NMDA Journal Winter 2020-21

16 58% 7% 33% Somewhat lower now (1%) A lot higher now (33%) Somewhat higher now (58%) About the same (7%) A lot lower now (1%) Not sure (0%) How do your practice's current operating costs compare to what was typical before the COVID-19 pandemic? All Respondents 39% 56% It was somewhat unprofitable (1%) It was highly profitable (56%) It was somewhat profitable (39%) It just about broke even (4%) It was highly unprofitable (0%) Not sure (0%) Please select the statement that best describes your practice's profitablity BEFORE the COVID-19 pandemic. All Respondents 27% 9% 49% 11% It is somewhat unprofitable (9%) It is highly profitable (11%) It is somewhat profitable (49%) It is breaking just about even (27%) It is highly unprofitable (4%) Not sure (1%) Please select the statement that best describes your practice's profitability NOW? All Respondents In an effort to reduce aerosols, how has your practice's use of the following changed compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic? All Respondents Hand Scaling SilverDiamineFluoride(SDF) Glass Ionomers Fluoride Varnish Dental Sealants 74.4% 23.3% 87.8% 10.9% 32.6% 65.6% 85.0% 13.2% 90.9% Increased Stayed about the same Decreased Some additional costs have been passed on to insurance companies or patients, but most offices have found it necessary to incur higher overhead. Accompanied by decreased capacity this has taken a toll on profitability. National profitability number show this dramatically. While 94 percent of practices were profit- able prior to the pandemic, only 60 percent reported profitability during the first week in November. Forty percent were reporting breaking even or losing money. So, while busyness and collections are recovering rel- atively well, when the additional costs are factored in, there are still many practices with questionable sustainability. Changes to Practice Practices have made changes to the ser- vices they perform in order to limit aerosol- generating procedures. Utilizing alternatives, when possible, can reduce exposure to potentially virus-laden fluids in a number or areas. Most practices are using ultrasonics less for dental hygiene proce- dures preferring hand scaling instruments. Twenty-three percent have increased their use of silver-diamine fluoride to arrest car- ies. Smaller percentages are using more glass ionomers with hand excavation or flu- oride varnish for lesions that don’t require conventional restoration. Stress The entire population is reporting increased stress levels, whether it is the direct result of avoiding COVID-19 infection or indirectly as a result of the depressed economy, unem- ployment, or lack of stress-relieving activi- ties. Dentists and staff are also feeling these stresses. The HPI looked specifically at stu- dent-debt as a stressor during the pan- demic. Since high levels of debt place  continued from page 15 New Mexico Dental Journal, Winter 2020-21 When the additional costs are factored in, there are still many practices with questionable sustainability.