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There are record numbers of vacant faculty positions at dental schools, including an estimated 406 vacancies in 2006-2007. The number of vacancies could reach 900 if current full-time faculty age 60 and above choose to retire in the next decade. Since educational debt plays a major role in postgraduate career planning, and as faculty positions provide about a third of private practice income, it is not surprising that few dental school graduates elect to enter the academic field as instructors.
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Overview
Indebtedness is a significant issue for graduating dental students. The average educational debt bourn by recent graduates averaged over $162,155 per graduate in 2006.1
The overwhelming financial burden has led many new dentists to shy away from practicing in low-density and underserved areas and pursuing careers in teaching, research, or administration. It has also deterred many undergraduate students from pursuing careers in dentistry.
The ADA believes the cost of dental education should not be a prohibitive factor for those wanting to enter the dental profession and better serve their communities. The Association supports increasing appropriations for federally supported grants, scholarships, and loan forgiveness and service payback programs, with particular emphasis on enhancing the supply and distribution of the nation's dental workforce. The Association also supports expanding the use of federal direct loan and loan guarantee programs and providing tax incentives to help dental students finance all or part of their education.
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Letters and Testimony
- August 31, 2009—Letter commending Reps. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I. 1st) and Mike Simpson (R-Idaho 2nd) for introducing H.R. 1930
 , the Primary Care Dental Academic Workforce Development Act of 2009. | PDF file/46k
- October 30, 2007—Press release from Reps. Ron Kind (D-Wisc. 3rd) and Dave Camp (R-Mich. 4th), urging support for the Native American Full Access to Dental Care Act of 2007 (HR 3960 ). | PDF file/55k
- April 20, 2007—Coalition letter urging House Ways and Means Committee member Philip English (R-Pa. 3rd) to support the Higher Education Affordability and Equity Act of 2007 (HR 1407 ). | PDF file/52k
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ADA Resources
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Additional Resources
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Contact Us
For additional information, please contact:
Federal Affairs
1111 14th Street NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005
202.898.2400
Fax: 202.898.2437
E-mail: govtpol@ada.org
State Government Affairs
ADA Chicago Headquarters
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
312.440.2525
Fax: 312.440.3539
E-mail: govtpol@ada.org
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