The continuing adoption of new artificial intelligence programs, the advancement of medical-dental integration and improving the patient experience are part of what experts say the new "gold standard" will look like in the dental industry.
The leaders featured in this article are speaking at Becker's 2024 Fall Future of Dentistry Roundtable, set for Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago.
If you work at a DSO or dental practice and would like to be considered as a speaker, please contact Randi Haseman at rhaseman@beckershealthcare.com.
Note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What will the new gold standard of dentistry look like?
Alexander Einbinder, DDS. Dentist at Caterpillar Dental (West Babylon, N.Y.): I believe 3D printing will revolutionize prosthetics, crowns, bridges and implants, providing same-day solutions that are custom tailored to each patient. This will cut down on wait times on shipping and traditional workflows and allow any office to integrate their own lab in house for under $15,000. Even further in the future, a promising option will be bioprinting, where living tissue can be made in a 3D printer to mimic pulp tissue, root structure and biocompatible restorative materials. I believe the gold standard will be an in-house lab like this with the addition of AI to speed up treatment planning and revenue cycle management. The new gold standard will be driven by technological advancements, patient-centered care and holistic approaches to blend oral and overall health.
Christy Englehart. COO of PepperPointe Partnerships (Lexington, Ky.): The new gold standard of dentistry will include AI for insurance claims processing to make necessary corrections prior to the claim being submitted. This increases efficiency and reduces the day sales outstanding in the area of RCM. Also, AI should be utilized for insurance verification purposes. This reduces a tremendous amount of administrative time utilizing AI and a dashboard.
Kendra Flowers. Vice President of Clinical Operations for Smile America Partners (Farmington Hills, Mich.): Dental quality measures and operational KPIs: We will see private practices growing their levels of operations and quality to better match those of DSOs. Firstly, out of necessity to be competitive in the market. Secondly, technology and AI are making things that were previously only available to the elite. This has already occurred in the medical space due to the regulatory landscape, but it elevates the profession, and the public benefits.
Heather Foster. CEO of Heritage Dental Group (Dallas): Heritage Dental's focus on these key areas positions it well for the future of dentistry. Here's a more detailed look at how each aspect can enhance patient care and practice efficiency:
No. 1: AI and machine learning. By continuing to integrate Overjet AI into diagnostics and treatment planning, providers can improve accuracy in detecting conditions early and tailor treatments to individual patient needs.
No. 2: Sustainability. Emphasizing eco-friendly practices will not only reduce the environmental footprint but also appeal to environmentally conscious patients.
No. 3: Interdisciplinary collaboration. By fostering partnerships with other health professionals, providers can provide holistic care that recognizes the links between oral health and overall well-being.
No. 4: 3D printing. Continuing to implement 3D printing technology will enable rapid customization of dental solutions, improving the fit and comfort of implants and prosthetics.
Tara Good-Young. CEO of PDI Surgery Center (Windsor, Calif.): I'd like the new gold standard of dentistry to present itself as an improved ratio of available dentists to patient demand, delivering successful and sustainable access for both providers and patients. Additionally, Medicaid rates would be improved to a degree that providers would be willing and financially able to open their practices to accept a payer mix of 10% Medicaid patients. If every practice is doing a little, patients on state programs have greater access and choice, shorter wait times versus having really only RHCs and FQHCs with dental departments as options. This will make a dent in calming the dental crisis in America, which is connected to a person's and a community's overall well-being. Finally, part of that gold standard is a positive working environment in clinics and practices where owning and leading dentists mentor and communicate supportively, developing good candor and strong professional skills with their teams. Often the experience RDAs and hygienists, as well as patients themselves have can be a significant factor in longevity in the dental field. Often very positive relationships, in my experience, have tended to encourage individuals to either choose dentistry directly in their professional trajectory or continue their education from RDA or hygienist to that of becoming a dentist.
Mark Greenstein. Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer of Heartland Dental (Effingham, Ill.): The gold standard of dentistry will include doctors and hygienists being enabled by the latest visual, workflow, digital and AI technologies, a more full-service healthcare experience where the dental office can treat a broader range of oral care needs and support whole-body health in a timely and comfortable manner and seamless scheduling, benefits estimation, claims processing and bidirectional communications with your oral care office and providers.
Kyle Hollis. Chief Clinical Officer of SGA Dental Partners (Richmond Hill, Ga.): The new gold standard of dentistry is likely to be shaped by a partnership between the clinician and technology. There will be an increased focus on personalized and preventive care utilizing biomimetic materials, artificial intelligence, and minimally invasive and regenerative care. I believe we will continue to rely more and more heavily on our advanced technological tools such as robotics and AI integrated imaging to treat patients while also taking into consideration their genomic data and personalized diagnostic results. The advances in salivary diagnostic tools and increasing interdisciplinary care developed from the better understanding of the oral-systemic connection is going to move dentistry forward and allow us to provide elevated levels of care, beginning with early detection and prevention.
