Confidence in the economic recovery of the dental industry and the U.S. economy within the next six months varies based on DSO affiliation, according to an August poll by the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.
The poll was taken as part of the ADA's monthly "Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues in Dentistry" report.
Dentists' confidence in economic recovery in the next six months based on DSO affiliation:
DSO
Their particular dental practice
Very confident: 39.5 percent
Somewhat confident: 39.5 percent
Neither confident nor skeptical: 16.3 percent
Somewhat skeptical: 4.7 percent
Very skeptical: 0 percent
The dental care sector
Very confident: 23.3 percent
Somewhat confident: 51.2 percent
Neither confident nor skeptical: 23.3 percent
Somewhat skeptical: 2.2 percent
Very skeptical: 0 percent
The U.S. economy
Very confident: 11.6 percent
Somewhat confident: 34.9 percent
Neither confident nor skeptical: 27.9 percent
Somewhat skeptical: 18.6 percent
Very skeptical: 7 percent
Non-DSO
Their particular dental practice
Very confident: 22.7 percent
Somewhat confident: 33.4 percent
Neither confident nor skeptical: 21.8 percent
Somewhat skeptical: 17 percent
Very skeptical: 5.1 percent
The dental care sector
Very confident: 12.1 percent
Somewhat confident: 40.3 percent
Neither confident nor skeptical: 20.4 percent
Somewhat skeptical: 22.2 percent
Very skeptical: 5 percent
The U.S. economy
Very confident: 4.2 percent
Somewhat confident: 20.7 percent
Neither confident nor skeptical: 17.7 percent
Somewhat skeptical: 33.1 percent
Very skeptical: 24.3 percent