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Compare dental practice loans and startup rates

Dental practice financing from 8 banks, side by side: real loan rates, today’s estimates, rate history and startup terms. Go straight to each bank’s loan package. No sign-up and no financial information needed.

Have questions? Book a $250 call with Dr. Baharvand
Updated quarterly after Fed meetingsStartup, acquisition, real estate, equipmentBuilt by a practicing orthodontist
7.05%Median conventional bank term loan
8Dental lenders compared
4,587Dental loans analyzed since 2020
Dental practice loan rates today

Banks rarely publish startup rates. Use these to judge any quote you get. Prime and Treasury rates update daily from the Federal Reserve (FRED).

Last updated: October 31, 2026Next update: November 6, 2026

Rates may vary. Banks often run promotions, association discounts or limited-time pricing that can make your rate lower than shown, and your credit, loan size and term can make it higher. Estimates are not loan offers.

Prime rate (WSJ)7.00%Since Sep 17, 2026. Most variable dental loans are Prime plus a spread.
SBA 7(a) maximum, real estate and large loans10.00%Prime + 3%, variable. The legal ceiling on SBA loans this size.
Conventional bank term loans7.05%Median new variable loan, Q2 2026 (Kansas City Fed). About Prime + 0.30% since 2023. Fixed median 6.80%.
Large dental SBA loans7.50%Median on 214 SBA startup and real estate loans, Oct 2024 to Sep 2026. Middle half 6.75% to 8.25%.
All dental SBA loans, last 12 months9.24%Median on 631 loans. Smaller loans pay more; middle half 7.50% to 10.00%.
At a glance

Dental startup loan rates by bank

LenderToday’s startup estimateBest forYield on all business loans, Q3 2026
Bank of AmericaAbout 6.9% fixedLowest fixed rates5.41% (Q2)
HuntingtonAbout 7.6% to 9.0%Up to 100% to $1M7.37%
Live Oak BankAbout 7.25% to 7.75%Near-Prime variable rates7.56%
Panacea (Primis Bank)About 9.0%AAO member discount5.36%
PNC BankAbout 7.3% to 8.0%Healthcare banking team5.88%
Provide (Fifth Third)About 7.0% to 7.25%Build support and deferral6.43%
U.S. BankAbout 7.9%New startup program5.69%
Wells FargoAbout 7.6% fixedFixed rates and planning tools6.05% (Q2)

Estimates are based on each bank’s past dental loans and today’s Prime and Treasury rates. They are not quotes. Yields: each bank’s Call Report filing, all business loans including large corporate ones. Updated quarterly.

The lenders

Best banks for dental practice loans

Pick a loan type to see what each bank offers for it.
Not sure which loan fits?Talk it through with an orthodontist who has done it. 45 minutes, $250, applied to your first month if you join consulting.
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Rate history

SBA dental loan rate history by bank

SBA loans are the only loan-level public data, so they show how each bank’s pricing moved over time. Median rate on SBA dental loans of $350K or more (mostly real estate, acquisitions and larger startups), by fiscal year. Gaps mean fewer than 3 loans that year.

Bank median ratePrime rate, yearly average

Bank of America

208 loans
2%4%6%8%10%FY20FY22FY24FY26FY2020: 4.99% median, 8 loansFY2021: 3.71% median, 16 loansFY2022: 2.99% median, 10 loansFY2023: 4.16% median, 32 loansFY2024: 6.10% median, 44 loansFY2025: 6.02% median, 40 loansFY2026: 6.40% median, 10 loans6.40%

Huntington

413 loans
2%4%6%8%10%FY20FY22FY24FY26FY2020: 6.00% median, 13 loansFY2021: 5.25% median, 48 loansFY2022: 6.00% median, 25 loansFY2023: 8.75% median, 31 loansFY2024: 7.99% median, 59 loansFY2025: 6.99% median, 59 loansFY2026: 7.00% median, 16 loans7.00%

Live Oak Bank

755 loans
2%4%6%8%10%FY20FY22FY24FY26FY2020: 5.70% median, 61 loansFY2021: 4.85% median, 157 loansFY2022: 5.25% median, 69 loansFY2023: 8.25% median, 71 loansFY2024: 8.75% median, 77 loansFY2025: 7.50% median, 121 loansFY2026: 7.50% median, 115 loans7.50%

