Dental implant robotics, rising inflation and lower insurance reimbursements are three of the biggest changes that dentists have seen in the past year.
Here, dental professionals answered the question: What have been the biggest changes in the dental industry over the past year?
Note: Responses have been slightly edited for clarity and length.
Elizabeth Abrams, DDS. Manhasset (N.Y.) Dental Arts: Fast-changing digital technology, especially in 3D and milling.
Eugene Bass, DMD. Bass Dental (New Hempstead, N.Y.): In my view, the biggest changes in dentistry are in the cone-beam computed tomography implant planning and robotic implant placement. This is now being used for teaching implantology to our dental students at NYU College of Dentistry. This has led to the development of 3D printing of implant parts and custom designs of healing abutments. Digital impressions and laboratory communication have furthered the advancement of all ceramic restorations in full and partial coverage restorations, which can now be created in your office by the laboratory.
Michael Davis, DMD. Smiles of Santa Fe (N.M.): The continued rate of inflation and the associated spike in interest rates has had dramatic impacts. Smaller and mid-sized DSOs are being consolidated. Even larger DSOs are struggling to meet leveraged debt payments on the subprime bond market. As a result, DSO management is often involved in arm-twisting of affiliated dentists to purchase privately traded stock. One of the larger DSOs is selling off their real estate properties to real estate investment trust companies. Cash flow is tight with debt obligations and high interest rates. Some DSOs are adding to their revenue stream by selling practices to affiliated doctors. Unfortunately, under management service agreements between the doctors and the management company, the doctors are usually either in a subordinate position as a minority shareholder, or the contract is so onerous that the doctor has no real control of their alleged assets.
Richard Evanseck, DDS. Richard Evanseck DDS (Marion, Ind.): Navigating inflation and staff shortages.
Amanda Grimshaw, DDS. Kuhn Dental Associates (Aberdeen, N.C.): As an industry, I would say finding enough employees. Personally, my practice has been stable employee-wise. I am so grateful for my team members who all give 110 percent every day. This has been a challenging time for healthcare; in our case it brought out the best in our team.
Charles Schlesinger, DDS. COO of Comfortable Dentistry 4U (Albuquerque, N.M.): This last year the biggest challenges have been the constant pressure by insurance companies to lower reimbursements and the effect it has on the profitability of a practice as costs associated with doing business have increased in all ways.
John Young, DDS. General Chair Elect of the Greater New York Dental Meeting (New York City): After a complete shutdown of dental meetings in 2020 and 2021 there has been a slow return to pre-pandemic numbers of exhibitors and attendees. Exhibitors have smaller budgets, many have new employees and some have fewer employees. Attendees have until recently been reluctant to travel. After visiting the Yankee and the Chicago Midwinter Dental Meetings, I think meetings in 2023 will be very close to normal again.