Update on retail store dentistry, 1981. Council on Dental Practice, Council on Dental Care Programs, Bureau of Economic and Behavioral Research.

Retail store dentistry has shown increased activity and growth in recent years. Since 1977, when the first retail store dental facility opened, the number has grown to 63, housed in 18 department store and three drugstore chains in 14 states and the District of Columbia. A limited practice and patient survey was conducted. The participating retail store dental centers reported being open five or six days per week with operating hours extending to 6 pm or 8 pm. Credit cards (store and major bank credit cards) are accepted for payment by all five centers, and each center spent a mean of $1,520 in the past year for advertising. All dentists were younger than 40 years; a fourth were younger than 30. Most patient visits (90%) were by appointment. Patients typically shop regularly at the store and liver near it. The features of the retail store dental office identified as most important by respondents were convenient hours, convenient location, and low cost. Although the survey presents some insight into practice characteristics and patient characteristics of retail store dental practices, only a limited sample from one-particular geographic region was examined. The extent of staff influence or assistance in interpreting or explaining patient questionnaires is also undetermined. Further studies of a larger, more geographically representative group of retail store centers with a larger number of patients, should be undertaken to provide a more comprehensive view of retail store dentistry.