Ladd Dental Group

 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) Metric 2020 2023 2025 (est.) % Change (2020–2025) Overall CPI (U.S.) 100 117.5 ~122.5 ~22.5% increase Dental Care CPI 100 114 ~121 ~21% increase Dental Wages Index = 100 ~125 ~135+ ~35%+ increase Dental Supplies/Consumables Index = 100 ~130 ~145 ~45% increase Dental Equipment Index = 100 ~120 ~130 ~30% increase Insurance Reimbursements Index = 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 Labor Costs Hygienist, assistant, and front office wages have jumped 30–40%  or...

  Dental offices have faced significant inflationary pressures due to rising costs in various trades, including construction, equipment, and labor. Here are some key areas where costs have surged: 1. Construction & Renovation Costs The cost of materials (lumber, steel, concrete) has increased due to supply chain disruptions and inflation. Labor costs for contractors, electricians, and plumbers have risen due to a skilled labor shortage. HVAC and plumbing installations, critical for dental offices , have seen cost hikes due to increased demand and supply shortages. 2. Dental Equipment & Supplies Prices for high-tech dental equipment (e.g., chairs, sterilization units, imaging systems) have risen due to supply chain issues and increased production costs. Disposable dental supplies (gloves, masks, bibs) saw massive inflation during COVID-19 and have remained elevated. AI-driven technology (like Overjet) and digital dentistry solutions require ongoing investment, adding fi...

  Latest CPI Data | Massive Inflation Still In The Economy    The latest CPI 2022 numbers were released yesterday, and they are ugly. Prices excluding energy and food, sometimes referred as core inflation, is at a 40 year high. Core inflation is up 6.6% year over year, and overall inflation growth is at 8.2% year over year. Lastly, rents increased .8% month over month, which is the largest monthly increase since June 1990.   As you can see, these inflation numbers are still red hot in the US economy. Ultimately, this will mean that the Federal Reserve will have to increase interest rates to fight off this rising inflation. The Federal Reserve meets again in November, and the market expects a pretty significant increase to the interest rates based on this massive inflation numbers.  What does this mean for the overall dental profession? I have put together a few of my thoughts on the topic and potentially where the market is headed. Take a look and let me ...