More than 30% of dental practices have changed the way the workload is divided among dentists and other staff members compared with how they operated before COVID-19, according to a survey from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.
Out of the 1,020 respondents to the ADA's monthly "Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues in Dentistry" for the week of Oct. 16, 35% said that workloads and responsibilities are different in 2023.
Here is how workloads at those dental practices have changed:
The dentist does more hygienist, assistant and administrative duties: 49.7%
Cross-training staff/multitasking/sharing responsibilities: 16.2%
Increased responsibilities/maximizing qualifications for clinical staff: 14.9%
Increased workload for all staff/working longer hours: 8.8%
Reduced hours/days worked and scheduling fewer appointments: 4%
Increased appointment length: 3.7%
Hired additional staff for specific responsibilities: 3.7%
Added/retained infection control protocols: 3%
Streamlined/automated some administrative duties: 1.2%
Outsourced lab work: 0.9%
Miscellaneous: 4%