Best Dental Financing Options of 2026
Side-by-side comparison of five established US dental financing providers — including 0% APR promotional offers, soft-pull pre-qualification, and bad-credit-friendly lenders. APRs and limits verified directly from each provider.
Dental Financing Compared at a Glance
| Provider | Type | APR Range | Credit Check | Loan Amount | Term Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CareCredit | Healthcare credit card | Deferred interest (32.99% std APR) | Hard pull | Plan-dependent | 6–24 mo promos |
| Cherry | Installment loan | 0–~30% APR | Soft pull | Up to $50,000 | 6 wks – 60 mo |
| Sunbit | Installment loan | 0–35.99% APR | Soft pull | $50–$20,000 | 3–72 mo |
| LendingClub | Installment loan | 3.99–30.99% APR | Soft pull | $500–$65,000 | 6–144 mo |
| Proceed Finance | Installment loan | From 3.99% APR | Soft pull | $1,500–$75,000 | Up to 144 mo |
Best Dental Financing by Use Case
Cherry
No credit impact to check your rate, ~90% approval rate, and true 0% APR for qualifying borrowers.
Sunbit
Designed for a wide range of credit profiles with reported 87%+ approval and no hard credit pull to pre-qualify.
Proceed Finance
Loan amounts up to $75,000 with terms up to 12 years — built for full-arch implants and full-mouth reconstruction.
CareCredit
Accepted at the largest network of dental and healthcare practices in the US.
LendingClub
Starting at 3.99% APR with terms up to 144 months and loans up to $65,000 — strong choice for excellent credit.
Proceed Finance
Purpose-built for high-ticket dental cases with longer terms that keep monthly payments manageable.
Full Provider Reviews
CareCredit
A widely-accepted healthcare credit card from Synchrony Bank.
- No interest if paid in full within the promo period on purchases of $200+
- Standard purchase APR of 32.99% applies if balance is not paid in full
- Deferred interest — back-interest charged from purchase date if not paid off in time
- Accepted at participating dental and healthcare practices
Subject to credit approval. Read promotional financing terms carefully — deferred interest is NOT the same as true 0% APR.
Source: carecredit.com
Cherry
Patient financing with soft-pull pre-qualification — no credit impact to check.
- No credit impact to check your rate
- Financing up to $50,000 per provider
- Reported ~90% approval rate across credit profiles
- Qualifying borrowers may receive true 0% APR or rates from 5.99%
Subject to credit approval. Rates and terms vary by credit profile and provider.
Source: withcherry.com
Sunbit
Buy-now-pay-later style dental financing with no hard credit check.
- No hard credit pull to pre-qualify
- Loan amounts $50–$20,000
- Reported 87%+ approval rate (per Sunbit)
- A payment is typically due at checkout
Subject to credit approval. Only available at participating practices.
Source: sunbit.com
LendingClub Patient Solutions
Fixed-rate installment loans from LendingClub Bank, issued directly to your dentist.
- Loan amounts $500 to $65,000
- Pre-qualify with no impact to your credit score
- 0% promotional financing options available on shorter terms
- Funds sent directly to your dental provider
Subject to credit approval. Lowest APR available only to borrowers with excellent credit.
Source: lendingclub.com
Proceed Finance
Patient financing designed for high-ticket dental and medical cases.
- Loan amounts from $1,500 up to $75,000
- Terms up to 144 months (12 years)
- Designed for full-arch implants, full-mouth reconstruction, and other large cases
- Funds disbursed directly to the dental provider
Subject to underwriting approval. Lowest APR available only to highly qualified borrowers.
Source: proceedfinance.com
How to Choose Dental Financing in 2026
The lowest monthly payment isn't always the cheapest deal. Here's the five-step framework we recommend before applying for any dental financing.
- 1
Get the total treatment cost from your dentist
Before applying for financing, get a written treatment plan with itemized costs. This determines how much you need to borrow and which providers can support that loan size.
- Small balances ($200–$2,000): healthcare credit cards may make sense for promo periods.
- Mid-range ($2,000–$20,000): Cherry and Sunbit excel here with soft-pull pre-qualification.
- Large cases ($20,000+): Proceed Finance and LendingClub specialize in full-arch and full-mouth.
- 2
Confirm your dentist accepts the lender
Some financing providers only work at participating practices (CareCredit, Sunbit). Others can fund any licensed dentist directly. Ask your dental office which programs they accept before applying.
- 3
Pre-qualify with a soft credit pull first
Multiple hard credit pulls in a short window can ding your credit score. Soft-pull pre-qualification lets you compare real offers from several lenders without any credit impact.
- Cherry, Sunbit, and LendingClub all offer soft-pull pre-qualification.
- A hard pull only happens after you accept an offer.
- 4
Beware of deferred interest vs. true 0% APR
Deferred-interest plans (common on healthcare credit cards) charge back-interest on the entire balance from day one if you don't pay it off before the promo ends. True 0% APR has no such trap.
- If a "0%" offer mentions deferred interest, it is NOT the same as true 0% APR.
- Calculate whether you can realistically pay off the balance within the promo window.
- 5
Compare total cost, not just monthly payment
A lower monthly payment over a longer term almost always costs more in total interest. Add up: (monthly payment × number of months) − (loan amount) = total interest paid. The lowest total cost is usually the best deal.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is SmileShop.ai a lender?+
No. SmileShop.ai is an independent comparison and education platform — we are not a lender, financing company, or financial advisor. The providers listed above issue their own loans or credit products directly to you; we simply help you compare them.
How are these providers chosen?+
We feature established consumer dental financing companies that have been on the US market for several years. We may earn a commission if you apply through our links, but compensation does not determine which providers we list or how we describe them.
Does dental financing affect my credit score?+
Some providers (such as Cherry and Sunbit) typically use a soft credit check to pre-qualify, which generally does not affect your credit score. A hard pull usually happens only if you accept the offer and proceed. Other providers may require a hard pull upfront. Always confirm with the provider before applying.
What's the difference between 0% APR and deferred interest?+
True 0% APR means no interest accrues during the promotional period — what you see is what you pay. Deferred interest (common with some healthcare credit cards) means interest accrues from day one but is waived only if you pay the full balance before the promo ends; if you miss the deadline, all back interest is added. Read each provider's terms carefully before signing.
Can I use financing for any dentist?+
Some providers (like CareCredit and Sunbit) work only at participating offices. Others disburse funds directly to any licensed dentist. Always confirm with your dental office which financing programs they accept before applying.
How much can I finance?+
Limits vary by provider and depend on your credit profile and income. The advertised maximums above are program-level limits, not guarantees of approval. Check directly with each provider for your personal limit.
Can I get dental financing with bad credit?+
Yes — providers like Sunbit and Cherry are designed for a wide range of credit profiles and report approval rates around 87–90%. Approval and APR depend on your individual credit history, income, and the loan amount requested. Soft-pull pre-qualification lets you check options without affecting your credit score.
What's the typical APR for dental financing?+
True 0% APR promotional rates are available from several providers for qualifying borrowers. Standard APRs typically range from 3.99% to 35.99% depending on the lender, term length, and your credit profile. Always compare the total cost of financing — not just the headline APR — before signing.
Does SmileShop recommend a specific financing option for me?+
No. We are not licensed to give financial advice and cannot recommend a specific product for your situation. For personalized guidance, contact each provider directly or speak with a licensed financial professional.
Want to lower your out-of-pocket cost first?
Dental insurance and discount plans can cut your bill 20–60% before financing kicks in.
Compare Insurance & Discount Plans