Becker's has reported on eight dental practice closings so far this year.
Staffing shortages and financial constraints were cited for several of the closures. Here is how the two challenges led to practice closures this year:
- Lake Placid, N.Y.-based Adirondack Health Dental Care received official approval from the state in August to close its dental clinic. The health system looked to close the clinic due to the clinic causing Adirondack Health to lose approximately $350,000 annually. It closed the clinic indefinitely in June after staff resignations.
- The Dental Center of Northwest Ohio shut down after experiencing staffing and financial challenges during the last two years. Siemens Financial Services also filed a lawsuit against the dental center for failing to make payments on an equipment lease.
- White Smiles Family Dentistry, which has three locations in Maine, decided to close one of its offices after being unable to fill a vacant dentist position. Joseph White, DMD, said the practice exhausted its resources trying to find a dentist to provide care at the office.