Panacea (Primis Bank)

11 loans
2%4%6%8%10%FY20FY22FY24FY26FY2026: 8.75% median, 8 loans8.75%

PNC Bank

59 loans
2%4%6%8%10%FY20FY22FY24FY26FY2020: 4.14% median, 8 loansFY2021: 4.00% median, 12 loansFY2022: 3.74% median, 9 loansFY2023: 5.70% median, 6 loansFY2025: 5.85% median, 3 loans5.85%

Provide (Fifth Third)

94 loans
2%4%6%8%10%FY20FY22FY24FY26FY2020: 8.82% median, 4 loansFY2021: 5.00% median, 4 loansFY2024: 8.75% median, 18 loansFY2025: 7.50% median, 26 loansFY2026: 6.75% median, 35 loans6.75%

U.S. Bank

145 loans
2%4%6%8%10%FY20FY22FY24FY26FY2020: 4.36% median, 8 loansFY2021: 3.68% median, 25 loansFY2022: 5.60% median, 7 loansFY2023: 6.68% median, 4 loansFY2024: 7.29% median, 10 loansFY2025: 6.98% median, 9 loansFY2026: 6.46% median, 8 loans6.46%

Wells Fargo

181 loans
2%4%6%8%10%FY20FY22FY24FY26FY2020: 4.71% median, 21 loansFY2021: 4.15% median, 40 loansFY2022: 4.75% median, 22 loansFY2023: 6.26% median, 10 loansFY2024: 6.96% median, 19 loansFY2025: 6.87% median, 16 loansFY2026: 6.36% median, 8 loans6.36%
Loan packages

Dental practice loan packages explained

Most dental and orthodontic startups use a conventional bank package. Each loan type below is built for a different job.

Startup (de novo) packageBuild-out, equipment, technology, marketing and working capital in one loan. Usually conventional, often up to 100% financing, with no payments or interest-only payments during construction. Typical terms around 10 years.
Practice acquisition loanBuys an existing practice, including goodwill. Underwriting leans on the practice’s past collections. Conventional and SBA 7(a) are both common; SBA can stretch terms and lower the down payment.
Real estate and construction loanBuys or builds your office. Terms up to 25 years. SBA 7(a) and SBA 504 loans are popular here because of long fixed terms and lower down payments; conventional commercial mortgages are the other option.
Equipment loanFinances chairs, imaging, scanners and technology, with the equipment as collateral. Shorter terms. Often bundled into the startup loan the first time.
Working capital lineA line of credit for payroll and supplies while the schedule fills. Easiest to get inside the startup loan; later it depends on the practice’s cash flow.
Refinance and partner buy-inRefinancing replaces an existing loan once the practice has a track record. Buy-in loans help an associate buy into a practice as a partner.
Loan types

Conventional vs SBA dental practice loans

Conventional bank loans: most startupsThe standard for dental and orthodontic startups and many acquisitions. Faster, flexible, often up to 100% financing with deferral during the build. Banks priced new small business term loans near Prime + 0.30% in 2026 (7.05% median).
SBA loans: best for real estateGovernment-backed SBA 7(a) and 504 loans fit buying or building an office and some acquisitions: terms up to 25 years and lower down payments. 7(a) rates are capped at Prime + 3% over $350K. Large dental SBA loans had a 7.50% median in the last 24 months.
The loan process

How a dental practice loan works, step by step

From the first call with a banker to your first payment. Timelines vary by bank and project.

  1. Talk to a dental banker earlyMost banks have practice specialists who only work with doctors. Call two or three before you sign a lease, and include a local or community bank. They can tell you what you qualify for and what they need.
  2. Build your loan packageExpect to provide a business plan with projections, a personal financial statement, tax returns, your credit report, student loan details, a lease letter of intent, and contractor and equipment quotes.
  3. The banker submits it to underwritingYour banker is your advocate, but the underwriter decides. Underwriters review your credit, debt, experience, cash reserves, projections and location, and may come back with questions.
  4. Compare term sheetsApproved lenders send a term sheet or commitment letter: rate, term, fees, deferral, working capital, personal guarantee and conditions. Compare total cost and flexibility, not just the rate.
  5. Closing and legal reviewLoan documents are signed after a final review. Have your attorney read them, especially the personal guarantee, prepayment terms and covenants.
  6. Draws during the buildFor a startup, funds are usually released in draws as construction and equipment are paid. Deferred or interest-only payments often apply during this time.
  7. Open and start paymentsFull payments begin after the deferral or interest-only period ends. From here on, every new loan is judged on the practice’s actual numbers.
From one orthodontist to another

What I wish I knew before my first loan

The startup loan is usually the first loan a doctor gets, and the easiest. Plan it with the next ten years in mind.

