Buy a Dental Practice

Browse dental practices for sale across 49 states. Updated daily from 115+ brokerages. Free to browse, no login required.

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How to Buy a Dental Practice

Buying a dental practice is a major investment — and one of the best paths to practice ownership. Whether you're a new graduate or an experienced associate, here's how the acquisition process works.

1

Search & Compare

Browse practices by state, city, type, and price. Compare financials, patient counts, and operatories across every major brokerage in one place.

2

Get Pre-Qualified for Financing

Connect with dental-specific lenders and get pre-qualified for an SBA 7(a) loan. Knowing your budget before you start makes the search much more focused.

3

Conduct Due Diligence

Sign an NDA with the listing broker to access full financials, patient records, and practice details. Review everything with your accountant and attorney.

4

Close & Transition

Finalize the purchase agreement, secure financing, and plan the transition. Most sellers offer a transition period to introduce you to patients and staff.

How to Finance a Dental Practice Purchase

Most dental practice acquisitions are financed through SBA 7(a) loans, which offer favorable terms for healthcare professionals. These loans typically cover up to 90% of the purchase price with 10-year repayment terms and competitive interest rates.

Lenders evaluate the practice's cash flow and your debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) — the ratio of the practice's net income to annual loan payments. Most lenders want to see a DSCR of 1.25 or higher. Each listing on our site includes an estimated monthly payment to help you assess affordability.

Other financing options include conventional bank loans, seller financing (where the seller carries a portion of the note), and specialized dental lenders like Bank of America Practice Solutions, Live Oak Bank, and Provide by Fifth Third.

Dental Practice Due Diligence Checklist

Before buying a dental practice, thorough due diligence protects your investment. Here's what to review:

3–5 years of tax returns and financial statements
Current profit & loss statement and balance sheet
Patient demographics: active count, new patients/month, retention rate
Insurance panel participation and fee schedules
Equipment inventory, age, and condition
Lease terms: remaining duration, renewal options, rent amount
Staff roster: roles, tenure, compensation, benefits
Technology assessment: digital imaging, practice management software
Accounts receivable aging report
Competitive landscape and local market demographics

Frequently Asked Questions About Buying a Dental Practice

How do I finance a dental practice purchase?

Most dental practice acquisitions are financed through SBA 7(a) loans, which offer up to 90% loan-to-value with 10-year terms. Other options include conventional bank loans, seller financing, and specialized dental lenders.

What should I look for during dental practice due diligence?

Key items include: 3-5 years of financials, patient demographics and retention, equipment condition, lease terms, staff roles and compensation, insurance panels, and the local competitive landscape.

How much does a dental practice cost?

Prices vary widely. General practices typically sell for 60-80% of annual collections. A practice collecting $800K might list for $480K-$640K. Specialty practices and high-demand markets command higher multiples.

Should I buy an existing dental practice or start from scratch?

Buying an existing practice offers immediate cash flow, an established patient base, and trained staff. Startups take 2-3 years to reach profitability but offer complete control. Most brokers recommend acquisition for first-time buyers.

Related Resources

Sell Your Dental Practice — Free valuations and expert guidanceBrowse All Dental Practices for Sale — Search by state, city, and practice type