Skip to main content

Dental Profession Inflation Compared to Overall CPI Since 2020

 Since 2020, the dental profession has experienced significantly higher inflationary pressure than the overall U.S. economy — and this has been severely compounded by flat or stagnant dental insurance reimbursement rates.

📈 Key Comparison: Dental Inflation vs. Overall CPI (2020–2025)

Metric202020232025 (est.)% Change (2020–2025)
Overall CPI (U.S.)100117.5~122.5~22.5% increase
Dental Care CPI100114~121~21% increase
Dental WagesIndex = 100~125~135+~35%+ increase
Dental Supplies/ConsumablesIndex = 100~130~145~45% increase
Dental EquipmentIndex = 100~120~130~30% increase
Insurance ReimbursementsIndex = 100~101–103~102–105~2–5% increase (if any)

🔺 Verdict: Inflation in dental labor, supplies, and equipment has outpaced both general CPI and dental service CPI — Plus reimbursements haven’t kept up.

⚠️ Biggest Inflationary Disruptions in Dentistry

  1. Labor Costs

    • Hygienist, assistant, and front office wages have jumped 30–40% or more in many markets due to shortages and competition.

    • DSOs and hospitals have raised the wage floor, pressuring independent practices.

  2. Consumables & PPE

    • Gloves, masks, sterilization pouches, etc. have doubled in price since 2020 in some cases.

    • Disposables and infection control costs remain elevated post-COVID.

  3. Equipment & Tech

    • A-dec chairs, CBCT units, CAD/CAM mills, and scanners have all increased 20–40% in cost, driven by supply chain issues and manufacturer pricing.

  4. Facility & Utilities

    • Lease rates, buildouts, HVAC maintenance, and utilities have gone up 10–25%.

🧮 But Insurance Reimbursements?

  • Most major PPOs (Delta, MetLife, Cigna, Aetna, etc.) have:

    • Not meaningfully increased fee schedules since 2020.

    • In some cases, cut reimbursements or reduced coverage frequencies (e.g., fewer cleanings, downgraded procedures).

  • This results in shrinking profit margins, especially for high-insurance-dependent dental offices.

🔍 Bottom Line

The dental profession is in a profit squeeze:

  • Input costs (labor, supplies, capital investment) ↑

  • Insurance reimbursement (revenue per procedure) ↔ or ↓

This is leading many practices to:

  • Drop low-paying PPOs

  • Raise UCR (usual/customary) fees

  • Invest in membership plans (like LADD’s Dental One Discount Plan)

  • Adopt tech like Overjet to boost diagnostic efficiency

  • Shift toward fee-for-service and SureSmile/aligner cases 



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sedation Dentistry | Adult Sedation Dentistry | Sedation Dentistry in McCordsville

Sedation Dentistry in McCordsville, Indiana  Nearly half of all North Americans don’t go to the dentist every year.   The number one reason, according to the American Dental Association, is fear.  But fear isn’t the only reason.  People have busy lives and little time for repeated visits to the dentist. Some don't see the importance of keeping their teeth.  And there are a host of other reasons as well.  Whatever your reason, or the reasons for someone close to you, know this – you are not alone!  Sedation Dentistry is here to help you, as it has so many other patients, safely and effectively get the care you need in a safe and comfortable environment for the best dental experience you’ve ever had. This isn’t a One Size Fits All Each patient is unique. That means that whatever medications you may be taking, dental treatments needed, or the years away from the dentist – there is a safe and effective way to get the smi...
8 comments
Read more

Dental Work | Importance of Routine Dental Care | Preventative Dental Care

Importance of Routine Dental Care  When I was in my 30s and a dentist told me I needed a few crowns , I decided to skip the expensive devices because of my meager paycheck. Besides, my teeth weren't hurting. Years later, I am paying the price in pain and costlier dental work . One of the damaged teeth that needed a crown distorted my bite, making a minor jaw-joint problem even worse. Unfortunately I'm far from alone. The price of dental care is steep for many people financially, physically and even socially, according to Marko Vujicic, chief economist and vice president of the Health Policy Institute at the American Dental Association. Vujicic said that the  majority of emergency room dental visits  were for infections that could be handled in a dentist's office. Overall, emergency room dental visits cost $1.9 billion yearly, 40 percent of which is public money, according to his institute's analysis of data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quali...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dr. Steven Mah | Welcome To The LADD Dental Group Family

 We are thrilled to introduce Dr. Steven Mah , our newest addition to the LADD Dental Group family. Dr. Mah was born and raised in Evansville, IN, where his passion for helping others began. He pursued a Biology degree at the University of Southern Indiana, graduating in 2019. Driven by his dedication to the dental profession, Dr. Mah went on to earn his Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree from the Indiana University School of Dentistry in 2024. Dr. Mah is excited to join the LADD Dental team and is eager to bring his expertise and compassionate care to our patients. He looks forward to providing top-notch dental care and getting to know each of our wonderful patients personally. Outside of the office, Dr. Mah enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, whether it's through lively board game nights, exploring new and exciting cuisines, or staying active. Lately, he’s developed a passion for pickleball, and you might even find him on the courts in his free time! Pl...
Post a Comment
Read more