With the passage of time since the pandemic, it’s important for us to take stock of the state of dental care utilization post-COVID-19. The pandemic created a major setback in access to oral healthcare and as one of the country’s largest dental providers, it is our responsibility to determine if utilization has rebounded. As part of our continued commitment to improving oral and overall health, we must assess if we are on track. By analyzing national dental care claims data, we can determine the state of oral health in our communities and create actionable solutions to ensure we move forward with our mission.
An original Delta Dental study published in the October 2023 issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA), evaluated changes in dental procedure utilization from the third quarter of 2020 to the fourth quarter of 2021 and compared it to volumes from 2017-2019. It found that dental care volumes dropped significantly in 2020 and remained below pre-pandemic levels through the end of 2021, especially for preventive and diagnostic services in patients under 65. The results were not surprising, given dental office closures and reduced hours during this time period.
In an effort to determine the pandemic’s long-term effects on dentistry, Delta Dental conducted a new, extended analysis examining quarterly procedure volumes from 2020-2023 (i.e. an additional two years), comparing them again to pre-pandemic averages from 2017-2019. This study also appeared in JADA in September of 2025.
It was discovered that overall, preventive and diagnostic procedures have mostly returned to pre-pandemic levels. Also, the study found an increase in occlusal (mouth) guards among adults. Additionally, there was a continuing decrease in emergency palliative treatments, endodontic procedures and oral surgery procedures among the under 65 age population, possibly suggesting an increase in preventive and diagnostic activity.
Other key takeaways: Direct restorations (fillings) declined while indirect restorations (crowns etc.) increased particularly among adults aged 19-64.
Overall the news is encouraging. The survey patterns suggest access to routine dental care has improved significantly. However, it also highlighted that the types of treatments people are receiving and the way oral health issues are being managed have changed in the post-COVID era. For more details see the Executive Summary
As we carry on our mission to improve access to dental care, it is imperative that we continue to examine, compare and assess quality of care in an ever-changing environment.
