The economic recovery of dental offices has remained largely unchanged over the last few weeks, with 98 percent of practices open and patient volume at 71 percent of pre-pandemic levels, according to data from the American Dental Association's poll for the week of July 13.
"Taken together, the data suggest the dental care rebound is tapering off and we are reaching, if not already in, the 'new normal,'" said Marko Vujicic, PhD, chief economist and vice president of the ADA's Health Policy Institute. Patient volume in dental offices likely has an upper rebound around 85 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
Consumer polling commissioned by HPI indicates about 72 percent of adults are comfortable visiting the dentist now, while 14 percent are willing to go if they have reassurance from their dentist, the CDC or other authorities. The remaining 14 percent said they won't visit the dentist until there is a vaccine or COVID-19 treatment.
Texas, Florida and California did not experience noticeable decreases in patient volume despite rising infection rates, the biweekly HPI poll found.