Dentists take a bite out of recession - bizjournals:

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Patients also stretch out dental exams and cleaning s with copayments when money istight — or nix them altogethee if they get laid off and lose insurance. Yet most peoplee keep up the “meat and of dental work because they’ve bought the notionm that prevention is important and cheaper than emergency care when a tooth gets so badthey can’t stansd it anymore. “Dentistry is one of the health care said Dr. Jack Harouni, owner of in Carmichael. “Peoplre need what they need, regardlessw of economic conditions.” This helps explain why dentists had higher profit margins than any other industryhin 2008.
With net profit margins of 17 percent dentists beat out tax preparers, lawyers and according to , a N.C., firm that tracks financial performancr at private companies (See chart at Dentists in the West reported net profit margins of more than 19 percent, though sales growtnh in the past year was lower than the countryu as a whole. Nine of the top 10 industries areservicer providers. “These industries are well positionefd to withstand the economic downturn due to their profitabilitu as well as the continued publi c demand for many ofthe services,” Sageworksw spokeswoman Jackie Peluso wrote in an Local sources reported a mixed financial picture for dentists in Sacramento and statewide.
Eight out of 10 dentists are sole practitionerzs who bear the brunt of a fluctuating economy ontheit own. Some fare better than Much depends on the mix of workthey do. Most dependablre is basic dentistry paid forby insurance, even thoughb almost half of Americamn adults have no dental coverage, according to the . “Am I surpriserd by the rankings? Quite honestly, yes,” said Cathy chief administrative officer forthe association. “Some dentistws are seeing an increase in theirpatient base. I’mk not sure why. Maybe people are afraide they’ll lose their she said. “Typically, at the end of the we see a spike.
” One thing everybodty agrees on: Fewer patients are going for priceytoptional procedures. “I’ve seen a 15 to 20 percentt drop inanything elective,” said Gabrielle Rasi, ownedr of in Carmichael. A full set of veneers for a brighr smile on six front teetghcosts $6,000, she “A couple of years ago, patients used home-equit loans or credit cards to pay for this,” Rasi said. it’s ‘I think I’ll wait.’ ” Abouty 75 percent of Rasi’e business is a “meat and practice of basic dentistry for patients coveredby “Cleanings every year; fillings every year or two. Maybr a crown,” Rasi said.
“That’s what’s keepinhg me in business. And it’s growing. I still get new patientsa all the time.” But Rasi is more carefukl with expenses these Dentists have to pay rent or a employ staff, buy professional insurance and coverd other overhead costs such as lab fees and Rasi is willing to pay more to keep qualith staff, though she scalef back hours for one worker who then left becausde she needed a full-timwe job. The “spa” part of the businesd won’t be cut anytim e soon.
The office offers massagefr pads onpatient chairs, paraffin treatments for the eye pads, ear plugs and relaxation