The Roaring 20s

Here comes summer — we’re already halfway through the year, and many of us have hit the ground running into 2021 — a robust reboot of the “Roaring 20s!” During this past year, we have all had plenty of time to think about our personal and professional lives, what works and what needs to be changed. It’s definitely time to get back to business.

Here are some interesting and positive facts from an ADA Health Policy Institute survey collected in January.

• Patients are back! As of the week of January 18, patient volume was estimated at 80% of pre-COVID-19 levels, on average. Staffing in dental offices was at 99% of pre-COVID-19 levels, and four out of five employee dentists were being paid fully.
• Dentists are realizing their worth! At the beginning of the year, nearly a third of dentists had raised fees. Those who needed some extra help were proactive, taking out loans, reducing their dental team hours, and changing suppliers to those more appropriate to their goals. Retirement rates have not changed due to COVID-19.
• Practices are ready to roar! The sector has recovered nearly fully in terms of hiring and employment. Based on vaccine rollout and perceptions, full recovery of dentistry is anticipated by the summer or fall.

Research and development continue to bring new products and techniques to dental specialties, and now, it’s time to figure out how to stay ahead in this very competitive marketplace. One valuable way is letting MedMark publications educate you about products, services, and techniques that can add to your armamentarium and boost your patients’ options. The more choices that patients have for treatment, the more ways that you can expand your practice’s scope and profits. This issue of Orthodontic Practice US features part 2 of the CE that explores the literature regarding clear aligners versus traditional braces. In another CE, Dr. David Alpan compares the digital-based treatments of LightForce Orthodontics versus Invisalign^®. As tooth-moving tools continue to evolve, it’s important to know the benefits of these technologies individually and in combination. Our cover story by Dr. Jep Paschal shows how he reimagined his practice based on Minimum Touch Orthodontics^SM launched by Henry Schein^® Orthodontics™. Read about the appliances and applications that supported his paradigm shift. Our technology column delves into a new pre-programmed CAD/CAM-based orthodontic system called BRIUS^® that allows orthodontists to move teeth independently.

Many aspects of traditional dentistry have changed over the past year, and clinicians were pushed to find ways to serve patients better while maintaining safe protocols. Applications like teledentistry, patient texting, and online consultations showed that you can stay connected to your patients and serve their needs with secure options. Patients have embraced new technologies and still want these benefits even as offices return to full business as usual. Methods for scheduling fewer appointments and less chair time, while maintaining the personal connection with patients, have been created with more creativity and success that will continue into the future.

While 2020 started out as one of the most unusual in our lives, 2021 promises continued healing and the potential for great success. Let us help you get ready to roar into the future with high expectations!

To your best success,
Lisa Moler
Founder/Publisher, MedMark Media