A recent survey by the ADA Health Policy Institute has found that despite doctors best efforts, many dental practices are struggling with finances. I've got a summary here and a link to the ADA News for the full story...
Overall:
Dental practices remain under financial pressure — a “fiscal squeeze” — as costs rise faster than patient demand.
Key Findings:
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Economic confidence: Stable but lower than the 2024 peak.
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Pricing: Dental fees rising faster than inflation; ~⅔ of dentists increased fees in 2025.
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Staffing: Ongoing difficulty hiring, especially dental hygienists, continues to limit practice capacity.
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Consumer spending: U.S. households are spending slightly more on dental care, but that growth isn’t translating to busier practices.
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Utilization trends: Appointment wait times are falling — an indicator that chair time is opening up and demand is softening.
Commentary (Dr. Marko Vujicic, ADA HPI):
Despite modest consumer spending growth, practices report lighter schedules and greater availability — a sign that capacity exceeds demand.
Outlook:
HPI will continue quarterly tracking of dentist sentiment, pricing trends, and demand indicators to map the evolving dental economic landscape.
If you'd like to read the full report from the ADA HPI click here.
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