.
Can you get a loan with bad credit?
While it's possible to take out a loan with bad credit, it's better to build your credit up before applying to increase your chances for approval with good terms.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed financial decisions. Every article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal loan products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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Our methodology
To determine the best dental loans, CNBC Select analyzed dozens of U.S. personal loans offered by both online and brick-and-mortar banks, including large credit unions.
When narrowing down and ranking the best personal loans, we considered the following features:
- Fixed-rate and variable-rate APR: Variable rates can go up and down over the lifetime of your loan. With a fixed rate APR, you lock in an interest rate for the duration of the loan's term, which means your monthly payment won't vary, making your budget easier to plan.
- Flexible minimum and maximum loan amounts/terms: Each lender provides a variety of financing options that you can select from.
- Streamlined application process: We considered whether lenders offered quick approval decisions and a fast online application process.
- Customer support: Every loan on our list provides customer service available via telephone, email or secure online messaging. We also opted for lenders with an online resource hub or advice center to help you educate yourself about the personal loan process and your finances.
- Fund disbursement: The loans on our list deliver funds promptly through either an electronic wire transfer to your checking account or in the form of a paper check.
- Creditor payment limits and loan sizes: The above lenders provide loans in an array of sizes, from $600 to $100,000.
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Fixed rates from 8.74% APR to 35.49% APR. APR reflect the 0.25% autopay interest rate discount and a 0.25% SoFi Plus interest rate discount. SoFi Platform personal loans are made either by SoFi Bank, N.A. or, Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, operating from its Delaware branch, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. SoFi may receive compensation if you take out a loan originated by Cross River Bank. These rate ranges are current as of 02/23/26 and are subject to change without notice. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See SoFi Personal Loan eligibility details at https://www.sofi.com/eligibility-criteria/#eligibility-personal. 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 above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, income, and other factors.
