Owner dentists have been busy at their practices in 2024, adding new equipment, technology and staff members while also dropping out of some insurance networks, according to a survey from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.
Of the four changes, adding staff was the most common, with more than 40% of owners saying they had expanded their staff, with more than 13% saying they might later in 2024.
Here is what owner dentists have done and might do in their practices in 2024, according to ADA's "Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues in Dentistry" report from the third quarter.
Made major equipment purchases
Yes: 22%
No, but may do later this year: 16.2%
No, not planning to do this year: 61.8%
Invested in new software
Yes: 21.9%
No, but may do later this year: 10.6%
No, not planning to do this year: 67.5%
Added staff
Yes: 43%
No, but may do later this year: 13.5%
No, not planning to do this year: 43.5%
Dropped some insurance networks
Yes: 26.1%
No, but may do later this year: 22.6%
No, not planning to do this year: 51.3%