Who was using dental services just prior to the recession and how do we plan for the recovery?

Since the start of the current economic recession in December 2007, the number of unemployed persons has increased by 7.6 million to 15.1 million (as of October 2009), and the unemployment rate has doubled to 9.8 percent. The economics of dentistry during the 2007-2009 recession are considered from the perspective of earlier recessions. The eventual turnaround in the economy is considered in terms of the need for dental practices to be extended to serve the multitude of underserved individuals in our communities.