1 in 4 owner-dentists raised fees at the end of 2021: ADA

One in four dentists who own a practice raised their practice fees at the end of 2021 to maintain financial stability, according to a recent poll by the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute. 

Raising fees was the most common measure to maintain financial stability for all months in 2021, according to a Dec. 22 news release from the ADA.

Other financial stability measures identified in the ADA's December 2021 poll:

  • 6.8 percent downsized their teams
  • 10.9 percent reduced their team's hours 
  • 10.4 percent disenrolled from dental benefits plans 
  • 16.7 percent changed suppliers and labs
  • 9.2 percent borrowed money from a bank

The poll also found patient volumes in private practices remained stable for several months, reaching 90 percent of pre-COVID-19 levels during the week of Dec. 13. Patient volumes were highest among dentists under the age of 35 and between ages 35-44.

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.

Featured Learning Opportunities

Featured Podcast