Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) COVID-19 relief funding for veteran-, minority-, and women- owned dental businesses: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated dental staffing shortages, which impact care delivery and ultimately oral health equity. Federal funding efforts like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) sought to aid traditionally underserved businesses including those owned by veterans, minority racial and ethnic groups, and women. OBJECTIVES: (1) To examine differences in PPP funding between veteran- and nonveteran-owned dental care delivery businesses and organizations and (2) to analyze other relevant factors associated with variation in PPP funding levels for dental businesses. METHODS: Using publicly available PPP data, we ran unadjusted bivariable and adjusted multivariable linear regression models to estimate associations between loan approval amount and forgiveness amount, veteran status, and relevant covariates. RESULTS: Minority racial and ethnic groups and women received less PPP funding and less loan forgiveness, on average, compared with non-minority groups. In the adjusted model with no missing self-reported demographic observations at p < 0.10, veterans received more PPP funding and loan forgiveness, on average, compared to non-veterans. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive analysis of all dental recipients of PPP funding throughout the United States. Despite PPP program intentions and strategies, traditionally underserved dental businesses did not receive increased funding to support employment.