The AAO Advocacy team is excited to announce the launch of AAO Student Loan Debt Resources – created specifically to support orthodontic residents and early-career orthodontists as they navigate the challenges of student loan debts and evaluate options for repayment.

Explore Student Loan Debt Resources now.

Becoming an orthodontist requires over a decade of post-secondary education, with the average orthodontic resident graduating with a staggering $567,000 in student loan debt. The burden of student loan debt shapes where orthodontists practice, limits their ability to buy or start practices, and reduces the number of orthodontists pursuing careers as educators.

Addressing these financial challenges is a top AAO priority as we support our members and strengthen the future of dental care in the United States. The AAO has developed a suite of resources to support colleagues, advocates, policymakers, and residents exploring student loan forgiveness programs and policy solutions.

The Student Loan Debt Resources online guide features:

  • General information on federal student loan programs, repayment options, and requirements.
  • Specialized information tailored to the various career paths of orthodontic residents or for individuals with specific situations.
  • State-specific student loan repayment opportunities that orthodontic residents qualify for in Florida, Nevada, and Tennessee. AAO is committed to expanding student loan repayment opportunities through state-specific advocacy efforts. In recent years, the AAO helped secure over $12 million in the Florida state budget to support a dental student loan repayment program that can provide a path for orthodontists to be reimbursed up to $250,000 in student loan debt by meeting program requirements in Florida.
  • Advocacy insights on how the AAO is working to improve student loan policy for the orthodontic community and ways you can get involved and take action.
  • An AAO student loan debt challenges feature video to tell the story to stakeholders about the wider challenges and consequences related to student loan debt impact:
    AAO Student Loan Debt – Easing the Burden Through Reforms

We encourage all residents and early career orthodontists to explore the site and take full advantage of these valuable resources. Please feel free to share this resource site with other AAO members who may be interested in learning more.

In addition, AAO endorsed partner SoFi student loan refinancing gives AAO members a special 0.25% rate discount.

As the AAO focuses on advancing our student loan debt priorities in Washington, D.C. and throughout the states, please help support AAO Advocacy priorities now by making your gift celebrating 125 years of AAO in 2025. It only takes a few minutes to complete your contribution now at AAOPAC.org, using your e-mail address associated with your AAO membership.

Our AAOPAC Pillars of Giving are working and the AAO’s bipartisan advocacy influence continues to grow through member grassroots engagement. Your grassroots voice and AAOPAC support make all the difference!