Several dental companies, practices and organizations have had to make difficult decisions as the industry battles rising costs, staffing shortages and other economic pressures.
Here are six bankruptcies, layoffs and closures Becker’s has reported on so far this year:
1. The Orange County Health Care Agency is closing its emergency dental clinic in Santa Ana, Calif., due to federal funding cuts. The healthcare agency has reportedly lost five grants, totaling $13 million.
2. Lewiston, Maine-based Community Clinical Services closed its pediatric dental clinic May 1 due to budgetary shortfalls. The clinic posted a notice on its website April 2 stating that it must shutter certain services and lay off staff due to funding obstacles caused by the state’s Medicaid budget shortfall and ongoing federal funding challenges.
3. St. Paul, Minn.-based Hope Dental Clinic closed in March after its efforts to raise more funding failed. The clinic was struggling with a lack of funding, leading it to lay off its staff in December. The clinic filed for bankruptcy in February and announced its plans to auction off its furniture and equipment.
4. My Community Dental Centers, a Michigan nonprofit organization serving underserved communities, closed six of its offices due to financial constraints. The organization decided to close the offices after completing a comprehensive operational sustainability evaluation as it faces rising care costs, workforce challenges and demands for higher wages.
5. Elmira, N.Y.-based Southern Tier Orthodontics closed in January due to personal and financial reasons. Jason Horn, DDS, the owner, informed patients that the practice declared bankruptcy and would not be able to reimburse patients.
6. The CDC’s oral health department was essentially shut down as part of the HHS Department’s layoffs that took place April 1. HHS employees received dismissal notices as part of the agency’s plan to reduce the number of full-time employees from 82,000 to 62,000.
