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3 Must-Knows to Help Manage Dental School Debt

Build a more solid financial foundation: Create a plan now, before you graduate, to manage student debt, insure against income loss due to disability and build an emergency fund.

ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS CAN HELP YOU MAP OUT A PLAN.

Graduating from dental school and beginning a practice are both exciting milestones in a dentist's life. Unfortunately for many dentists and dentists-to-be, those two events can also be accompanied by student loan concerns. That's because dental student debt burden continues to grow. For example, the average borrower in the class of 2022 finished dental school $286,200 in debt. For more than 42% of graduates, their debt exceeded $300,000.i It's easy for those large sums to feel overwhelming, but careful planning can help you prepare for that debt as well as other expenses and unexpected events. These three questions can help jump-start the process.

1. What's the effect of different loan payment options on monthly cash flow?

No single loan repayment plan is best for everyone. Start by evaluating your goals and your financial situation. Consider these two options:

  • A typical 10-year repayment plan offers a quicker loan repayment schedule and less total interest paid versus a longer loan term, but it carries higher monthly payments, which reduces monthly cash flow.
  • An extended loan repayment schedule lowers monthly payments and frees up more cash to put toward other expenses, but it equals more interest over the life of the loan. However, if your monthly obligations — such as living expenses — are low or stabilize after graduation, you may be able to put extra funds toward your loan, which can help trim time off the total loan repayment period.

2. How do I pay my debt if I am unable to work?

Making realistic plans for your successful future as a dentist means considering what you'd do if you couldn't work either for a short time or an extended period. It's particularly urgent to consider. According to actual disability claims received, you have a one in four chance of becoming disabled at some point before retirement.ii

There are several options that can help you bridge this gap. One is to build an emergency fund; many experts recommend saving three to six months of salary to help cover just such circumstances. And an emergency fund can figure into the second essential in any dentist's plan: disability insurance.

Disability insurance may be a must to help protect you and your family from financial loss if you can't work for a period of time. For example, that monthly disability benefit can help pay for your living expenses and allow you to keep up on your student loan payments. That in turn can help you from falling behind on loan payments, protecting your credit and ensuring you won't be subject to penalties and additional interest.

A group disability policy specifically designed for dentists may be worth considering. A group disability policy can offer significant savings over time, which may free up additional cash flow to put toward your student loan payments. Finally, include your emergency fund in any considerations about the length of a waiting period before your disability insurance kicks in.

3. What happens to my student loans if I were no longer there to repay them?

If you die before you've paid off your student loans, your debt could pass on to your family members. That's just one reason why life insurance may be critical: It can provide funds to help pay off your loans and help secure your family's future by providing a cash benefit. And much like disability insurance, group life insurance policies for dentists may offer lower premiums, which in turn may lead to greater financial flexibility. (Calculating the amount of life and disability insurance that's best for your needs may be difficult. The ADA member insurance coverage calculator can help.)

Build a more solid financial foundation: Create a plan now, before you graduate, to manage student debt, insure against income loss due to disability and build an emergency fund.

iHanson, Melanie. "Average Dental School Debt" EducationData.org, November 19, 2022, https://educationdata.org/average-dental-school-debt
iiOdds of disability are based on actual disability claims submitted by insured ADA members.

CLC.2435143 (03.23)
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The information on this website is not a contract. Protective refers to Protective Life Insurance Company (PLICO) and its affiliates, including Protective Life and Annuity Company (PLAIC). PLICO, founded in 1907, is located in Nashville, TN and is licensed in all states excluding New York. PLAIC is located in Birmingham, AL, and is licensed in New York.

Protective® is a registered trademark of PLICO. The Protective trademarks, logos and service marks are property of PLICO and are protected by copyright, trademark, and/or other proprietary rights and laws. ADA® is a registered trademark of the American Dental Association (ADA). ADA Members Insurance Plans® is a registered service mark of the ADA. The ADA trademarks, logos, and service marks are the property of the ADA and used by Protective with permission. In some states, the ADA is entitled to receive royalties from the ADA Members Insurance Plans.

ADA Members Insurance Plans refers to the group life, disability, and supplemental medical policies issued by PLICO and PLAIC to the ADA.

Policies issued by PLICO in all states except New York: Term Life Insurance1 (TL-P 1-21), Student Term Life Insurance (TL-ST-P 2-21), Universal Life Insurance1 (TP-P 11-20), Level Term Insurance2 (LT-P 1-21), Disability Income Protection Insurance3 (IP-P 7-20), Office Overhead Expense Disability Insurance4 (OE-P 9-20), Student Disability Income Insurance3 (ST-P 8-20), Hospital Indemnity Insurance (HI-P 11-20), and Critical Illness Insurance (CI-P 7-20).

In New York, policies issued by PLAIC: Term Life Insurance1 (TL-P-NY 1-21), Student Term Life Insurance (TL-ST-P-NY 2-21), Universal Life Insurance1 (TP-P-NY 2-21), Level Term Life Insurance2 (LT-P-NY 2-21), Disability Income Protection Insurance3 (IP-P-NY 12-20), Office Overhead Expense Disability Insurance4 (OE-P-NY 01-21), Student Disability Income Insurance1 (ST-P-NY 1-21), Hospital Indemnity Insurance (HI-P-NY 1-21), and Critical Illness Insurance (CI-P-NY).

Consult the policy for benefits, riders, limitations, and exclusions. Benefits adjusted for misstatements of age or sex. Benefits are provided under a group policy issued to the ADA. Each Plan participant will receive a Certificate of Insurance explaining the terms and conditions of the policy. An insured must maintain continuous ADA membership to remain eligible for insurance.

1For term life insurance and universal life insurance, premiums increase annually based on age. The Premium Credit is not guaranteed but reevaluated periodically. Universal life recommended premiums consist of the costs of insurance (which vary based on the member’s age and coverage amount), the amount a member places into the Policy Value Account and service charge. Premium deposits may fluctuate or remain level.

2For level term life insurance, premiums are fixed based on the member’s age, gender and coverage amount at issue.

3Premiums increase every five years based on age for disability income protection. Premium Credit is not guaranteed but reevaluated periodically.

4Premiums increase every 10 years based on age to age 60 and every 5 years thereafter to age 75 for office overhead expense disability. Premium credit is not guaranteed but reevaluated periodically.

Coverage for dental student members is issued regardless of condition if under age 60. Coverage automatically renews each academic year. Individuals may convert coverage to the plans for practicing dentists after graduation by paying member premiums and maintaining continuous ADA membership.

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