Your startup loan is the easiest loan you will ever getBanks compete for new dentists and orthodontists. They lend on your future earning power, often with 100% financing, deferred payments and working capital, before you have a single patient.
Every loan after that gets harderOnce you own a practice, lenders underwrite on cash flow: your practice tax returns, profit and loss, and debt service coverage. A second location, a building, new equipment or a refinance all go through that test.
Home loans for dentists change tooAs an owner, a mortgage lender looks at your personal income and your business returns together, usually two years of them. Depreciation and write-offs that save taxes can make your income look smaller on paper.
Borrow enough working capital the first timeAsking for more money in year one, before the practice shows profit, is much harder than building a cushion into the startup loan.
Ask local and community banks tooThe national dental lenders are not the only option. Some doctors have had better success with smaller local banks, which can be more flexible and want your deposits and long-term relationship. Get at least one local quote to compare.
Read the fine print, not just the ratePersonal guarantees, prepayment penalties, rate locks, required deposit accounts and loan covenants can matter more than a quarter point.
Keep clean books from day oneYour first two years of tax returns become your loan application for everything that comes next. Talk with a dental CPA before you sign anything.

General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. More tips coming.

Before you call

How to start a dental practice: what lenders look at

General guide only. Every lender weighs these differently.

  • Credit score. Higher scores usually get better pricing.
  • Student debt and other debt. Lenders look at total debt against expected income.
  • Cash reserves. Savings after closing show you can handle a slow start.
  • Clinical experience. Associate production history helps a startup case.
  • Business plan and location. Demographics and competition support your projections.
  • Down payment. Putting money in can lower the rate, even when 100% is offered.
Have offers?

Dental practice loan calculator

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FAQ

Dental practice loan questions

What are current dental practice loan rates?

In October 2026, Prime is 7.00%. Banks priced conventional small business term loans at a 7.05% median in Q2 2026, and large dental SBA loans had a 7.50% median over the last 24 months. Your rate depends on credit, loan size, term and whether it is fixed or variable.

Which bank is best for dental practice loans?

It depends on what you need. Bank of America has had the lowest fixed rates on dental loans, Live Oak and Provide (Fifth Third) price variable loans close to Prime, and Huntington, Panacea and U.S. Bank offer 100% financing options. Compare at least three offers on total cost, not just the rate.

Can I get 100% financing to start a dental practice?

Often yes. Several dental lenders advertise up to 100% financing for startups, including equipment, build-out and working capital, for qualified dentists and orthodontists.

Should I use an SBA loan or a conventional loan?

Most dental startups use conventional bank packages because they are fast and flexible. SBA 7(a) and 504 loans fit best for buying or building real estate and for some acquisitions, where long terms and lower down payments help. Ask each lender to quote both when you can.

How are dental practice loan rates set?

Variable loans are usually Prime plus a spread. Fixed loans are usually a 5, 7 or 10-year Treasury rate plus a spread. Each bank sets its own spread based on your credit, loan size and term.

Is it harder to get a mortgage after opening a practice?

Usually. As an owner, lenders review your personal and business tax returns together, often two years of them. Plan any home purchase with your CPA and lender before or around your startup loan.

Is there a dental practice loan calculator?

Yes. Use the calculator on this page to compare two offers, including interest-only months. Nothing you type is saved or sent.

Have questions about your loan?

Book a 45-minute call with Dr. Baharvand to talk through your offers, lenders and startup plan. $250, applied to your first month if you join consulting.

Information is provided by lenders and public sources for comparison only. Rates may vary, and banks may offer promotions not shown here. It is not financial advice or a loan offer. Rates and terms change and depend on credit approval; confirm all terms directly with the lender. White Glove Orthodontist is not a lender or broker. Links to bank pages may be referral links.