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Financing for Dental Professionals Buying, Starting, or Growing a Practice
Combine expert guidance with a streamlined process built specifically for dental practice ownership.
Financing for Dental Professionals Buying, Starting, or Growing a Practice
Combine expert guidance with a streamlined process built specifically for dental practice ownership.
More Smiles.
More Care.
More Opportunities.
Dental care is a growing, evolving industry driven by rising patient expectations, new technology, and increased access to care.
Today’s dental practices are not just clinics. They are scalable, high-performing businesses.
As group practices and DSOs expand and invest in technology, independent dentists have a major opportunity to compete and grow by modernizing their operations, expanding capacity, and improving patient experience.
For many dentists, practice ownership represents an opportunity to build long-term wealth, gain independence, and create a lasting impact in their community.
The dental industry combines meaningful work with strong business fundamentals.
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of Dentists
Wherever You Are in Your Career, We Can Help
Most dentists don’t stay associates forever. Whether you're planning your first acquisition, buying into a partnership, or expanding your existing practice, access to the right capital is what turns opportunity into ownership.
Associate Dentist
Partner
Buy-In
Practice Owner
Multi-Location Ownership
How Financing Can Support Your Dental Practice
Dental practices evolve over time. At different stages in your career, you may need capital to buy a practice, open your own practice, upgrade equipment, or expand your facility. Financing can help support many of the goals dentists pursue as their practices grow.
Buy a Dental Practice
Financing can help you acquire an established dental practice, retain its patient base, and invest in improvements so the practice can grow under your ownership.
- Acquiring an existing dental practice with established cash flow
- Financing goodwill, equipment, and patient base
- Transitioning ownership from a retiring dentist
- Supporting staff, systems, and operations during the transition
Start a Dental Practice
Financing can help you launch your own dental office by covering build-out, equipment, and working capital so you can focus on growing your patient base from day one.
- Funding construction, leasehold improvements, and build-out
- Purchasing chairs, imaging systems, and digital technology
- Covering initial working capital and operating expenses
- Supporting marketing efforts to attract new patients
Expand or Open a New Location
Financing can help you grow your practice by increasing capacity, adding services, or opening additional locations to reach more patients.
- Adding operatories or expanding your current office
- Hiring associates and expanding your team
- Opening a second or third location
- Investing in new services or specialty offerings
Renovate or Modernize Your Office
Financing can help you upgrade your space and technology to enhance patient experience, improve efficiency, and stay competitive in a modern dental market.
- Remodeling your office to improve patient experience
- Upgrading equipment and treatment rooms
- Implementing digital workflows and new technology
- Refreshing branding and front-office systems
Support Day-to-Day Operations and Growth
Financing can provide the flexibility you need to manage cash flow, invest in growth, and keep your practice running smoothly.
- Managing payroll, supplies, and operating expenses
- Investing in marketing and patient acquisition
- Bridging seasonal or insurance reimbursement gaps
- Maintaining liquidity while planning for future growth
Real Projects From the Dentist We’ve Worked With
Dentists across the country are building, acquiring, and expanding practices that serve their communities. Here are a few examples of projects we have helped finance.
Startup Practice Launch
$1,150,000
A dental professional launched a new practice from the ground up, creating a modern office designed to serve a growing patient base. Financing supported buildout, equipment, and working capital to ensure a strong start.
Practice Acquisition
$825,000
A dentist acquired an existing practice, transitioning ownership while maintaining continuity of care for patients. Financing supported the acquisition and provided flexibility to invest in future improvements.
Owner-Occupied Real Estate Purchase
$2,670,000
A practice owner purchased the building for their existing dental office, securing long-term stability and control over their space. Financing also positioned the practice for future expansion and enhancements.
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Working Capital Support
$678,000
A dental practice secured working capital to support day-to-day operations and ongoing growth initiatives. Financing provided flexibility to manage expenses, invest in marketing, and maintain strong cash flow while continuing to serve patients effectively.
Dental Industry Insights & Resources
Understanding dental practice finances is key to building a thriving clinic. Our articles cover acquisitions, startups, equipment investments, and long-term growth strategies for dentists.
Why Dentists Choose First Bank of the Lake
Our team specializes in financing dental practices. We help doctors acquire clinics, build new locations, expand facilities, and invest in advanced diagnostic equipment.
