Here is what five dentists had to say about some of the biggest challenges the dental industry is facing today.
Editor's note: Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Gas prices
Harry Papadopoulos, DDS, MD. Richmond (Ind.) Oral Surgery Associates: My two offices are about 40 miles apart, so the increased gas cost has been a burden for my staff (and me). I pay standard mileage — which has increased recently, so that helps — but the increased gas prices have to be looked at in the context of the inflation in all goods and services that is happening.
I have given most of my staff raises, but I know it's not enough. Giving a 1.5 to 2 percent raise is inadequate when inflation is running at 9 percent. But as a practice owner, I have to keep a lid on overhead, and that has risen significantly with the increased cost of everyday supplies.
Read the full story here.
Staffing issues
Andy Droel, DDS. Droel Family Dentistry (Lino Lakes, Minn.): There is a pervasive and significant lack of available assistants and hygienists. Dentists and dental office owners cannot readily recruit and train more assistants; this is something that depends upon outside entities like colleges and vocational schools. Unfortunately, educational institutions are not expanding their programs nearly enough to address the situation and I anticipate no apparent end to these shortages.
Read the full story here.
Student debt
Matt Carlston, DMD. Vice President of Marketing and Partner Recruitment for Comfort Dental Group (Lakewood, Colo.): I think that these young dentists don't fully understand how much debt they have and how hard it is to get that paid off. [Comfort Dental] tries to lay out the numbers and help them try and understand that. I haven't met a dental student who goes out and opens their own practice from scratch. It just doesn't happen anymore. They have so much debt, and they can't get the financing for these practices that they want to open.
Read the full story here.
Supply chain issues
Rajdeep Randhawa, DDS. Innovative Dentistry (Colts Neck, N.J.): Supply line disruptions are coming into play when you call major dental suppliers, and they give a response that critical dental supplies are on back order, not available or available at much higher costs.
Read the full story here.
Workplace safety
Barry Lyon, DDS. Dental Defense (Baltimore): Due to the frustrations brought on by the pandemic, current political polarization, the uncertain economy and the extreme weather we more frequently experience, the threshold for tolerance has been lowered for many. Add these concerns to the anxiety dental care and its costs can create, and the possibility of combustible situations is heightened.
Read the full story here.