NMDA Journal Winter 2020-21

24 New Mexico Dental Journal, Winter 2020-21 As we have all endured the challenges of maneu- vering through COVID-19 and its impacts on our dental practices, it is thought provoking on how similar and different those experiences can be across our state. A survey was developed and sent out to seven dentists, which one had only been in business for five years and another for 27 years. It was interesting to see how each of these practices had similar issues and how a newer practice’s issues seem to be more extreme. Our survey questions were as follows: • How badly did COVID affect your community? • What have you observed in your community that impacted your practice? • How has the pandemic affected your business i.e. percentage of business as compared to pre-COVID? • How did the “shutdown” affect your business/practice? • Did you receive a federal loan, state loan, or grant? • How important was the financial assistance? How was this assistance used? • Are you in need of further assistance of this type? • Did you have to cut any staff? • Which equipment have you invested in to improve office safety? • What PPE are each of your staff using and how difficult is it to acquire such PPE? • Were fees increased and what was the patients’ feedback? • In a typical week, how many patients rescheduled or cancelled their appointments due to COVID symptoms, travel-related quarantine, or failed screening? • How would you rate the patients’ anxiety about COVID when coming in for treatment? • How comfortable are you providing treatment during the pandemic? It is no surprise that COVID-19 had significant impact on all of our communities. Many communities experienced businesses perma- nently closing and high unemployment, in turn resulting in a loss of dental benefits among their patient pool. Most of the dentists are not at the production level they once were pre-COVID. Some are produc- ing between 50–75 percent of what they were doing pre-COVID, with one dentist at less than 50 percent. It appeared that the Spring shut down, just when COVID-19 initially surged, is what greatly affected all of the dental practices, solo prac- titioners, small groups, and public offices. One practice stated that they are still not caught up with hygiene patients that were missed. Another practice reported that even though their productivity levels are better, they are more like a dental urgent care clinic instead of a comprehensive care office. The biggest blow to offices during the shut down was the significant revenue loss. One of the newer dental offices had to lay off nearly all NMDental Survey Per COVID-19 Impacts By Joe Gherardi, DDS