Covid-19: Thoughts of the dental sector

When, if at all, do you believe/expect your business will be fully operational again?

On balance, many (39 per cent) dentists feel it will take between three to six months before being fully operational; more optimistically, 29 per cent are of the opinion it will only take them up to three months. One in 10 dentists are taking the longer view and think it will take anything up to a year before things are properly back to normal. 

Do you expect your business to expand or contract over the next 12 months?

Dentists are remarkably positive about their prospects in the coming year, with 31 per cent expecting to expand against only 5 per cent who anticipate contracting; 63 per cent will be ‘staying the same’.

How do you think your revenue during the next 12 months will compare (in per cent terms) to levels prior to COVID-19 lockdown?

Only 18 per cent of dentists think they will see an increase in revenue in the coming year with a further six per cent saying they don’t anticipate any difference; 76 per cent of those polled are expecting a decrease of anything between one per cent and 60 per cent.

Have you made use of the government’s furlough scheme for staff?

Nine in 10 dentists have made use of the government’s furlough scheme, more than any other profession (professions average 81 per cent), ahead of vets (79 per cent), opticians (85 per cent) and pharmacists (83 per cent), among others.

In terms of future staffing, will your business operate with more or less staff?

Dentists are almost split down the middle about future staffing levels, with 51 per cent of dentists expecting to operate with the same number of staff while 44 per cent believe they will need fewer people. Only three per cent will be employing more.

Which of the following government schemes, if any, have you made use of? (select all that apply)

With the government having acted to make funding schemes available early on during the pandemic, many dentists have applied for at least one of the schemes, or even a combination, as seen from the results:

Thinking about the future, what, if anything, are your priorities in terms of financial support? (tick up to three)

While dentists are looking to government funding to see them through the pandemic, they are also looking at other ways to ensure they can keep their practice viable, including:

Going forward which of the following, if any, are you likely to rely on funding for? (tick all that apply)

In common with many other sectors and professions, dentists’ funding priorities have seen a necessitated shift towards, for example, practice re-fits and PPE; however, the need to invest in equipment remains high on the list.

What, if anything, is your business’s current primary source of financial support?

While dentists are looking to the government for assistance, bank/funder loans are the main source of finance for 33 per cent of dentists, followed by savings and government grants (both 24 per cent) – family and friends are also still important sources of funding (19 per cent).

What, if anything, is your attitude towards debt?

Dentists have contrasting views about debt and what it means – 49 per cent feel it’s part and parcel of running a business while 46 per cent have the opposite opinion and think it’s a sign of a poorly run business.

What steps, if any, have you taken to reduce your stress or anxiety? (Select all that apply)

Every dentist that took part in our research relied on at least one coping mechanism to address their mental wellbeing, ranging from maintaining a routine and remaining organised to being more flexible and giving themselves regular breaks.

How supported do you feel by your professional body?

The majority of dentists (33 per cent ‘very supported’; 63 per cent ‘somewhat supported’) feel their professional body has done a good during the pandemic. Just four per cent have felt let down.

How would you best describe your business's current economic outlook?

Dentists are fairly evenly split about the prospects for the UK’s economy, with a quarter expecting a quick path to full recovery while another 26 per cent think the economy is still declining, with worse to come.

For a more detailed breakdown or discussion about the results, contact Anton Nebbe, head of PR and Communications, 07736 286 144, anton.nebbe@closebrothers.com