Dental care has changed dramatically since the coronavirus took hold of the United States. With stay-at-home orders implemented across the country, visiting the dentist is possibly the last priority for the majority of Americans. It is unsafe for patients and staff members alike, as the chance of spreading the disease in an office is far too high for dentistry to continue as normal.

To help combat the spread of covid-19, the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) have released information on the best safety practices for dentistry. This includes an increase in personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff, office cleanings between every appointment, and testing the temperature of each patient before his or her appointment. These guidelines may help dental practices navigate this unprecedented time and sustain their businesses.

It may take years to understand the long-term economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the dental industry. As a result, it is important for dentists to stay informed, prepare for a long-lasting impact, and do what they can to prevent the spread of infection.

The Nationwide Economic Impact of Covid-19 on Dentistry

Scheduling a dentist appointment has become an extremely low priority for most patients, and nearly all dental practices have stopped scheduling non-emergency visits. Many practices allow only one patient at a time to be in the office. Though these preventative measures keep everyone safe, they have had a severe impact on the industry.

According to a Health Policy Institute (HPI) poll, 76 percent of dental practices are closed except for emergency appointments. 19 percent are closed indefinitely and will not see any emergency patients. Approximately 5 percent are still open, but seeing far fewer patients.

In effect, every single dental practice in the United States is suffering. Though emergency appointments are generating some revenue, they will not bring in nearly enough to keep dental practices functioning at a normal pace.

In recent dental news, the HPI reported that 69 percent of dentists are collecting less than 5 percent of what they normally do in terms of revenue. 16 percent are collecting between 5 and 10 percent of their normal revenue. It is unclear how long dental practices can continue to function at this level.

Many dental offices have also had to lay off most of their staff workers, from receptionists to hygienists. In the HPI poll, 45 percent of dentists reported that they had to reduce pay per staff member. 27 percent said their staff was still receiving full pay, and 28 percent said that they were unable to pay any staff members.

Consequently, dentistry today has changed dramatically and may not recover immediately. The ADA recently released new research which suggests that dental care spending in the U.S. will decrease by 66 percent in 2020 and 32 percent in 2021. This may be due in part to unemployment levels across the country. Millions of Americans are unemployed and may no longer have dental insurance, which means they are not likely to visit the dentist and spend money out-of-pocket until they have job security.

Many offices are in need of financial relief. Most practices have reported that they may need to further reduce their staff and apply for loans in the coming months. Others reported that they may need to file for bankruptcy or sell their practices if the current situation extends into August. As a result, the choices dentists make in the next two to three months are crucial to maintaining their practices.

The Future of Dentistry, Post-Covid

The path to economic recovery for the dental industry is uncertain. According to recent economic forecasts, the U.S. economy is likely to make a full recovery in May 2021. Based on dental industry news from the ADA, the dental economy could also make a full recovery by that time, or it could recover to only 80 percent of its pre-covid projected levels. It’s more likely that it will recover to only 80 percent, which means that dentists should take certain precautions and prepare themselves for this reality.

While these predictions are verified by careful data analysis, it’s important to remember that dental economic recovery will ultimately depend on when the CDC lifts restrictions on non-emergency appointments. Furthermore, different states will have different timelines on when to lift stay-at-home orders. This means that dental offices may not reopen all at once and may instead reopen in staggered waves.

In addition, the discovery of a vaccine will tremendously influence the spending habits of the public. If a vaccine isn’t found until 2021 or 2022, many Americans will remain cautious about visiting the dentist for quite some time.

Still, dental practices may see a spike in revenue whenever stay-at-home orders are lifted, as consumers may be eager to reenter society and increase their spending habits. Patients who are long overdue for cleanings and non-emergency procedures are likely to schedule appointments.

This does not mean, however, that dentists will be able to move on with their practices as though covid-19 never happened. Patients and staff alike will still be concerned about the spread of germs and will expect certain safety precautions to remain in place. For instance, dentists may continue to test patients for fevers and ask them questions about their travel before offering dental services. Some offices may also choose to keep the number of patients in the waiting room to a minimum by scheduling them far enough apart.

The reluctancy of staff members to come back into the office after the coronavirus pandemic will also depend on how much PPE each office has available. Supplies are still being rationed, and it is unclear whether every dental practice will have enough PPE available to equip a full staff. Thus, the rationing of supplies will play a big role in how quickly different practices reopen.

Ultimately, it is important for you to prepare for a future that is still affected by the pandemic. Your patients will take your lead when determining how to prepare for the new normal, so it is best to take precautions seriously and do your utmost to prevent the spread of infection.