---
title: "What Is Dental school debt? Dental Practice Glossary"
description: "Dental school debt is the student loan balance a dentist carries after graduating, and it can shape decisions about work, location and buying a practice."
url: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-school-debt
publisher: Copeland Consulting Services
email: drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com
contact: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact
---

Finance and valuation

# Dental school debt

Dental school debt is the student loan balance a dentist carries after graduating, and it can shape decisions about work, location and buying a practice.

The ADA's Health Policy Institute reported in June 2026 that a new federal limit of 50,000 dollars per year on borrowing for professional degree programs, including dentistry, applies to first-year dental students starting July 1 of that year. It also reported that average dental student borrowing goes well over the new limit in nearly every dental program in the U.S. Graduates with large balances may choose a salaried job or an [associateship](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/associateship) before they consider buying a practice. Options for repayment include [student loan refinancing](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/student-loan-refinancing). Borrowers should compare federal and private terms with a financial adviser.

[Next stepPractice consulting with Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact?topic=consulting)

## Related terms

-   [Student loan refinancing](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/student-loan-refinancing)
-   [Associateship](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/associateship)
-   [Practice ownership](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/practice-ownership)
-   [Practice loan](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/practice-loan)

## Sources

1.  [ADA Health Policy Institute, Federal Loan Cap May Put Dental School Out of Reach for Some Students (June 2026)](https://www.ada.org/resources/research/health-policy-institute/dental-education/federal-loan-caps-on-dental-education)

## Talk with Dr. Copeland

[Contact Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact)[Email](mailto:drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com)