Heidi Moawad, MD

Students often weigh the option of loan forgiveness programs in contrast to paying back loans and their accumulating interest.

Dental school loans are a major consideration for young dentists. Dental school tuition is costly and few dental students have time for jobs that can make a significant dent in the overall cost of the four years of dental school education. Some students can get help from their parents, but realistically, few parents can help with 

 that run between $36,000-68,000 per year. Most students pay for dental school tuition with loans, with the idea that four years of loans can be relatively painlessly paid back with income from a long career in dentistry. As most students realize, the income of a dentist is enough to make the additional educational costs worth it, but not enough to make it painless. 

Students often weigh the option of loan forgiveness programs in contrast to paying back loans and their accumulating interest. It is worthwhile to investigate loan forgiveness programs as an option for paying for dental school education. 

There are a number of state and federal programs that provide loan repayment and loan forgiveness plans for dental school education costs. Some grant loan repayment plans offer aid to dentists who work in areas that lack access to dental care. 

The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program

 (NHSC LRP) is a federal program that provides up to $50,000 tax-free in loan repayment for two years of fulltime work in rural, urban and frontier communities throughout the United States. Continued service in this program may enable dentists to pay back all of their remaining debt. 

 associated with the United States military offer similar payback structures ranging in amounts based on the practitioner being active duty or reserved status.

Do you pay taxes on student loan forgiveness? 

Most likely yes, unless otherwise specified as in the NHSC LRP example. The vast majority of programs that repay student loans officially report it to the IRS, and the receiver must pay taxes on the amount that is repaid. This is important to keep in mind so that funds are put aside to pay these taxes when they are due.

 of programs, most of which are state specific. Each program has its own requirements for application that may include essays, letters of recommendation, demonstration of financial need, or a commitment to full time professional service in a designated setting.

The rules and regulations regarding the terms of loan forgiveness can seem complicated. A government website, 

, addresses legal and other questions that are common to most student loan forgiveness programs. Each program has its own rules, such as how many installments will be paid, whether money will come directly to the dentist or the lender, and whether or not benefits are forfeited, or a fine is owed, if the dentist switches jobs.

Unfortunately, where there is money, there is dishonesty. There a 

 on the Federal Student Aid website which provides information about avoiding student loan scams. For dentists considering loan forgiveness or loan cancellation programs, it is a good idea to confirm the validity of the program with a bank or their dental school, especially when asked to provide personal identifying information.

Are you allowed to earn money moonlighting?

Sometimes, loan repayment programs require that the beneficiary does not earn over a certain income threshold, and may not allow moonlighting or other work. Be sure to check the fine print, especially if there are opportunities for moonlighting, consulting, or other side jobs.

Can you have your dental education paid for if you do not have loans? 

No, student loan repayment programs and dental education repayment programs only pay back student educational loans. They do not cover the cost of dental education for those who have already fully paid tuition. 

No, not all loans are eligible for every type of repayment plan. This is a recurrent theme that comes up when looking at the different programs. Only some loans are eligible, and that is usually spelled out in the terms of the forgiveness or repayment program. If an individual took a loan from family members, for example, that would not be eligible. Personal loans used for the purposes of paying for dental school costs may not qualify for repayment either. Therefore, it is important to get the information up front before deciding to move to an underserved area or into a needed specialty.

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Dental school tuition is costly and few dental students have time for jobs that can make a significant dent in the overall cost of the four years of dental school education. It is worthwhile to investigate loan forgiveness programs as an option for paying for dental school education. 

Dental School Loan Forgiveness Plans

Letting conversation evolve naturally while networking gives the impression that you are genuine. 

Non-traditional opportunities in the medical field are not widely advertised, so finding these types of opportunities calls for some creativity. Often, dentists with leadership roles or non-clinical jobs are asked or invited to such positions. In these instances, network is everything.

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For many, networking does not come naturally, but luckily, there are some ways to be aggressive without rubbing others the wrong way. For some, a continued effort is required to maintain a balance of assertiveness and amiability.

Sometimes networking is done with little time and a sense of urgency. If you find an opportunity to speak with someone whom you consider valuable or knowledgeable, you can end up in “interview mode,” searching for answers to your many questions. However, sometimes peppering potential colleagues with fact-collecting questions can cause people to recoil.  

Professional connections are human. Dentists don't normally let conversations flow smoothly at the practice, instead following an agenda aimed at collecting information necessary for a medical history. In general, networking is not like a visit in which you need to collect pertinent data and come to a conclusion. Professional colleagues, particularly if they aren't physicians, prefer a more casual, conversational pace rather than one that is data driven.   

While you might feel the need to network professionally because you want to reach a better position at work or transition out of your current role completely, it is important to consider the needs of others. You can learn more by listening to the specific needs of potential colleagues than by asking pointed questions.  

If you ask a doctor in your specialty how much money he earns, you might get some information. But if you find out that he is looking for a partner to cover another hospital in a location that you don't want to drive to, that can be a deal breaker, regardless of the numbers. On the other hand, you might learn that a medical group is looking for someone who can take care of minimally invasive procedures that senior partners aren't trained in. If that is your preference, then the current numbers may matter less than you think. 

A senior level program director offers the following advice. If you have trained in a prestigious university, or if you live in a desirable neighborhood, or if you published a peer-reviewed article, you really don't need to remind your connections repeatedly. If you are disappointed that they have not congratulated you, it is more likely that they have mixed feelings about the matter than that they didn't hear you the first or second time. If you really want someone's attention, you can directly ask what they think about your achievement, but reiterating your achievements will likely frustrate you and will most likely not achieve what you are searching for.   

Connect with others regardless of the benefits 

A very important part of networking involves connecting with others who may have more to gain from you than you have from them.

Making connections for others, even when you might not stand anything to gain, generally takes very little effort and can truly make a difference for people who are looking for professional direction.   

When it comes to networking, there can be many people who gain from the process. You wouldn't be surprised to know that as you are interviewing for jobs, a small group of peers is also looking at the same group of jobs. It benefits no one to be secretive or competitive. Often, things fall into place unexpectedly. At the current time, dentists of all specialties have many job options in most cities across America. What’s more, seasoned dentists advise that cooperating with colleagues always works out better than competing. Networking usually results in more than one winner.   

Networking is a skill that few people have. Many doctors are surprised to realize how important networking is when it comes to professional success. It is important to enter into any networking opportunity without a me-first attitude in order to maximize benefit for everyone

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In the business world, networking is integral for survival. Seeing that there are so many jobs available for dentists, networking is not a necessity for securing employment. But if you have your eye on a leadership role or find yourself interested in searching for a non-traditional job in the field, consider networking as a way to burst onto the scene.    