The American Dental Association is expressing support for several proposals made by the U.S. Department of Education to change regulations for student loan debt relief.
The ADA is advocating for providing relief for different loan types including direct, federal family education loans, Perkins and health education assistance loans, according to a May 24 news release.
Another initiative the organization is backing is the extension of debt relief to the 76% of dental school borrowers who have outstanding Grad PLUS loans.
The agency also created a new income-driven repayment plan, which received support from the ADA.
More than 66% of new dentists in 2022 started their careers in dentistry owing $293,000 in student loans, the release said.