As of 2020, there are approximately 201,117 active dentists in the United States. That works out to be about one dentist per 1,600 people. If you want to make sure that your dental office retains patients and brings new ones in, too, then you need to stay up to date on the latest facts and statistics in the dental industry.
If you haven’t taken the time to review the latest dental news, then we can help you catch up! Read on to learn some quick facts to help you improve your practice.
The Dental Industry Is Growing
Despite the fact that many people put off seeing the dentist on a regular basis, the dental industry is actually predicted to grow to a total value of $37 billion or more. This growth is driven by a lot of factors, but a big percentage of it is because of the number of people getting dental implants.
In addition, there has been a lot of growth in terms of technologies and materials used for dental implants. If dental implants are your bread and butter, then it’s time to brush up on these items.
Dental Marketing Is Still Critical
Despite the fact that there is a healthy dentist-to-patient ratio in the US right now, it is still critically important that you devote a portion of your budget and efforts toward dental marketing.
If you don’t have a marketing specialist on staff, then you should consider looking at outside marketing companies to help you develop your website. They can also help you utilize things like content marketing, SEO, and social media marketing to draw in more patients and interact with your current ones.
Specialists Earn More
If you’re contemplating the trajectory of your dental career, then it’s important to know where the best money lies in the industry. General dentists might have the best chance of bringing in patients thanks to their broad ability to assist people with their dental goals. That doesn’t mean that they have the best earning potential, though.
Recent studies by the ADA show that dental specialists earn about 30 percent more than their general dentist counterparts. In addition, dentists who owned their own practice bring in significantly more money every year.
Cost and Fear Still Keep People Out of the Chair
Dentists work hard to counter the fear of going to the dentist, and it appears that that work continues to be necessary. The two biggest factors keeping patients out of your chair are fear and costs. If you want to bring in new patients, then you’re going to need to find ways to target these issues and make your practice attractive to fearful and low-income patients.
Keep Your Dental Office on the Cutting Edge
The dental industry is a rapidly evolving one. Staying on top of the latest trends in dental marketing and patient preferences can help you maintain and grow your patient base. Not only will it help keep your patients happy, but it might even save you time and money thanks to new methodology and emerging technology!
Running a successful dental office takes a lot of work. It’s natural that you’ll have questions about issues that arise from time to time. Be sure to check out the rest of our blog for tons of content about running your business.
The Editorial Team at Lake Oconee Health is made up of skilled health and wellness writers and experts, led by Daniel Casciato who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We aim to provide our readers with valuable insights and guidance to help them lead healthier and happier lives.
