Dental Debt: Why You May Have More Reason for Optimism Than You Think
If you’re a dentist preparing to open your own practice, chances are you’ve already done the math—and the number probably made your stomach turn. Between the cost of dental school and launching a practice, it’s now possible to owe $1 million before you even treat your first patient.
And yet… I’m here to tell you there’s reason for optimism.
Strange thing to say, right? But stick with me.
At Ideal Practices, we’ve helped over 900 dentists open their own practices—and that means we’ve seen the full spectrum of debt, doubt, and yes, financial success on the other side. And there are two key reasons you can feel encouraged about your dental debt right now:
#1 – Most dentists don’t owe a full million
Despite headlines and horror stories, the average total dental debt is closer to $620,000—not $1 million. That includes:
Around $220,000 in dental school debt
And roughly $400,000 to open or acquire a practice
Now, that’s still a serious number. But compared to seven-figure fears, it’s good to understand the real average. It gives us something tangible to work with—and plan around.
Some of you may owe less. Maybe you earned scholarships. Maybe you worked side jobs. Maybe you’ve got some help from family. Great. But even for the majority who do carry high six-figure debt, here’s the mindset shift I want you to consider…
Is your dental debt an investment… or an anchor?
This is the make-or-break question.
If that debt is going to drag you down, keep you up at night, and prevent you from creating a practice that serves patients and supports your lifestyle—then yes, it’s a problem.
But if that dental debt is a strategic investment into a career where you can earn $250k+ annually, build a valuable business asset, and control your clinical destiny…
…then it’s actually one of the most powerful investments you’ll ever make.
The data tells a story—so let’s look at the trend
In just the last four years, the average dental school debt load has climbed 16%, from $190,000 to $221,000. If that pace continues, we’ll see graduates pushing $250k+ in education debt alone very soon.
Combine that with practice ownership, and we’re talking $600k+ in total debt for many new dentists.
Yes, the number’s rising. But so is your opportunity—if you know how to treat that debt like the business decision it really is.
Here’s the difference:
Credit card debt = drains income
A loan for a fancy car = looks nice, no return
But dental school debt = a license to earn and build equity
The big question you need to ask is this:
Will your dental debt generate profit for your future—and your family?
If the answer is no, you’ve got a costly education with no plan for return. But if the answer is yes—and you set yourself up for smart, profitable ownership—then your dental debt isn’t the problem. It’s actually your launchpad.
Coming up next:
In the next post, we’ll dig into the real-world math of dental debt. We’ll talk about what it takes to turn that six-figure loan into long-term wealth. Not theory—actual numbers, including what you need to produce, earn, and keep to make the whole thing work.
We’ll also get honest about the trade-offs and the upside that comes with ownership.
Bottom line? With the right plan, the weight of dental debt can become your biggest financial advantage.
Until next time,
—Stephen Trutter