As the world grapples with the unrelenting onslaught of COVID-19, no profession has been left untouched by its wrath. But among the many casualties of the pandemic, dental practices have suffered, perhaps more than others. With anxious patients avoiding all but the most essential dental care, dentists have found themselves in a precarious position, struggling to keep their chairs filled and their practices afloat.

Downward Spiral of Dental Practice Revenues

Various countries have imposed strict lockdown measures and social distancing protocols to curtail the spread of the virus. As a result, dental practices have been forced to limit their services to emergency procedures only. This has led to a sharp decline in patient visits, with dental practices experiencing revenue losses of up to 90% in some areas. To make matters worse, dentists have had to invest heavily in protective equipment and implement additional sanitization measures to adhere to the new COVID-19 safety guidelines.

The Staggering Cost of PPE: A Necessary Evil

In the pre-COVID era, dentists would don a trusty pair of gloves and a mask before wielding their pointy tools of doom upon our unsuspecting teeth. Alas, those days are long gone. Now, dentists must resemble astronauts to perform even the simplest of procedures. Gowns, face shields, N95 masks, hairnets – you name it – all in the name of protecting themselves and their patients.However, this newfound obsession with safety has come at a steep price. As demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) soars, so too does its cost, leaving dentists to grapple with skyrocketing overheads. Some dental practices have reported spending over $25,000 on PPE alone – money that could have been invested in upgrading the laughing gas machine or perhaps buying a snazzier dental chair.

Tele-Dentistry: A Futile Attempt at Social Distancing

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and so, tele-dentistry was born. Picture this: You wake up with a throbbing toothache. But instead of rushing to the dental clinic for a quick check-up, you hop on a video call with your friendly neighborhood dentist. You then proceed to spend the next 10 minutes trying to position your smartphone camera inside your mouth while the dentist squints at the screen, attempting to diagnose your issue.While tele-dentistry may be a valiant attempt at minimizing close contact between dentists and patients, it’s hard to ignore the glaring limitations. After all, there’s only so much poking and prodding that can be done through a screen. And we all know the main reason we visit the dentist is for the sweet, sweet validation that comes from a thorough flossing scolding.

Fighting for Financial Survival: Government Support and Patient Financing

Many governments have introduced stimulus packages and financial aid for small businesses to help them weather the storm. Dental practices, however, often fall through the cracks, with many ineligible for assistance due to their size or the nature of their services. Those that do qualify may find that the funding barely scratches the surface in terms of covering their mounting expenses.With this in mind, some dental practices have turned to patient financing options to stay afloat. By offering flexible payment plans, they can encourage patients to undergo necessary treatments without breaking the bank. While this may help bring some patients back through the door, it’s unlikely to be the panacea that dental practices need to return to their pre-pandemic glory.

Conclusion: The Uncertain Future of Dental Practices

As we slowly emerge from the dark depths of the pandemic, the future of dental practices remains shrouded in uncertainty. Will patients flock back to the dentist’s chair once the worst is over, or will the fear of infection continue to keep them at bay? Only time will tell. In the meantime, dentists must continue to adapt and evolve, searching for new and innovative ways to keep their practices afloat in these trying times.But in the midst of all this chaos, there may be a silver lining for patients. For as dental practices struggle to lure back their clientele, they may be forced to reevaluate their tactics. Perhaps they’ll invest in better-tasting toothpaste or adopt gentler drilling techniques. Or maybe, just maybe, they’ll finally put an end to the dreaded question we all dread: “Have you been flossing regularly?”

FAQ