A recent study by Software Pundit and Dental Intelligence has found that dental practice revenue dropped 6% in 2020. The findings reflect a much better performance than the 38% decline that was forecasted in June by the American Dental Association.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected nearly every industry, with dentistry being no exception. From the initial concern for dentists’ safety, to the early shuttering of practices, and now the current challenges of providing an essential service as safely as possible, dentists have felt the significant impact of this virus. So, it should come as no surprise that the sales of private practices to larger entities have also been (and continue to be) affected by these unpredictable times.

Recently released data from the ADA Health Policy Institute reports that dental patient volume has stagnated, still only 80% of pre-COVID-19 levels. Experts warn that the dental industry won’t see a full recovery until well into the summer or perhaps even the fall.

Teledentistry, as a whole, is a fairly recent concept that was thrust into the forefront by the recent pandemic. Dentists saw the value of using the internet for triage and communication with their patients, and as an alternative to an office visit when appropriate.

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced DSOs and group dental practices to shut their doors, teledentistry came to the rescue. Now that so many more patients are taking advantage of this newer way of visiting the dentist, they’re discovering just how much they like it. Here are just some of the reasons why they’re likely to keep on requesting it. 

A recent study published in The Journal of the American Dental Association reported that fewer than one percent of dentists tested positive for COVID-19.