More dentists than ever are reporting serious concerns related to their practices. While these issues remain persistent, adaption and balance are key to sustaining your career.
By Genni Burkhart, Incisor Editor
Data released this year points to more than 60% of dentists in the United States having serious concerns about the future of their practices. The American Dental Association (ADA) also reports that dentists relate to symptoms of depression such as hopelessness, self-blame, and even thoughts of suicide. Workforce shortages, inflation, rising costs, record-level new tariffs, and an unstable supply chain are further contributing to widespread stress across the profession.1
While these challenges may seem temporary, they're proving to be ongoing issues affecting every aspect of care, staffing, and operations in dentistry.
Hiring and Retention Challenges
Post-COVID-19, staffing continues to be a major hurdle. More than half of dental practices report persistent difficulty hiring dental hygienists, assistants, and administrative staff.1 For those practices that do manage to recruit new team members, they face high turnover or wage pressure that strains already tight budgets.
“The dental workforce has not returned to pre-pandemic levels,” said ADA President Dr. Linda Edgar. “Staffing shortages are delaying patient care and increasing the workload for dentists and remaining staff.”2
As a result dentists are compensating by taking on additional responsibilities themselves, from front desk duties to equipment sterilization. These extra demands not only impact clinical productivity but also contribute to burnout.
Increasing Tariffs Amid Financial Strain
Last month, the ADA joined a national coalition of healthcare organizations to oppose widespread tariffs on imported dental products.3 These new tariffs apply to hundreds of clinical and laboratory tools, including sterilization systems, imaging equipment, and orthodontic supplies. The coalition argued that higher costs would ultimately affect patient care while putting small, independent practices at financial risk.
These added expenses come at a time when dentists already face rising costs across nearly every budget category. Feeling the pinch, many practices are now faced with making difficult choices between absorbing these costs, raising fees, or delaying investments in critical technology.
Ongoing Supply Chain Disruptions
Supply chain delays that began during the pandemic have not yet been fully resolved. Many dental practices continue to experience increased costs and delivery delays for items such as gloves, syringes, sterilization pouches, and handpieces. These ongoing disruptions require frequent vendor changes, rushed orders, and higher inventory costs to maintain clinical readiness.
Inconsistent availability makes it more difficult to maintain scheduling stability, particularly for high-volume or sedation-based practices. Some practices are also forced to stockpile certain items or find alternative materials that may not perform as reliably.
Natural Disasters Disrupting Medical Supplies
Last year's hurricanes along the Gulf Coast disrupted critical domestic production of IV fluids and sedation-related materials. These back-to-back storms temporarily halted pharmaceutical manufacturing, leading to product shortages in hospitals and dental offices.
Practices that provide IV sedation or perform surgical extractions were directly affected, with some forced to reschedule or cancel procedures due to supply shortfalls. Seasonal weather events now pose an increasingly serious risk to essential dental care supplies, especially with so much production concentrated in coastal regions.
Rising Costs and Flat Reimbursements
Operating expenses for dental practices continue to rise. Costs associated with labor, materials, rent, and insurance have all increased, yet reimbursement from insurance providers remains flat. According to the ADA’s Health Policy Institute, this discrepancy is one of the primary concerns for practice owners in 2025.2
Some dentists have responded by limiting participation in insurance networks or introducing in-house membership plans. Others are reassessing which procedures to offer or reducing service hours to control costs. These business decisions often require new marketing strategies, staff retraining, and patient education to implement effectively.
Administrative Complexity
The administrative burden on practices has grown significantly in recent years. New compliance regulations, state-level credentialing requirements, and expanded insurance documentation processes all demand additional time and resources. Practices that accept Medicaid report difficulty in shifting state policies and coverage eligibility.
These non-clinical demands reduce overall efficiency and require more staff hours, even as workforce shortages persist. For smaller practices without a dedicated billing or compliance manager, staying current with all requirements can be especially stressful.
Burnout and Wellbeing
The cumulative effect of these pressures contributes to high burnout levels among dental professionals. A 2024 study in the Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology found that 44 % of dentists reported symptoms of burnout, with emotional exhaustion and reduced job satisfaction reported most frequently.4
Dentists in solo or small group practices are at the highest risk. The ADA has recognized this trend and continues to support mental health awareness and peer support programs.
How Dentists Are Adapting
Despite these challenges, dental professionals are responding with resilience and creativity. Practices are investing in staff retention through mentorship, flexible scheduling, and professional development. Many are cross-training employees to increase flexibility and reduce gaps in care.1
At the same time, professional organizations are continuing advocacy efforts focused on tariff relief, supply chain transparency, and fair insurance reimbursement. “Tariffs on critical dental equipment will not just hurt practices, but will ultimately impact patients,” said Bennett Napier, executive director of the National Association of Dental Laboratories (ADA, 2025).3
Staying connected and informed helps dentists adapt while continuing to deliver the exceptional care patients rely on. Following industry updates, advocating, and preparing for disruptions are practical ways to stay ahead.
Since the pandemic, prioritizing mental health and personal wellbeing has become vital. Furthermore, in a demanding and sometimes unpredictable profession, leading with intention and balance is more likely to build a strong, sustainable career. With the right systems in place, the only thing keeping you up at night should be a good book or looking forward to a well-earned day off.
If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, or thinking about self-harm, immediate support is available. Contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for free, confidential help any time, day or night.
Author: With over 15 years as an award-winning journalist, editor, and writer, Genni Burkhart has covered everything from politics and healthcare to finance and technology. Editor-in-chief of The Incisor newsletter and blog and features writer at DOCS Education, she brings a refreshing insight and a passion for storytelling to the world of sedation dentistry.
References
- American Dental Association. (2025a). Five years later: Staffing shortages and infection control since the COVID-19 pandemic. Retrieved from https://adanews.ada.org/ada-news/2025/february/five-years-later-staffing-shortages-infection-control-since-the-covid-19-pandemic/
- Edgar L. National Workforce Shortage Trends and the Future of Staffing. Presented at: University of Washington; March 14, 2024; Seattle, WA. Accessed March 27, 2025. https://dental.washington.edu/wp-content/media/Edgar_UWash_Panel_Slides_rev031424.pdf
- American Dental Association. (2025c). ADA joins coalition opposing widespread tariffs on dental products. Retrieved from https://adanews.ada.org/ada-news/2025/march/ada-joins-coalition-opposing-widespread-tariffs-on-dental-products
- Collin, V., Singh, S., & Thomas, B. (2024). Distress and wellbeing in dentists: Performance of a screening tool (the Dental Wellbeing Scale). Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, 19(1). Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41405-024-00185-9
