Most dental offices were severely disrupted this spring due to COVID-19. Many practices were forced to close for at least part of March, April, and much of May, only seeing emergency cases. Fortunately, practices were able to reopen and many are busy again. Programs such as the PPP, EIDL, and the CARES Provider Relief Fund helped practices bridge the gap this spring. But there is potentially another looming setback for dental practices.
When practices were closed in March, April, and May, not only did dentists not see patients for regular cleanings and exams but practices also didn’t have the chance to schedule 6-month recall appointments with these patients.
Many practices are now looking at schedules for September, October and November that are full of holes and have many open appointment slots. With all these open appointments, practices may be so slow this fall that it feels like being unofficially closed. With no hygiene appointments and exams, dentists also won’t be providing diagnosis, proposing treatment, and performing restorative and cosmetic treatment.
Now is the time to act! There is still time to work to fill the empty appointment slots.
- Start proactively contacting patients who missed their spring recall appointment and haven’t rescheduled yet.
- Reach out to patients who cancelled appointments when you first reopened and get them scheduled for this fall.
- Your practice might want to consider special offers or promotions for the fall to entice patients back into the office.
- This fall may also be the time to eliminate any expanded hours that started when your practice reopened. The extra hours won’t be needed if you can’t fill your practice’s normal hours and reducing your payroll expense will offset lost revenue from a less than full schedule.
SVA is happy to help guide you through a challenging 2020 and strategize for a productive 2021.