Emily Letran, DDS. CEO of Sea Breeze Dental (Huntington Beach, Calif.): I believe the new gold standard of dentistry will be technological implementation and convenience, both of which should be part of the practice's values. The technologies could be digital scanner, AI patient screening, almost instant before and after cosmetic images, and automation of patient communication. The convenience factor ranges from convenient hours (earlier morning and later evening appointments) to ease of payments like online pay and third-party financing. In other words, wow your patients and give them all the right reasons to say "yes" to you.
Bijal Mehta, DDS. Dentist and Co-owner, Mehta Dental Group (Anaheim, Calif.): The new gold standard of dentistry will be achieving an exceptional level of standardization and calibration across the industry in diagnostics, compliance, regulation and infection control. In particular, the advancements in AI diagnostic technology paired with the potential of achieving true medical-dental integration will profoundly impact patient experience in the very near future.
John Meis, DDS. Co-founder and CEO of Smart Choice Dentistry (Scottsdale, Ariz.): The new gold standard of dentistry will utilize new technologies, including AI, to improve patient outcomes. Better diagnosis, more ways to make disease visual to patients, improved case acceptance and restorations and appliances made in house will become the norm.
Tammeka Nickleberry, DDS. CEO of TLN Family & Cosmetic Dentistry (Houston): The new gold standard of dentistry will be to create an amazing patient experience while they are receiving exceptional dental care to provide them with a smile that they will love for a lifetime. It will also include creating a work environment that teams love and that encourages a culture that lives and breathes patient care.
Kenneth Nusbacher, DMD. Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs of the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry (Lexington): The new gold standard of dentistry will be a thoughtful integration of oral healthcare with systemic medical care. A true synthesis could include dental providers and primary care providers working together with an oral-system health approach that brings dentistry into the value-based payment world in earnest.
Kalpesh Patel, DDS. Founder and CEO of Active Dental (Irving, Texas): The gold standard of dentistry is customer service driven. Patients want to feel heard and taken care of, and also desire efficiency. We need to leverage our technology and communication skills to build trust.
Viren Patel, DMD. CEO and Owner of Smile Obsession (Chicago): The future of dentistry is poised to be influenced by several pivotal advancements that will transform patient care and treatment standards. Artificial intelligence is expected to play a crucial role in diagnostics, treatment planning and procedural assistance, thereby enhancing both accuracy and patient outcomes. Additionally, the rapid on-site production of custom dental appliances, crowns and 3D printing combined with improved digital impression technology will significantly reduce wait times while improving precision. Furthermore, a more holistic approach to health will likely develop, recognizing the interconnectedness of oral health and overall wellness, fostering collaborative care models among various healthcare professionals.
Ronald Perry, DMD. Professor at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (Boston): The future gold standard of dentistry will be driven by advanced technologies like AI, 3D printing and digital tools that improve diagnostics, treatment planning and patient outcomes. AI will enhance precision in diagnostics, while 3D printing and CAD/CAM technologies will enable same-day restorations. Intraoral scanners will replace traditional impressions, making procedures more comfortable and efficient. Dentistry will also focus on minimally invasive approaches, with regenerative techniques, smart biomaterials and personalized care tailored to individual genetics and health profiles. Teledentistry will grow, offering remote consultations and monitoring, improving access for underserved populations. A more holistic approach will integrate oral health with overall health, focusing on prevention and addressing links between oral diseases and systemic conditions like heart disease. Green dentistry, emphasizing sustainability and eco-friendly practices, will become more prevalent. Innovations in implantology, such as bioactive surfaces and robot-assisted surgeries, will improve precision and outcomes. As dentistry evolves, continuous education and collaboration with other healthcare providers will be essential, while the profession places greater emphasis on ethical practices, equity and accessibility for all patients.
Jeffrey Tomcsik. CEO of Grand Dental Group (Aurora, Ill.): The new gold standard of dentistry in the future must have a clear and distinct delineation between private equity's role and expectations in supporting dentistry and the business of clinical dentistry itself. While capitalism drives American politics, the consumer economy and healthcare, it is unsustainable to think healthcare and dentistry specifically can continue to grow in a way that still allows affordable, quality patient care while driving huge profits to private equity investors without compromise somewhere. Cheaper, low-quality products, offshore labs, reduced employee benefits, shorter appointments, less pay for providers — where do we as consumers, employees and patients give so that the market can continue to return more profits year over year? The insurance companies have shown no signs of being helpful as they answer to their shareholders as well. We, as dental and healthcare guardians of the industry, need to set reasonable expectations and ground rules that investors must understand and accept before we partner. Then, the hard part is holding them accountable to actions outside of agreed terms. Our destinies will count. Money is great, but no one's livelihood, safety, quality of care or ethics should be compromised so we can make an extra buck.
Justin Welke, DDS. CEO of Chicago Dental Partners: The new gold standard of dentistry will look like oral health that is AI approved, meaning that AI has deemed the mouth to be healthy, beautiful and in balance.