Impact of Recession on Dental Implant Procedures?

Dr. F asks:

Recently, there has been alot of talk in the media about a recession in the US caused by the housing crisis. Then this past weekend I was reading an article in Barrons where fund manager, Douglas A. Kass, says that he is betting on a decline in dental stocks because as he says:

“My father was a dentist, and through him I know a great many dentists and CPAs whose clientele consists of dentists and doctors. We have made extensive channel checks of practitioners around the country. One thing we have learned is that elective cosmetic dental procedures are starting to tail off dramatically.”

My question is whether any of my fellow practitioners sense any slowdown in their dental implant practice? Are patients holding off on implant surgery due to cost concerns? How is your practice
preparing for any potential impact from a recession? What did you experience in past economic slowdowns? Thanks.