Raul Escalante, DDS, a San Marcos, Calif.-based dentist, sees growth opportunities as new technologies and techniques emerge in dentistry.
He talked about how the field is changing and the potential boon for teledentistry and tooth growth.
Question: How are you thinking about business growth?
Raul Escalante: I think business growth for the future is very good for the business of dentistry. Dentistry is an ever-evolving field, and I would suggest it is at the forefront of new technology. With new developments, new equipment, research, new techniques and materials, dentistry can only grow in the future.
Good dentists will always be in demand, and as we live longer and we value our teeth more and more, dentistry will be there. I think people are seeing the value of keeping their teeth healthy.
Q: How will the dental industry change in the next five years?
RE: The dental industry is changing fast. I think implant dentistry is exploding. There is research happening right now on the possibility of growing back your own lost teeth. Like I said, dentistry is at the forefront of development and technology. Teledentistry is another new field that can only grow. New software for practice management, imaging, even the way we confirm our appointments is changing. I think in the next five years we will see many changes in dentistry.