Dentistry doesn’t have an access problem or a workforce problem, according to a group dental leaders — it has a design problem.
State practice acts, licensing requirements and credentialing rules were built for a version of dentistry that no longer exists, and executives across the industry say those rules, not any shortage of clinicians or technology, are what’s keeping care from reaching the patients who need it most.
Six dental leaders explain where dentistry’s rulebook has fallen furthest behind reality. Their responses were collected as part of Becker’s 2026 Dental Speaker Series.
Note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Hamza Asumah, MD. Director, Operations of Juniper Services (Sparks, Nev.): Dentistry’s greatest unsolved problem is not clinical — it is architectural. The split between dentistry and medicine was never based on science, but on historical evolution and tradition — and we have never truly corrected it. Oral diseases affect approximately 3.5 billion people globally, with conditions in the mouth serving as early warning signs for rheumatic disease, diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers — yet a cardiologist treating a patient today almost certainly has no visibility into that patient’s periodontal status. Interoperability technology that enables dental data sharing across health systems is now identified as essential to advancing whole-person care, and the tools to make it real — longitudinal data tracking, EHR integration, predictive analytics — already exist. The challenge, as the leading DSO voices in our field now acknowledge, is cultural and structural as much as technological. Until the dental and medical worlds are genuinely connected at the data layer, AI in dentistry will only ever be solving half the equation.
Debra Bafia. Office Manager at Ethos Dental Group (Munster, Ind.): As dental professionals, we have a responsibility to our patients and our team to keep data private. We fall under the same HIPAA guidelines as a patient’s primary care physician, but many offices do not have the budget that large healthcare facilities do. Training on how to protect our offices from the recent wave of ransomware, phishing, malware and data breaches can be a costly expense to many practices, but it’s vital we provide this training to protect patients and ourselves. I think in the next year, we may see more stories of offices who fall prey to these criminals and more patient information breached. The dental community needs to be aware of the dangers lurking around the dark web and be proactive in preventing their office from becoming the next news story.
Aditya Desai, DDS. Chief Clinical Officer of Familia Dental (Clovis, N.M.): The biggest threat to the dental workforce pipeline is the growing reluctance of new graduates to practice in rural and underserved communities. Compared to previous generations, many early-career clinicians are placing greater emphasis on lifestyle and geographic preferences, resulting in fewer providers relocating to tier two and tier three markets where access to care is needed most. At Familia Dental, we address this challenge by highlighting the unique professional advantages of these communities, including higher patient volume, broader clinical exposure, mentorship opportunities and accelerated skill development. If this trend continues, disparities in oral healthcare access will likely widen for underserved populations. Additionally, recruiting experienced dental assistants remains a challenge, which is why we have implemented structured internal training programs that allow new team members to develop skills alongside experienced staff and build confidence in a supportive environment.
Maria Kunstadter, DDS. Co-Founder and CEO of The TeleDentists (Overland Park, Kan.): Dentists need to model the pro bono recommendations that the legal profession follows. If dentists all did render at least 50 hours of pro bono services per year, individuals of limited means would benefit greatly. Our legal colleagues offer incentives for voluntary work including fee waivers on annual license and/or the ability to work cross state lines in approved programs. Everybody wins.
Francesca Pregano. COO of Smile Makers Dental Center (Tysons Corner, Va.): If I could change one policy, it would be to standardize dental assistant training and expanded functions nationwide and make those credentials recognized across state lines.
I would like to see a national standard for dental assistant training, with additional certifications that allow assistants to perform expanded functions as they gain education, experience and competency. If someone has completed the appropriate training and demonstrated that they can safely perform those functions, those qualifications should be recognized across state lines.
This isn’t about lowering standards or simply allowing dental assistants to do more. It’s about raising the standard of training, creating consistency and building a real career pathway for the dental assistant workforce.
If we standardize training, expand the functions qualified dental assistants can perform and recognize those qualifications across state lines, we aren’t just addressing a staffing shortage. We’re increasing the capacity of the dental workforce and improving access to quality care.
Mariz Tanious, DDS. Chief Dental Officer of Affinity Dental Management (Holyoke, Mass.): I believe two key issues are often overlooked. First, it’s time to expand hygienists’ roles to officially include diagnosing and treating certain dental diseases. Hygienists are highly trained professionals with the knowledge and clinical skill to identify conditions like caries and periodontal disease accurately and early. Allowing them to formally diagnose and initiate appropriate treatment would close the gap between hygiene and dentistry, increase access to care, and prevent delays or unnecessary repeat assessments.
The second area that’s being overlooked is the persistent separation between medical and dental care. Despite strong evidence linking oral and systemic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, our healthcare systems still operate in silos. Limited data sharing and disconnected treatment planning make it difficult for providers to see the full picture, and incompatible electronic records keep essential information like medications, diagnoses and risk factors hidden in separate systems.
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.
