Short Answer

Dental equipment financing funds chairs, imaging, CBCT, CAD/CAM, and operatory equipment. Rates: 7.5–18% APR depending on credit and practice age. 100% financing is standard for established practices. Section 179 can deduct up to $1.16M in equipment purchases in 2026. Henry Schein Financial, Live Oak, and Bank of America are top dental equipment lenders.

Dental Equipment Financing (2026)

Key Takeaways

  • → Equipment financing is secured by the equipment — easier to qualify than unsecured business loans.
  • → Established practices typically get 100% financing with no down payment.
  • → Section 179 deduction can shelter up to $1.16M of equipment purchases in 2026.
  • → Lease vs. buy depends on technology obsolescence — chairs buy, CBCT often lease.
  • → Approval is fast — 1–5 business days at specialty lenders with complete documentation.

Best Dental Equipment Financing Lenders

1

eBoost Partners

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Best Overall — Multi-Lender Quote Matching

From 7.99% Up to $5,000,000 600+ FICO
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2

Live Oak Bank

#1 SBA Dental Lender

From 9.75% Up to $5,000,000 650+ FICO
Check My Rate → Full review
3

Bank of America

Best National Bank

From 8.5% Up to $5,000,000 680+ FICO
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4

Wells Fargo Practice Finance

Best for Established Practices

From 8.75% Up to $5,000,000 680+ FICO
Check My Rate → Full review
5

Huntington Bank

Best Regional Bank for Dental

From 9% Up to $3,000,000 660+ FICO
Check My Rate → Full review
6

TD Bank Practice Solutions

Best for East Coast Dentists

From 9.25% Up to $3,500,000 660+ FICO
Check My Rate → Full review

What Dental Equipment Qualifies?

Specialty dental equipment lenders finance virtually any equipment used in the practice:

  • Operatory equipment — Dental chairs, delivery units, lights, suction systems ($15K–$40K per operatory)
  • Imaging — Intraoral X-ray, panoramic, CBCT scanners ($25K–$150K)
  • Digital workflow — Intraoral scanners, CAD/CAM mills, 3D printers ($30K–$160K)
  • Sterilization — Autoclaves, ultrasonic cleaners, sterilization centers ($10K–$50K)
  • Lasers — Soft tissue and hard tissue lasers ($20K–$80K)
  • Practice technology — Practice management software, computers, networking ($15K–$50K)
  • Office furniture and millwork — Reception, consultation rooms, doctor's office

Equipment Loan vs. Equipment Lease

Feature Equipment Loan Equipment Lease
OwnershipYou own from day 1Lender owns; you lease
Monthly paymentHigherLower (15–25% less)
Down payment0–20%First + last month typical
End of termEquipment is yours, paid offBuy out, renew, or return
Tax treatmentSection 179 + depreciationPayments fully deductible
Best forLong-term hold (chairs, sterilization)Tech that ages fast (CBCT, scanners)

Section 179 Tax Strategy for Dental Equipment

Section 179 of the IRS code lets a practice deduct the full cost of qualifying equipment in the year of purchase rather than depreciating it over 5–7 years. For 2026, the limit is $1.16M with a phaseout starting at $2.89M total equipment purchases. For most single-doctor practices, this means you can effectively expense your entire annual equipment investment.

Example: A practice nets $300K and purchases $150K of new equipment in December. Without Section 179, the practice depreciates ~$30K annually. With Section 179, the practice deducts the full $150K, dropping taxable income to $150K and saving roughly $50K in federal taxes (at a 33% effective rate).

Important: Section 179 applies to equipment placed in service by December 31. Timing your purchase matters. Consult your CPA before committing to large year-end equipment purchases.

Manufacturer Financing Programs

The major dental equipment manufacturers and distributors all offer financing programs:

  • Patterson Dental Capital — Up to $750K for chairs, sterilization, imaging. Promotional 0% offers on select equipment.
  • Henry Schein Financial Services — Equipment leases and loans across the full Henry Schein equipment portfolio. Often the most flexible.
  • Benco Dental Financial — Financing tied to Benco equipment purchases. Competitive on smaller deals.

Manufacturer financing is convenient and often promotional, but compare against independent specialty lenders (Live Oak, BofA). For larger equipment packages, independents frequently beat manufacturer rates outside of promo periods.

How to Get Approved Quickly

  • Have documents ready — Last 2 years of business tax returns, last 6 months of bank statements, equipment quote with VIN/serial numbers.
  • Pre-qualify with 2–3 lenders — Soft pulls; no credit impact. Equipment loan rates vary by 2–4% between lenders on identical deals.
  • Time around year-end — Many lenders push aggressive pricing in Q4 to hit year-end volume targets.
  • Bundle multiple equipment purchases — A $200K combined loan typically prices better than two $100K loans.

Get Equipment Financing Quotes

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Related Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can I finance for dental equipment?
Specialty equipment lenders fund $5,000 to $1 million per practice for dental equipment. Most operatory build-outs, chairs, and standard imaging equipment fall in the $50,000–$300,000 range. CBCT scanners alone run $75K–$150K. CAD/CAM systems run $80K–$160K. Lenders cap exposure at roughly the resale value of the equipment.

What is the typical dental equipment financing rate?
Rates range from 7.5% APR (excellent credit, established practice) to 18% APR (newer practices or marginal credit). For an established practice with 680+ credit, expect 8.5–11%. Manufacturer-sponsored programs sometimes offer promotional 0% financing for 24–36 months on specific equipment lines (Patterson, Henry Schein, Benco).

Should I lease or finance dental equipment?
Buy/finance for equipment you'll use for 7+ years with stable technology (operatory chairs, sterilization, basic imaging). Lease for technology that changes rapidly (CBCT, CAD/CAM, intraoral scanners) where you'll want to upgrade in 3–5 years. Tax treatment also matters — Section 179 favors purchase, but lease payments are fully deductible as operating expenses.

Can I use Section 179 to deduct dental equipment?
Yes — Section 179 allows up to $1.16M (2026 limit) of qualifying equipment to be deducted in the year of purchase rather than depreciated over time. For an established practice with profits, this can save $30,000–$80,000 in federal taxes on a $200K equipment purchase. Consult your CPA — phaseouts apply above $2.89M total equipment spend per year.

Do I need a down payment for dental equipment financing?
Most established practices qualify for 100% equipment financing with no down payment. New practices and de novos typically need 10–20% down. Manufacturer-backed financing (Henry Schein, Patterson) often offers 0% down at promotional rates. Down payment requirements drop significantly when the practice has 2+ years of strong financials.