COVID-19 Impact on Dental Service Delivery, Financing, Regulation, and Education Systems - An Environmental Scan - July 2023

Sep 25, 2026

Study completed by the Oral Health Workforce Research Center (OHWRC) examines immediate and longer-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic across four oral health system domains: care delivery, regulation, education, and finance. The report describes how COVID-19 reshaped response mechanisms, policy structures, workforce needs, and service pathways, and outlines implications for moving forward. Prepared for OHWRC by named authors, it is supported by HRSA and reflects the authors’ reported views rather than official positions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages148

Reading Time52 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Methods

References

Chapter 1: Care Delivery

Introduction

The Rapid Response Within the Dental Care Delivery System

Implications of COVID-19 on Care Pathways and Patient Treatments

Impacts of COVID-19 on the Dental Workforce

Chapter 2: Regulation

The Impact of Regulatory Structures During COVID-19

State Responses

Chapter 3: Finance

The Financial Impact of COVID-19 on Dental Care

The Rapid Response to Reduce Financial Hardship

2023 COVID-19 Impact on Dental Service Delivery, Financing, Regulation, and Education Systems: An Environmental Scan COVID-19 Impact on Dental Service Delivery, Financing, Regulation, and Education Systems: An Environmental Scan July 2023 Center for Health Workforce Studies School of Public Health, University at Albany State University of New York 1 University Place, Suite 220 Rensselaer, NY 12144-3445 Phone: (518) 402-0250 [Web: www.oralhealthworkforce.org](Web: www.oralhealthworkforce.org) Email: [info@oralhealthworkforce.org](info@oralhealthworkforce.org) The Oral Health Workforce Research Center (OHWRC) at the Center for Health Workforce Studies (CHWS) at the University at Albany’s School of Public Health completed a study to describe the immediate and longer-term impacts ofthe COVID-19 pandemic on 4 domains ofthe oral health care system: care delivery, regulation, education, and finance. This report was prepared for OHWRC by Langelier M, KottekA, Fernando T, Werts M, Zhou S, Shen E, Mertz E, and Surdu S. OHWRC is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $450,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The content of this document is reported by the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of nor an endorsement by HRSA, HHS, or the US government. For more information, [please visit HRSA.gov](please visit HRSA.gov). The mission of OHWRC is to provide accurate and policy-relevant research on the impact of the oral health workforce on oral health outcomes. The research conducted by OHWRC informs strategies designed to increase access to oral health services for vulnerable populations. OHWRC is based at CHWS at the School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY), and is the only HRSA-sponsored research center with a unique focus on the oral health workforce. The views expressed in this report are those of OHWRC and do not necessarily represent positions or policies of the School of Public Health, University at Albany, SUNY. July 2023 COVID-19 Impact on Dental Service Delivery, Financing, Regulation, and Education Systems: An Environmental Scan Langelier M, Kottek A, Fernando T, Werts M, Zhou S, Shen E, Mertz E, Surdu S. COVID-19 Impact on Dental Service Delivery, Financing, Regulation, and Education Systems: An Environmental Scan. Rensselaer, NY: Oral Health Workforce Research Center, Center for Health Workforce Studies, School of Public Health, SUNY Albany; July 2023. The Oral Health Workforce Research Center BACKGROUND......................................................................................................................................................... 1 METHODS ................................................................................................................................................................ 3 References ..................................................................................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER 1: CARE DELIVERY ................................................................................................................................ 10 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 11 The Rapid Response Within the Dental Care Delivery System .............................................................. 12 Emergence of Accommodation and Response to the Crisis.................................................................. 13 Implications of COVID-19 on Care Pathways and Patient Treatments................................................. 15 Impacts of COVID-19 on the Dental Workforce....................................................................................... 26

FAQs

What four domains does the environmental scan cover?

It covers care delivery, regulation, education, and finance within the oral health care system.

What is the study’s overall purpose?

To describe the immediate and longer-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the oral health system across the four specified domains.

Who prepared and supported the report?

The report was prepared for OHWRC by the listed authors and supported by HRSA within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Sep 25, 2026

Uploaded by Jordan Avery