Supplies, staff wages and rent are a few expenses with a higher price tag this year for dental practices, according to an August poll by the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.
The poll was taken as part of the ADA's monthly "Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues in Dentistry" report. The HPI surveyed about 1,200 dentists on their operating expenses, according to a Sept. 8 news release.
Here is the percentage of dentists who experienced increasing costs at their dental practices:
Supplies and materials
- Increased more than 20 percent: 26 percent
- Increased 11-20 percent: 42 percent
- Increased 1-10 percent: 27 percent
Staff wages
- Increased more than 20 percent: 16 percent
- Increased 11-20 percent: 31 percent
- Increased 1-10 percent: 44 percent
Lab fees
- Increased more than 20 percent: 8 percent
- Increased 11-20 percent: 27 percent
- Increased 1-10 percent: 47 percent
PPE
- Increased more than 20 percent: 31 percent
- Increased 11-20 percent: 27 percent
- Increased 1-10 percent: 22 percent
Equipment
- Increased more than 20 percent: 13 percent
- Increased 11-20 percent: 30 percent
- Increased 1-10 percent: 34 percent
Rent/mortgage
- Increased more than 20 percent: 4 percent
- Increased 11-20 percent: 8 percent
- Increased 1-10 percent: 27 percent