All signs point to a slow recovery for dental care. According to a regular survey conducted by the Health Policy Institute, about 1/3 of practices are seeing fewer than normal patients and those results are confirmed by PCE data released last week. Consumption is well below 2019 levels and shows few signs of life. The deficit seems intractable.
The age of dentists, pre-pandemic, suggests retirements are probably a factor. It is an area of medicine, like behavioral health, that operates largely outside the reimbursement system so, other than the PPP program, there was little federal support to act as a deterrent to closing shop. In the same survey dentists are reporting that more staff is required to service the same patients and that could also be having an impact on patient flow.
Finally, dental care also suffers from long standing resistance to getting it. People like going to the dentist as much as they like getting a colonoscopy. The difference, of course, is one happens every ten years, the other is supposed to happen every six months.
Access the CPI, PPI & PCE chartbook here.
Let me know if you have any questions and would love to know what you think.
Emily Evans
Managing Director – Health Policy
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