The burden of debt for Canadian dental students: part 2. A report on survey participants and an analysis of dental education costs.

There are many anecdotes, but few facts about the issue of dental students' debt in Canada. This second of a 4-part series about dental students' debt attempts to remedy this situation. In January 2004, students at Canada's 10 dental schools were invited to participate in a survey on costs, debt and other factors related to attending dental school in Canada. The survey provided previously inaccessible demographic information about levels of debt amongst dental students. A typical dental student respondent had completed 4 years of post-secondary education, was in first year of dental school, was single with no dependents, did not work outside of classes, lived in rented accommodation and walked to school. Reported costs to attend dental school varied widely among Canadian dental schools. Choice of school and year of study had a significant effect on overall costs of attending dental school.