Although economic confidence is trending upward for dentists, low reimbursement rates and other insurance challenges remain a cause for concern in the field, according to the American Dental Association’s “State of the U.S. Dental Economy” report for the second quarter of 2026.
The ADA recently released its “State of the U.S. economy” report for the second quarter of 2026. The report includes economic data for dental practices as well as information on consumer dental spending, staffing and various industry challenges.
About 50% of dentists reported being confident in the dental care sector, while 25.2% said they are skeptical.
Here are the top five reasons dentists reported being skeptical about the dental care sector:
1. Low reimbursement/insurance pressures: 34.7%
2. Patients unwilling/unable to prioritize dental care: 24.6%
3. Rising practice costs/inflation: 21.2%
4. U.S. economic downturn: 21.2%
5. Rise in corporate dentistry/DSOs: 11%
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