Patient no-shows and cancellations were the biggest barrier preventing dental practice schedules from being 100 percent full in April, according to a survey from 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 for the week of April 17.
Here are the factors 807 respondents said prevented full practice schedules:
Patient no-shows and cancellations less than 24 hours before their appointment: 81.3 percent
Patient no-shows and cancellations more than 24 hours before their appointment: 45 percent
Not enough patients making appointments: 37.9 percent
Trouble filling vacant staff positions: 33.1 percent
Other: 6.9 percent
COVID-19 safety protocols: 4.1 percent