Jan. 21, 2025

Delta Dental, Delta Dental Foundation Tackle Student Loan Debt

Okemos, Mich. — It costs too much for tuition. The debt load is too high. I’m worried I can’t make enough money at a public health clinic. I don’t have enough dental hygienists to staff my practice.

These are just some of the workforce concerns we’ve heard from prospective dental students, dental hygiene students and oral health professionals, and the cost of ignoring them is high.

In Michigan, Ohio and Indiana alone, there are 486 dental health professional shortage areas, where there aren’t enough dentists to serve the needs of the people. More than 3.7 million people live in those communities, and many have difficulty accessing care—affordable or otherwise.

Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana and the Delta Dental Foundation are listening. As part of our investment in the future of oral health, we’re collectively offering a new suite of scholarship and loan repayment opportunities for dentists and hygienists.

“Dental school costs have increased and continue to increase,” said Jeff Johnston, DDS, chief science officer, Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. “It makes sense that a dentist saddled with substantial debt would want to work in an area that allows them to pay it down. Our loan repayment programs will help cover those costs, allowing dentists—and hygienists—to work in high-need areas.”

These scholarship and loan repayment programs include:

• A loan repayment program funded by Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana to support private practice dentists in underserved communities. Dentists can apply for up to $40,000 in loan repayment each year for up to five years ($200,000 total). At least 15% of the dentist’s patients must be covered by Medicaid each year.
• A loan repayment program funded by the Delta Dental Foundation for dentists (up to $25,000 per year, up to three years) who commit to working in nonprofit clinics.
• A loan repayment program funded by the Delta Dental Foundation for dental hygienists (up to $5,000 per year, up to three years) who commit to working in nonprofit clinics.
• A scholarship program for dental hygiene students to cover the cost of instrument kits (up to $5,000, for students entering dental hygiene school) and tuition (up to $10,000 per year, up to two years), funded by Delta Dental and administered by the Delta Dental Foundation.

The goals are simple: help make dental hygiene school a reality for would-be students and reduce the financial burden on dentists and dental hygienists committed to serving underserved communities.

“According to many dental hygiene programs, one of the biggest barriers students face is the cost of the materials kit they need to start the program,” said Holli Seabury, EdD, executive director of the Delta Dental Foundation. The average upfront cost for instrument kits, lab fees and uniforms ranges from about $5,300 to $10,000. “Financial aid and other scholarships often can't be used for those kits, which is why we want to address it.”

The application period for all scholarship and loan repayment programs will open on Feb. 11, 2025. For full details or to apply, visit https://deltadental.pub/loanrepayment. 

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About the Delta Dental Foundation
The Delta Dental Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization established in 1980, which serves as the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and North Carolina. The DDF is dedicated to developing and enhancing partnerships and programs to improve oral and overall health and health equity. For more information, visit www.deltadental.foundation.

Media Contact:

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