More than 40% of dentists have added staff so far this year, according to a survey from the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute.
The ADA’s “The State of the U.S. Dental Economy” update for the third quarter of 2026 compared what dentists were planning for 2026 at the end of last year with what they have actually acted on.
The third-quarter survey collected responses from 750 dentists, 704 of whom work in private practice.
Here are dentists’ intentions versus actions in 2026:
Add staff
Planned at the end of 2025: 42.3%
Acted on so far in 2026: 40.7%
Drop out of some insurance networks
Planned at the end of 2025: 35%
Acted on so far in 2026: 25.3%
Invest in new software
Planned at the end of 2025: 16.9%
Acted on so far in 2026: 19.1%
Make major equipment purchases
Planned at the end of 2025: 24.4%
Acted on so far in 2026: 16.1%
Reduce staff
Planned at the end of 2025: 8.6%
Acted on so far in 2026: 8.4%
Join dental insurance networks
Planned at the end of 2025: 3.2%
Acted on so far in 2026: 5.9%
