Prime Dentistry is focusing on educational training to attract and retain dental staff.

Dental assistants and hygienists are looking for new ways to grow beyond clinical care, according to Caitlin Reen, clinical director of hygiene and assisting at Tend.

The best way for dentists to decide if and when to join a DSO or MSO could be as simple as talking about it with other people in the industry, according to Andrew Horowitz, DMD, MD. 

Roseland, N.J.-based Abra Health Group, a dental and medical support organization, is focused on bringing holistic healthcare to patients in underserved communities in 2024. 

The dental industry has an optimistic future thanks to advances in technology, according to Barry Lyon, DDS.

Dental technology is a key way for dentists and DSOs to improve their practices. Investing and committing to new technologies and advancements is crucial for this new chief clinical officer.

The increased digitization of dental records, improved AI and machine learning softwares and the commonality of QR codes are just a few of the ways that cybersecurity risks in dentistry have heightened in recent years.

While several dentists predict a continued decline in solo dentistry, some say the industry could switch away from DSOs and group practices in the future as people realize the benefits of a solo practice.

A decline in the number of solo dentists could have both positive and negative effects on the industry, according to Huzefa Kapadia, DDS.

Employee training, multifactor authentication and strong firewall software are three steps dental practices and DSOs can take to better protect themselves from cyber attacks and data breaches.

Phishing schemes, ransomware attacks and generative AI are three cyber and data security threats that dental practices and companies have to deal with in 2024. 

The number of solo dentists could continue to decline as the pressures that come with owning a practice grow, according to Frank Clayton, DDS.

There are many concerns dentists have that could prevent them from affiliating with a DSO, including fears of losing autonomy and staff, according to Barry Lyon, DDS.

DSOs and other management services organizations could start to merge as economic challenges continue into 2024, according to Richard Hall, CEO of Irving, Texas-based U.S. Oral Surgery Management. 

While technology innovations are having a positive impact on the dental industry, some dentists feel that DSO influence could have the opposite effect in the future.

Patient outcomes can continue to improve as medical-dental integration and preventive measures continue to advance, according to Saam Zarrabi, DDS.

Increasing costs in dentistry can hurt accessibility as dental practices and DSOs find it difficult to hire more staff, according to Saam Zarrabi, DDS. 

Paul Boerman, DDS, would have never thought of joining a management services organization or DSO just a couple of years ago, but his views began to change as he planned for retirement. 

Dental schools can better prepare students for a career in dentistry by providing more business education and realistic clinical training, according to Barry Lyon, DDS.

The dental health of patients should be treated as high of a priority as other parts of healthcare, according to Matthew Weissman, MD.