Featured Perspectives

Although the U.S. may rank below other countries when comparing workforce numbers, it could be ahead in other areas.

A lack of universal healthcare, accessibility barriers and several other factors are leading to poor oral health in the U.S., according to Steven Edwards, DDS.

Dental technology innovation will bring more efficiency and accuracy to practices, according to Barry Lyon, DDS. 

Dallas-based Smile Doctors, an orthodontics-focused DSO, is one of the largest dental organizations in the U.S., entering 2024 with more than 415 practices. 

Dallas-based Smile Doctors, an orthodontics-focused DSO, introduced a joint venture partnership model for its partner doctors in October that allows for partners to hold ownership of practices at the local level and also join in the success of the DSO…

DSOs will have to take additional factors into consideration when recruiting in an increasingly competitive market, according to Barry Lyon, DDS. 

Increased adoption of more technologies like virtual reality digital workflows is one thing that dental professionals would like to see done differently in the industry.

Increasing the transparency of costs and expenses, breaking the pricing power of insurance companies and getting rid of gimmick advertising are three things that dental professionals would like to see done differently in the industry.

Education of both dental professionals and patients should be revisited to improve the industry, according to six leaders. 

Creating additional overlap and collaboration between the medical and dental professions is something that seven dental professionals would like to see done more in the industry.