5 BIG TRENDS AT BECKER'S 2024 FUTURE OF DENTISTRY ROUNDTABLE

Outlook for Dental Practices

Summary

Dental practices are expected to see a continued and increasing emphasis on patient-centered care models and preventative approaches. The patient demographic is shifting, with millennials and Generation Z prioritizing convenience, transparency and holistic health, urging practices to adapt accordingly. 

During a panel discussion, "Top Priorities for DSO Executives," Hisham Barakat, DDS, chief clinical officer at Miami-based Guardian Dentistry Partners, discussed his strategies for managing a younger workforce.

"The younger doctors, hygienists and assistants coming in and joining us, they want to grow," Dr. Barakat said. "They want to see a potential for them not to just get a job, but to see growth potential three years from now, five years from now, 10 years from now. We show them the path. We do something called the 'Grow Model,' which is basically an individualized plan for every doctor."

Embracing a more comprehensive approach to oral health, which includes nutritional counseling and chronic disease management, may become standard practice. Furthermore, sustainable and eco-friendly practices are likely to gain traction, reflecting broader societal trends toward environmental responsibility. On the operational side, practices may face increased scrutiny regarding data security and patient privacy, necessitating robust cybersecurity measures and compliance with evolving regulations.

For dental practices, the near term presents both opportunities and challenges. Consolidation within the dental industry is anticipated to accelerate, driven by the economic pressures of post-pandemic recovery and the advantages of scale in negotiating with suppliers and insurers. Dental providers will need to maintain a balance between standardization and the personalized touch of individual practices.

Jeffrey Tomcsik, CEO at Aurora, Ill.-based Grand Dental Group, shared a program called Wow 200, which incentivizes personalized care at his organization. "Every employee got a virtual $200 in their bank account, so to speak, for wowing patients," Mr. Tomcsik said during a panel discussion on the business of dentistry and what practice owners should know. "The only thing you couldn't do with that money was discount dentistry, because that's saying our dentistry isn't valued. But if a staff member knows Mary's coming in and she recently lost her husband, and they want to get some flowers for her, they can do that. We had four or five people pitch in and buy new wardrobes for a family that had a fire and they lost all their clothing. We've just celebrated birthdays with a mug filled with candy. It is whatever you want. It can go to one patient, all $200 in some form, or it could be $5 increments across all their favorite patients over the year. But the idea was to empower the employee to bring positivity out to the patients."

To stay competitive, practice leaders will need to focus on fostering a positive organizational culture, offering professional development for staff, making strategic investments in technology and driving efficiency where possible.

During a panel discussion on what patients will demand next in dentistry, Thomas Ryan, DDS, clinical director at Tinley Park, Ill.-based North Creek Dental Care, spoke on one tech investment he's focusing on.

"Instead of the traditional voicemail message after hours, we're going to have an AI-integrated voicemail that will actually be like somebody's talking to the patient, but it'll be AI asking the questions — getting the information so patients don't just hang up when they realize there's nobody there," Dr. Ryan said. "They will actually leave the message information and capture that, so we can discuss and give them a call back the next time we're in the office."

Sessions