Andwise for dentists

What graduates borrow

ADEA reports $297,800 in average educational debt for dental graduates in the class of 2025 who borrowed. ADEA, Dentists of Tomorrow 2025, checked November 5, 2026.

Federal loans from July 2026

Dentistry is on the Education Department's list of professional degrees. A dental student borrowing for the first time on or after July 1, 2026 can take up to $50,000 a year and $200,000 in all in Direct Unsubsidized loans; Grad PLUS loans end for new borrowers. 34 CFR 685.102, definition of professional student (eCFR), checked November 5, 2026.

Pay

In the ADA Health Policy Institute's survey of 2025 incomes, owner general dentists averaged $228,980 in net income and employed general dentists $164,510. ADA Health Policy Institute, Trends in dentist income, checked November 5, 2026.

Ownership

73% of dentists owned a practice in 2023, down from 85% in 2005, according to the ADA Health Policy Institute. ADA Health Policy Institute, Practice ownership trends, checked November 5, 2026.

Non-compete statutes that name the profession

Colorado: for covenants entered or renewed on or after August 6, 2025, the highly-compensated exception to the state's non-compete ban does not apply to covenants restricting the practice of dentistry. Colorado SB25-083, enrolled, checked November 5, 2026.
New Mexico: the Health Care Practitioner Agreement Act lists "a dentist" first among practitioners; non-competes in agreements on or after July 1, 2015 are unenforceable on termination. It does not apply to agreements among owners, partners or directors of a practice. New Mexico SB 325 (2015), final, checked November 5, 2026.
South Dakota: a restriction on a licensed dentist's practice in a contract entered on or after July 1, 2023 is voidable, except a provision that takes effect on the sale of a practice. SDCL 53-9-11.1, checked November 5, 2026.
Tennessee: a restriction on a dentist is deemed reasonable if it is in writing, lasts two years or less, and covers 10 miles or the county, or only the employer's facilities. Tennessee 2007 Pub. Ch. 487, checked November 5, 2026.
Texas: for covenants entered or renewed on or after September 1, 2025, a dentistry non-compete requires a buyout no greater than total annual pay, a term ending within one year, and a radius of no more than five miles. Texas S.B. 1318 (89th Legislature), enrolled, checked November 5, 2026.
Utah: on or after May 6, 2026, a person and a healthcare worker, which includes a dentist, may not enter into a healthcare non-compete agreement; severance and sale-of-business covenants are excepted. Utah Code 34-51-102; Utah Code 34-51-201, checked November 5, 2026.

Example valuesjoinandwise.com/for/dentists10 facts from 11 statutes, programs and surveyschecked November 5, 2026amounts entered are masked

Tools that work today

These tools run on federal and state rules that apply to any borrower or employee. Their labels are written for physicians; the arithmetic is the same.

Which federal repayment plans are open to dental-school loans, and what does each cost? Compare repayment plans
What does this state's law say about a non-compete in a dental associate agreement? Weigh a job offer
When does a practice buy-in at an entered price pay back? Weigh a partnership buy-in
When does the PSLF count reach 120 payments at a health center? PSLF progress: payments left of 120

Planned

What does associate pay on a percentage of collections come to?
What does buying a practice cost each month at an entered price and loan?

For schools, programs and societies

A dental school, residency program or society can distribute these tools under its own name. Terms:co-brand license. To ask, write toprograms@joinandwise.com.

General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Whether a clause in a particular contract is enforceable is a question for an attorney in the state; loan figures are for your servicer to confirm.