In March, it seemed like everything changed really quick as businesses, schools, and entire states all went into some form of lockdown. COVID-19 reared its ugly head and it’s stuck around longer than many of us would’ve expected. It’s upset the old normal, and now we’re continuing to learn and come up with the best way to navigate life with this virus.
At our practice, we’ve been paying close attention to shifts in the dental industry to make sure we’re being as safe as we possibly can for our patients while also making sure we can still provide everyone the best dental care possible. In our research, we found that the American Dental Association has been surveying dentists across the country to get a sense of how they’re being impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Since this is new for everyone, we thought we’d share some of our findings.
Almost No Dental Practice is Back to “Business as Usual”
If you’re wanting to get back to regular dental appointments, you’re not alone. According to the American Dental Association’s recent Health Policy Institute report on COVID-19’s impact on dental programs, at the beginning of May only 1.1% of dental clinics were operating at normal capacity. As of the week of June 29, little more than a month ago, only 4.1% were back to business as usual.
Most Dental Practices that Are Open Are Seeing Less Patients or Emergency Patients Only
As of the last week of June, the majority of dental practices are seeing patients but a much lower number of them than usual. About 16% of practices that responded to the ADA’s survey are only seeing patients who have dental emergencies. Nearly 80% of them are seeing patients but reducing the number of patients they are able to treat.
Most Dental Practices Have Plenty of Personal Protective Equipment
When it comes to protective equipment like masks, gowns, and face shields, your dentist is probably in pretty good shape. According to the ADA’s survey, about 75% of dental practices surveyed had enough personal protective equipment on hand to last at least two weeks. Most practices surveyed had more than a two-week supply on hand and ready to go.
About 60% of Dental Practices Are Now Using Some Form of Teledentistry
A lot of people started working from home after the pandemic hit. Workplaces had to get creative with their employees, and dentists also had to get a little creative with their patients. According to the ADA, nearly 60% of dentists are now using some form of teledentistry for screening or non-emergency dental care.
Stay Safe! Thanks for Reading!
The dental industry, like almost all others, has had to adapt to provide services in the middle of a global pandemic. Rest assured that we’re balancing our ability to treat patients with the most rigorous safety standards in place to ensure everyone’s safety.
If you enjoy our blog, please like our Facebook page to make sure you see our newest posts.