Three dentists told Becker's Dental Review the risks they feel are worth taking in 2021.
Note: Responses were edited for style and length.
Glenn Prager, DDS, CEO of Community Dental in Sicklerville, N.J.: In today's turbulent environment, my answer may sound cavalier, but for me, the biggest risk worth taking is simply to continue to practice in the COVID-19 environment.
During the months of March, April and May, we were mandated by the state of New Jersey to close for all non-emergency dental treatment. We followed the rules, but my team and I went into the offices every day to treat dental emergencies (we have multiple dental offices and accept dental emergencies on a walk-in basis). We literally kept hundreds, if not thousands, of patients out of the hospital emergency departments during that time period.
It felt nice to be able to help ease the load on the hospitals during the height of the pandemic.
Craig Abramowitz, DDS, vice chair of Dental Care Alliance in Sarasota, Fla.: The need for practices and the profession to continue to evolve. This applies to the care you deliver to your patients and how you manage your practice(s).
COVID-19 has reaffirmed my belief in the value of partners, both in practicing dentistry, and in the management of dental practices
Raul Escalante, DDS, a dentist in San Marcos, Calif.: Given today's landscape, one would think doing nothing would be the wise thing to do. "Just wait the pandemic out and see what happens." While that advice may work for some people, I believe that as a dentist one should not make decisions based on what the pandemic does or does not do. Of course you have to be mindful of your finances, but if at all possible, I would take that risk and purchase whatever I have been planning to purchase.
If it's a new practice, CAD/CAM, cone beam, scanner, whatever you have decided on purchasing, I would say do it. As long as you have a passion for dentistry, this will get you through the rough times. I guess the biggest risk right now is not taking one at all.
View the full session here.
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