Dental professionals can expect to see continued DSO consolidation and challenges with staffing and reimbursements next year, according to Brad Rand, DDS.
Dr. Rand, of Watermark Dental in Brewer, Maine, recently spoke with Becker's about what he predicts for the dental industry in 2024.
Editor's note: This response was lightly edited for clarity and length.
Q: What changes do you expect to see in the dental industry in 2024?
Dr. Brad Rand: Dentistry in the U.S. will continue to see many of the recent trends continue:
- DSOs will continue to increase (recent numbers suggest around 16%).
- Medical loss ratios for dental insurers will continue to be introduced at the state level (12 states in 2023) with various methods of implementation.
- Recruitment of dental hygienists and dental assistants will continue to be challenging.
- Reimbursement rates from dental insurances are likely to remain flat, with some areas seeing modest increases and others experiencing some decreases.
- Dollars spent on dental care have been increasing, but consumption is likely to slow in step with the overall economy.
- 3D printing will continue to be one of the top industry trends with printing of final dentures, veneers, crowns and other fixed restorations.