Census Bureau still waiting on data request responses

Washington鈥擠ental-specific data from the 2007 economic census, the first since 2002, will be available early next year, but the U.S. Census bureau says the data collection effort is incomplete. Census forms were due Feb. 12 from some 52,000 dental offices among 4 million businesses selected for the five-year census.

If you received a form, your response is required by law, a Census Bureau “respondent outreach” spokeswoman said in requesting a second ADA News reminder notice (ADA News Today March 10, Census Bureau seeks responses to dental office survey). Use estimates if you don’t have book figures readily available, and call the toll-free census number 1-800-233-6136 if you need help, she said.

More information on the economic census is posted at www.business.census.gov. Dental-specific information from the 2002 and 1997 censuses is available. Click on the variable maps to compare per capita receipts by state as reported by your professional colleagues.