$2 Billion+
In SBA business funding provided since 2020 — helping entrepreneurs across the country grow and thrive.
Top 3
SBA franchise lender Recognized nationally for helping franchise owners open and expand with confidence. ^
2,000+
SBA loans funded since 2020, supporting business owners at every stage of their journey.
Approved to offer SBA loan products under SBA's Preferred lenders Program.
^Ranked 3rd most active SBA Franchise lender since 2023, (by lending volume) by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
See What Financing Your Practice Could Look Like
Use the calculator below to get a rough estimate of potential dental practice financing, then talk with a dental lending specialist to explore specific options for your situation.
SBA 7(a) Loan Calculator
Estimate your monthly payment
Adjust the loan amount, repayment term, and interest rate.
$500,000
120
9.25%
How Our Process Works
Tell Us About Your Project
Complete the short form and share a few details about your dental practice goals.
Speak With a Dental Lending Specialist
Schedule a 30-minute call with our team to discuss your plans and financing needs.
See If You Qualify for the Next Steps
We’ll review your information and let you know if you’re eligible to move forward.
Our Approach to Evaluating Dental Practices
Our lending process is tailored to how dental practices really operate. We don’t just look at collateral. We evaluate how dental practices actually perform.
Cash Flow & Profitability
We look at how your practice generates income after expenses to understand its overall financial strength. This helps ensure your financing supports both day-to-day operations and long-term stability.
Production & Collections
We evaluate how your practice produces and collects revenue, including patient flow and procedure mix. This gives us insight into consistency, performance, and future growth opportunities.
Practice Growth Potential
We consider how your practice can grow over time. Whether through expanding capacity, adding services, or investing in new technology, so your financing supports what’s next, not just where you are today.
Operations & Overhead
We review how your practice is structured, including staffing, expenses, and overall efficiency. Understanding how your practice runs helps us tailor financing to fit your operations.
Talk With a Dental Lending Specialist Today
Whether you’re buying, starting, or expanding a dental practice, our team can help you explore financing designed for dentists. Complete the short form, and a member of our dental lending team will contact you to learn more about your plans.
Common Questions About Dental Practice Financing
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Can I get financing with little or no down payment?
Open or Close
Yes. Many dental practice loans—especially SBA-backed options—can offer low down payments, and in some cases up to 100% financing for qualified borrowers.
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What types of dental practices do you work with?
Open or Close
We work with general dentists and specialists, including orthodontists, oral surgeons, pediatric dentists, periodontists, and multi-location group practices.
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What can I use a dental practice loan for?
Open or Close
Financing can be used for a wide range of needs, including:
- Buying or buying into a practice
- Starting a new office
- Expanding or opening additional locations
- Upgrading equipment and technology
- Renovations or office improvements
- Refinancing existing debt
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How long does the approval process take?
Open or Close
Timelines vary depending on the project, but many borrowers can get pre-qualified quickly and move through the full approval process in a matter of weeks with the right documentation.
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Do you consider more than just collateral when evaluating a loan?
Open or Close
Yes. Dental practices are unique, and much of their value comes from patient relationships and cash flow. We evaluate the full picture—performance, growth potential, and your experience—not just hard assets.
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What is the difference between SBA and conventional dental loans?
Open or Close
SBA loans are government-backed and often offer lower down payments and longer repayment terms. Conventional loans may offer more flexibility in certain situations. We help you determine which option fits your goals.
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Can I finance both the practice and the real estate together?
Open or Close
Yes. Many dentists choose to finance both the practice and the building in a single loan structure, helping simplify the process and align long-term ownership goals.
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I’m early in my career—can I still qualify?
Open or Close
Yes. Many dentists pursue ownership early in their careers. We take into account your experience, earning potential, and the strength of the opportunity—not just how long you’ve been practicing.
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What should I do before applying for financing?
Open or Close
It helps to have a general idea of your goals, timeline, and the type of project you're considering. From there, we can guide you through next steps, including budgeting, planning, and pre-qualification.
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Do you offer financing for specialists like orthodontists?
Open or Close
Yes. We regularly work with dental specialists, including orthodontists and oral surgeons, and understand the unique financial and operational dynamics of specialty practices.
Still have questions about dental practice financing?
All loans are subject to credit approval. Restrictions and limitations may apply. First Bank of the Lake does not provide tax, legal or investment advice. All decisions concerning these matters should be made in conjunction with your professional advisors.
