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    Loan repayment helps keep dentists, hygienists practicing where they're needed most

    May 20, 2026

    Delta Dental Foundation loan repayment helps keep dentists, hygienists practicing where they're needed most

    Okemos, Mich. – Twenty-six dentists and dental hygienists serving communities in need will receive $350,000 in loan repayment from the Delta Dental Foundation (DDF) this year. This group includes 17 oral health professionals entering their second year of the program.

    Rising education costs—up to an average of $297,800 in student loan debt for dental school—combined with recent federal loan caps often make it harder for many new graduates to choose careers in public health. The DDF’s loan repayment programs are designed to alleviate some of those financial concerns, helping more oral health professionals stay in or choose public health clinics.

    “Public health dentistry depends on professionals willing to serve communities with the greatest need,” said Holli Seabury, EdD, executive director of the DDF. “Our loan repayment program helps support that commitment by stabilizing the oral health workforce.”

    Why is this so important? There are 585 dental health professional shortage areas across Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, where access to dental care remains limited—particularly for those who are uninsured or covered by Medicaid. More than 5.2 million people live in those communities, and many struggle to receive the dental services they need.

    Loan repayment opportunities included:

    • Up to $25,000 per year (for up to three years) for dentists who commit to working in nonprofit clinics
    • Up to $5,000 per year (for up to three years) for dental hygienists who commit to working in nonprofit clinics

    Last year’s cohort of public health loan repayment recipients saw nearly 21,000 patients—a testament to their collective impact.

    “This program is more than financial support—it is an investment in health equity,” said Aditi Gadhvi, DDS, now in her second year of the program, who practices at Good Neighbor House in Ohio. “With [the DDF’s] help, I can continue to expand care for vulnerable populations in Dayton and build a future where every patient, regardless of circumstance, has access to compassionate, high-quality oral health care.”

    By supporting the dentists and dental hygienists serving on the front lines of public health, the DDF is helping remove barriers to care and improve oral health outcomes for thousands of people across the region.

    Public Health Dentist Loan Repayment Program recipients:

    Public Health Hygienist Loan Repayment Program recipients:

    For more information, visit: https://resources.deltadentalmi.com/Loan-Repayment. Private Practice Dentist Loan Repayment Program recipients will be announced by Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana in September.

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    Media Contacts:

    Jen Anderson
    Delta Dental Foundation
    517-375-5507
    jmanderson@deltadentalmi.com