Becker's Dental + DSO Review

5 BECKER'S DENTAL + DSO REVIEW - VOL. 2 JUNE 2020 Dental industry bouncing back after record job losses, ADA reports By Gabrielle Masson D espite more than half a million dental job losses in April, the industry could bounce back, with 48 percent of practices in 28 states fully staffed for the first week of May, according to CNBC. Healthcare employment declined by 1.4 million in April, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over two months, dental practice employment dropped by 53 percent. In April, all but 3 percent of U.S. dental offices were closed except for emergencies, according to the American Dental Association. Nearly 9 out of 10 dental offices had laid off staff. Most jobs could return over the next few weeks, accord- ing to the ADA. One of the biggest challenges before fully reopening is obtaining enough personal protective equipment for staff. The ADA has asked Congress to expand the non-payroll costs allowable for the Paycheck Protection Program to include personal protective equipment costs as dental offices reopen. Other obstacles include controlling the spread of aero- sols that occur during procedures and facing higher costs needed for new safety protocols. n The dental industry amid COVID-19: 5 statistics and projections By Laura Dyrda T he dental industry has been hit hard by COVID-19, and it may not get easier in the coming months, according to a Bloomberg report. Five things to know from the report and the American Dental Asso- ciation: 1. During the week of April 5, 80 percent of dental practices said pa- tient volume was less than 5 percent of normal. 2. COVID-19 could mean a 66 percent spending reduction for dental services in the U.S. 3. Dental services in 2021 are expected to see 32 percent spending reduction. 4. Lack of personal protective equipment could make it difficult for dental practices to return even after restrictions on non-emergent ser- vices are lifted. 5. The demand for clear aligners is "nonexistent," according to Blue- shift Research. n Dental offices see biggest healthcare job losses By Gabrielle Masson H ealthcare employment declined by 1.4 million in April, led by losses in dental offices, with 503,000 related unemployment claims filed in the last month, according to a May 8 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Within ambulatory healthcare services, losses were high- est at dentist offices, physician offices and offices of oth- er healthcare practitioners. Nationally, a total of 20.5 million jobs were lost in April. The national unemployment rate reached 14.7 percent, a jump from February, when the unemployment rate was 3.5 percent, according to The New York Times. n Top 10 colleges for dentistry: Niche By Mackenzie Garrity T hough there are few dental colleges in the U.S., the schools still compete to attract new students. In Niche's list of the 2020 Top Colleges for Dental Studies in America, Orem- based Utah College of Dental Hygiene topped off the ranking. The list is based on analysis of academic, admissions, financial and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education as well as millions of reviews from students and alumni. Here are the top 10 colleges for dentistry: 1. Utah College of Dental Hygiene 2. University of Southern California in Los Angeles 3. New York University — New York City 4. University of Michigan — Ann Arbor 5. Carrington College — Sacramento 6. Carrington College — San Jose (Calif.) 7. Carrington College — Boise (Idaho) 8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 9. University of the Pacific — Stockton (Calif.) 10. The Ohio State University — Columbus n DENTAL PROFESSIONALS

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