Dentists Respond to the Bite of Recession

Most consumers view dental care as discretionary. Since discretionary spending is the first to dry up in difficult financial times, dentists can take a significant hit during a recession. Through the use of innovative dental software technology and on-shore outsourcing, some dentists have proactively prepared for the economic downturn.

(Vocus) November 12, 2008 -- Janet Haas, a 32 year old mother of two and living in Newport Beach, California, lost her job last year when her employer, a large, local mortgage company, closed its doors. One of the first things she did after the company closed was cancel her upcoming dental appointment. “I usually get a routine cleaning and exam for me and my children every six months, and this time I was going to get my teeth bleached,” said Ms. Haas, “but we’re healthy, and this can wait until I find another job.” She hasn’t found a steady job since then, and she hasn’t rescheduled the appointment.

“The psychological effects of the current economic downturn are impacting many U.S. dental practices,” Roger Levin, D.D.S., president of Levin Group, a dental practice management company, said in an interview with DrBicuspid.com. "We are definitely seeing a lot of practices slowing down.” A review of online dentist social forums, Dentaltown.com and ACE Dental Forum, shows some dentists reporting as much as a 30% drop in business.

I’m able to be more productive and decrease expenses, which is the right thing to do anytime, but especially now when patients are worried about spending on anything other than necessity.

There are dentists, however, who are taking a proactive approach.

“There are 3 things a dentist should consider in tight times,” say Dr. Cary Ganz, a Garden City, NY dentist. “The first is increased marketing. While there are fewer new patients looking for a dentist, it’s important to attract the ones who are. Second it’s important to retain existing patients by being especially open to their needs. This might mean flexible scheduling later hours, etc. Third, it is important to run a tight ship.”

To help with all 3 areas, Dr. Ganz utilizes the unique services of Planet DDS, a dental software and services company. Through the use of web-based dental practice management software, combined with a network of experienced stay-at-home workers, Dr. Ganz is able to outsource several tasks that prior to Planet DDS required a full time employee. “I’m able to be more productive and decrease expenses, which is the right thing to do anytime, but especially now when patients are worried about spending on anything other than necessity.”

Dr. Kalpana Madhavan, a Rockville, MD dentist, who utilizes Planet DDS services, agrees that outsourcing has made a positive difference. “My goal has always been to utilize technology to the max to free up my time to spend with patients. Planet DDS’s services have been a great fit, and they have saved me the cost of one full time employee, which is certainly helpful in these economic times.”

Another Planet DDS customer, Dr. Brian Steele, from Sacramento, CA recently purchased a second office. “I was already a customer of Planet DDS. So, I was aware of how they could help me take on a second practice. The amount of work that I was able to off-load to them was tremendous. It made the transition into the new office much smoother than it otherwise would have been. Of course, the cost savings have been great, since economic pressures have made some of my patients re-think or put off certain treatment.”

Planet DDS CEO Richard Lee says Planet DDS business has actually increased as concerns about the economy have increased. According to Lee, “The dental industry is more sensitive to the economy than most people realize. In down times, dentists are looking for ways to get more efficient, and we can help.”

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