April 17, 2020 | Issue 24
Poll Shows How Dentists Are Responding to COVID-19
The ADA Health Policy Institute has been conducting biweekly polling to measure the impact of COVID-19 on dental practices nationwide. The data from polling conducted the week of April 6 found:

  • Four in five dentists have closed their practices except for emergencies, and 18% are fully closed
  • In Iowa, 88% of practices are closed except for emergencies, while only 10.8% are fully closed
  • In Iowa, 92% of dentists are seeing less than 5% of their typical patient volume
  • Collections for most dentists is less than 5% of what is typical for their practice
  • 44% of dentists were not paying any of their staff

Poll results include state-by-state data.
Funding Runs Out for Economic Injury Disaster Loans, Paycheck Protection Program
As of April 16, the Small Business Administration is no longer able to accept any new applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) due to a lack of funding. The ADA continues to advocate on behalf of dentists impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and has asked legislators to increase funding to help ease the burdens many dental practices are facing. Congress is currently debating adding an additional $250 billion to the PPP. The ADA is also advocating for flexibility for dental practices to choose the 8-week period for PPP loans.