The ADA recently released its “Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues in Dentistry” report for the second quarter of 2024.
The ADA received 798 responses to a question about what dentists saw as the three biggest challenges facing dental practices in the next six months.
Here are the results of the survey:
Workforce issues: 63.2%
Insurance reimbursement, delayed/denied payment: 49.2%
Increasing overhead/expenses: 36.1%
Increasing cost of staff salary/benefits: 14.2%
Inflation/economy: 13.7%
Keeping schedule full: 13.7%
Sustaining/increasing patient volume: 12.7%
Patients affording/accepting treatment plans: 9.3%
Meeting high demand for care/limited capacity: 7.9%
Staff well-being/morale/burnout: 6.8%
Revenue /cash flow/funding to operate: 5.5%
Expanding/selling/transition to retirement: 5.4%
Keeping up with technology/clinical research: 5.3%
Competition with other dentists/large groups/DSO: 3.4%
Government oversight/rules and regulations: 3.3%
Dropping insurance plans/functioning out-of-network: 2.9%
Increasing lab costs/difficulty accessing labs: 1.5%
Business/team management: 1.5%
Political concerns: 1.3%
Miscellaneous: 6.3%
At the Becker's 5th Annual Future of Dentistry Roundtable, taking place September 14-15 in Chicago, dental leaders and executives will gain insights into emerging technologies, practice growth strategies and the evolving landscape of dental care delivery, with a focus on innovation, patient experience and operational excellence. Apply for complimentary registration now.
