Dental practices have reopened and are facing many economic damages inflicted by the pandemic. Along with setting new safety guidelines, many practices have needed to add surcharges for personal protective equipment (PPE). Dr. McPherson from Twin Falls Family Dentistry in South Carolina made an announcement on his practice website explaining how difficult is was to make the decision to add the PPE fees.

He wrote “The addition of the "PPE fee" was my most difficult decision because I know that it comes off badly. No one wants to be charged an additional fee on top of what they are already paying, especially when so many people are hurting financially.”

The growing demand for PPE has caused prices to increase, making it difficult for dental practices to afford them. The American Dental Association has addressed this concern saying, “the cost of PPE has increased considerably, resulting in some dentists charging an extra fee to cover the increased expense. The choice to charge an additional fee for PPE is an individual dental practice business decision.”

In addition to that statement, the ADA listed recommendations for dental practices that will bring changes to what your normal visit to the dentist will look like. Here is what you can expect on your next visit to the dentist:

• Dentist may charge a fee for PPE cost. According to Dental Tribune, this fee can range from $10 to $40 per patient.
• These costs may be charged and filed through CDT code D1999, “unspecified preventive procedure, by report”, to document and report the use and cost of additional PPE.

To better prepare yourself for your next visit, we recommend calling your dentist office before making an appointment to find out if they are charging a PPE fee and how much it is. If the fee happens to be too high or you do not wish to pay for a fee at all, consider teledentistry. Teledentistry allows you to consult with your dentist from the comfort of your own home. A great way to save on dental costs is to have quality insurance, click below to consult with a Solstice team member who can help you save money on your next dental visit.