Within the next handful of years, patients will have new expectations in terms of convenience and technology when they walk into their dentist's office.
Patients will want more individualized and tailored treatment plans and want the practice to calculate any co-payments, deductibles and plan maximums.
Some dentists are also preparing for the possibility of insurance providers not raising reimbursement rates to keep up with inflation, which may lead patients to only go to the dentist for emergency care.
These eight dentists and dental leaders recently connected with Becker's to give their predictions on how patient expectations will be different in five years compared to today.
Note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: How do you think patient expectations will change in the next five years?
Thomas Allen, DDS. Dentist at Old Farm Dental (Millcreek, Utah): In the next five years, I see their expectations still being the same but with more concerns about the long-term effects of the treatment they receive and also concerns as to the effect on their quality of life that their treatment decisions will have.
Mike Davis, DDS. Dentist at Smiles of Sante Fe (Albuquerque, N.M.): I expect the insurance industry will not maintain their fee schedules to levels of inflation. As such, those patients who are dependent on insurance or government funded programs like Medicaid will discover a continually diminished standard of care in all areas from informed consent, time spent with patients, to less favorable clinical outcomes. This demographic of the dental population will become ever more disgruntled.
Brian Hamilton. Chief Development Officer of Allied OMS (Southlake, Texas): In the next five years, patients will expect seamless communication, efficient scheduling and AI-driven, personalized care. They'll seek providers who leverage technology to deliver faster diagnoses and tailored treatments, ensuring they receive the right care at the right time.
Richard Huot, DDS. CEO of Beachside Dental Consultants (Vero Beach, Fla.): As more and more insurance companies reduce their reimbursement structure, patients will expect you to calculate the exact co-payments, deductibles and plan maximums for them, so they don't receive a surprise bill in the mail.
If we encounter a recession in the next year, patients may likely put off large treatment cases, and in the case of layoffs, may want to take advantage of maxing out their benefits before they lose coverage by scheduling the treatment promptly.
Offices that can accommodate these patients will be rewarded by patient loyalty, and good communication about cost effective preventive visits regardless of coverage will make an impression on the patient that the office is concerned about their oral health.
Geith Kallas, DDS. Dentist and CEO of Smile Makers Dental Center (Tyson's Corner, Va.): As dentistry continues to evolve, so do patient expectations. Over the next five years, the demand for predictable outcomes, cutting-edge technology, comprehensive care, and seamless communication will reshape how dental professionals approach treatment. Understanding these shifts will be essential for practices looking to stay ahead and provide the best possible care.
As patient expectations evolve, dental professionals must adapt by investing in technology, refining treatment approaches and enhancing patient communication. By prioritizing predictable outcomes, advanced diagnostics, comprehensive care and flexible financial solutions, practices can stay ahead of the curve and continue delivering exceptional care in a rapidly changing landscape.
Andrew Mintz. CEO of The Smilist (Great Neck, N.Y.): I think patients will continue to expect greater convenience and quality. Medical practices have been focused on this for years. In the dental industry, we need to meet the patients where they are by providing them care at their convenience and not ours. I think, as an industry, we do pretty well for urgent problems, but we don't do a good job of getting patients in for routine and preventative care. As for quality, while there are not universal measures of quality of care in our industry, we will need to be using the latest technologies to provide the most complete diagnosis and treatment and better integration with their overall health.
Michael Perpich, DDS. Dentist at Gentle Dental (Coon Rapids, Minn.): In terms of the next five years, I think the trick will be providing care to patients who want the care with a shrinking workforce and a lower fee schedule.
Sowmya Renuka, DDS. Dental Director of Jefferson Dental & Orthodontic (Dallas): Depending on insurance benefits and economic changes patients may resort to only emergency dental care. This could impact on dental health leading to untreated dental conditions and increase burden on emergency departments.