3 Things You Can Learn About the Economy at Your Dentist's Office

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- While many self-appointed experts make entire careers out of scrutinizing all kinds of data to make economic predictions, you don't have to be an economist to understand that the economy at large is a giant and complex ecosystem with many moving parts. Attempts to understand the mass of available information to spot emerging trends is difficult at best, and often escapes the most highly trained among us.  Yet, a visit to the offices of San Fernando Valley dentists West Hills Smiles may provide clues the gang at CNBC could never imagine.  According to a recent article published in Businessweek, metrics from the dentist office can be reliably used to make economic predictions, and have done so for the past seven years. Here's how.

1) Are Patients Coming Back?

As a medical service, dental treatment may seem recession proof, but even a top practice like the team at West Hills Smiles may have noticed their patient numbers dip during the Great Recession. As per  Businessweek, dental procedures were one among many services that dropped after the housing bubble popped several years ago. Interestingly enough, the average rate of business at dental offices actually tracked the overall health of the economy more closely than many other consumer services as the health of the economy was gradually restored.

2) Are Patients Getting Supplemental Maintenance?

When it comes to dental procedures, there is a large range of services that patients seek, from periodontal work to correct gum issues to cosmetic teeth whitening to a complete  smile makeover. When it comes to taking the pulse of the economy, however, Businessweek noted that other procedures had a tendency to rise and fall randomly, while maintenance procedures like cleaning were in line with the overall trend. They plummeted during the thick of the recession, and are only now beginning to rise again as the nation moves through recovery. It appears that these procedures are the first to go as families tighten their belts whereas others will feel unavoidable.

3) Are Patients Paying on Time?

If people are having a difficult time paying for bills, products, and services, it's definitely not a good sign for the economy, yet it appears that the metrics from dentists' offices have been particularly in tune with the intricacies of economic trends. Interestingly enough, the data was consistent on a month by month basis. During the long and tepid recovery, there have been many smaller dips and rises in growth, and patients being able to pay the dentist on time supposedly reflected that.

Though the trend, according to Businessweek, is for people to forgo a visit to the dentist when finances are tight, well respected practices like West Hills Smiles work hard to ensure patients can still receive the care they need no matter what state the economy may happen to be in. As a top dentist in Woodland Hills and nearby areas, their highly trained team of specialists provide the treatment options people depend on. For a highly experienced dentist in Calabasas  and beyond, West Hills Smiles is the team to beat. For more information call (818) 346-4303, or visit www.westhillssmiles.com. 

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