Economic strain on patients’ care prioritization, insurance companies ramping up denials and the potential removal of community fluoride are big concerns for the dental industry.
Patients being unable to afford dental care can lead to a number of other health problems down the line, as delaying care today turns into more complex conditions in the future.
These four dentists and DSO leaders recently connected with Becker’s to talk about a few of the most pressing issues in dentistry and how they are planning to deal with them.
Note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What is one economic or policy development keeping you up at night right now, and how are you preparing for it?
Dan Burke. Chief Enterprise Strategy Officer of PDS Health (Henderson, Nev.): On the economic side, rising consumer debt and sustained cost pressures may shift how patients prioritize care. Dental care is still too often viewed as discretionary, which means when uncertainty increases, people may delay or minimize treatment. That has real consequences, because oral health is directly connected to overall health. Delayed care can lead to more complex conditions both in the mouth and elsewhere that are harder and more costly to treat later. It is one thing to put off whitening or veneers, but quite another to delay disease management.
At the same time, we’re seeing a wave of policy activity that will shape the future of healthcare, from AI regulation to changes affecting investment in healthcare delivery. There is real opportunity in these conversations, especially as more stakeholders recognize the importance of whole-person health. But there is also risk if oral health is not adequately represented in those decisions. We’ve made meaningful progress elevating the role of oral health in overall health, and it’s critical that momentum continues.
Layered into this is the industry’s underlying infrastructure challenge. Advancing integrated care, protecting against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats and scaling responsible AI all require significant investment. How policymakers recognize and incentivize that investment and how the industry responds, will have a lasting impact on care delivery.
Our approach at PDS Health is to stay focused on what we can control. We continue to invest in dental-medical integration and advanced, proven technologies that provide clinicians a more complete view of their patients’ health and enable earlier, more precise care. We also remain actively engaged in policy discussions to ensure oral health is recognized as an essential part of overall health.
No matter the environment, our responsibility is to ensure clinicians have the clinical support, actionable insights and connectivity that enables better care. That’s how we continue advancing outcomes and creating healthier, happier patients.
Phillip Isaacman, DDS. Owner of Bluff City Dental (Memphis, Tenn.): An interesting development has come up between our office and our state’s insurance office. What is “medical necessity?” We keep seeing that in denials. We’re just trying to fix their old, broken-down teeth and treat their periodontal disease. Chewing food is important for digestion. Does eating really matter? If we don’t have the teeth, we’ll lose our vertical dimension, and we’ll all have shrunken faces and prognathism. Some things that might not be medically necessary are veneers, or anterior bonding or clear orthodontics. But we’re not talking about that. If you lose one of your chewing teeth, it’s bad news for the rest of the team. That’s just the teeth. What about the perio? Periodontal disease is a real infection that walks hand-in-hand with heart attacks and strokes. I thought it was necessary that we try and treat it.
How are we preparing for it? Not sure. I always thought dentists would be medically necessary. We’re just now finding this out. I’m too old to be restarting my career and going into a brand new field. There was no way for us to prepare for the fact that we’re not necessary.
Barry Lyon, DDS. Director of Provider Recruiting and Onboarding at Dental Care Alliance (Sarasota, Fla.): I fear the worst for public health if the Trump administration succeeds in removing fluoride from community water supplies. Not only will an increase in tooth decay become a reality, but it will severely impact those Americans most vulnerable. Those on Medicaid and those living in rural communities, where access to care is severely limited, will suffer the most. Adding insult to injury is Trump’s proposed cuts in Medicaid funding. Dentists can prepare by assuring they have strong preventive programs and prescribing fluoride supplements, applying silver diamine fluoride and utilizing remineralizing agents.
Len Schiavone. CEO of CORDENTAL Group (Cincinnati): The one area that is continuing to gain our focus is the various state pilot projects that are highlighting the use of oral preventative expanded function dental assistants. As an example, Missouri completed its successful pilot and would greatly assist the dental industry given the many workforce challenges affecting the dental industry. This potential change would help accommodate new patients that want and need to be seen for oral healthcare and routine preventative care. These pilot projects are finding that [oral preventive assistants] [expanded function dental assistants] can safely and effectively support the dental team, as it is not about replacing providers, rather it is about strengthening the team, allowing dentists, hygienists and assistants to work at the top of their training while crucially improving patient access to care.
At the Becker's 5th Annual Future of Dentistry Roundtable, taking place September 14-15 in Chicago, dental leaders and executives will gain insights into emerging technologies, practice growth strategies and the evolving landscape of dental care delivery, with a focus on innovation, patient experience and operational excellence. Apply for complimentary registration now.
