Drilling Into Dental Loan Refinancing
A dentist specific guide to weighing federal loan flexibility against the long term savings of refinancing, with a focus on timing, income stability, and practice plans.
Juno Team
Jan 06, 2026
If you are a practicing dentist a few years out of school with significant federal student loan debt, refinancing can feel like an obvious way to reduce stress. Lower interest rates, faster payoff timelines, and the idea of being debt-free earlier are compelling. At the same time, giving up federal protections can feel risky, especially when policy changes and forgiveness headlines add noise.
There is no universal right answer. The right decision depends on income stability, career plans, and how much flexibility you need in the next phase of your life.
Why This Question Comes Up So Often for Dentists
Dentists often graduate with very large balances, commonly $250,000 to $400,000, but also have strong long-term earning potential. That combination puts dentists squarely in the gray zone between staying federal for flexibility and refinancing for savings.
Unlike physicians, many dentists work in private practice and are unlikely to qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. That makes traditional forgiveness strategies less relevant, but not entirely irrelevant, depending on income-driven repayment plans and long-term projections.
The Case for Staying in Federal Loans
Federal loans offer flexibility that private loans do not. Income-driven repayment plans can keep payments manageable early in your career, especially if income is still ramping or if life expenses are increasing. Federal loans also provide options for deferment, forbearance, and policy-driven relief that private loans typically lack.
For dentists who are considering buying into or purchasing a practice, staying federal can also help preserve cash flow and liquidity. Lower required payments can make it easier to qualify for practice financing or handle variable income in the early years.
Forgiveness under income-driven plans is technically possible after 20 to 25 years, but it should be treated cautiously. Forgiveness is taxable under current law, and future policy is uncertain. It is better viewed as a backstop than a strategy.
The Case for Refinancing
Refinancing can significantly reduce interest costs for dentists with stable income and strong credit. Private refinancing rates are often meaningfully lower than federal rates, and over large balances, the savings can be substantial.
For dentists who are confident they will remain in private practice, do not expect to use PSLF, and can comfortably handle higher fixed payments, refinancing can shorten the repayment timeline and improve long-term net worth. Paying off loans in seven to ten years instead of carrying them for decades can free up cash flow earlier for investing, practice ownership, or personal goals.
The key tradeoff is permanence. Once federal loans are refinanced, there is no going back. Federal protections, payment flexibility, and any future policy changes no longer apply.
Why Timing and Life Stage Matter
Many dentists feel pressure to refinance as soon as possible, but early career years are often the most uncertain. Income may still be rising, practice plans may not be settled, and major life events like buying a home or starting a family may be approaching.
For some, staying federal for a few years while building savings and clarity can be the right move, even if it costs more in interest. For others with strong household income, minimal competing obligations, and high confidence in career trajectory, refinancing earlier can make sense.
A Practical Way to Think About the Decision
Instead of asking “Should I refinance or not,” a better question is “What am I buying with flexibility, and what am I giving up in interest?”
If the flexibility of federal loans meaningfully reduces stress, supports practice plans, or protects against downside risk, it may be worth the extra cost for now. If flexibility is unlikely to be used and the savings from a lower rate are large and sustainable, refinancing can be a rational choice.
Running side-by-side projections, federal versus private, using realistic income and expense assumptions, often makes the tradeoffs clearer.
Where Juno Can Help
Private refinancing is not just about finding the lowest advertised starting rate. Offers vary widely based on credit, timing, and lender appetite, and comparing them can be time-consuming and confusing.
Juno helps dentists navigate refinancing by negotiating group rates with lenders and presenting offers in a more transparent way. There is no obligation to refinance, but seeing negotiated options can help you understand whether refinancing meaningfully improves your situation or whether staying federal still makes sense.
Written By
Juno Team
Juno came into existence to help students save money on student loans and other financial products through group buying power by negotiating with lenders. The Juno Team has worked with 200,000+ students and families to help them save money.
