As dental organizations plan for the next five years, several executives are placing their bets on two things: a stronger workforce and smarter technology.
Four dental executives joined Becker’s Future of Dentistry Roundtable Sept. 14-15 to discuss what success will look like for future dental organizations.
Note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: Which competitive advantage matters most heading into the next five years — scale, technology, clinical quality or something else?
Jaspreet Gill, BDS, DDS, Founder, Countryside Smiles (Murphy, Texas): I think a combination of skilled technology with workforce strategy. Neither of them can work by themselves. So, retaining the workforce — who can utilize and maximize on the technology that either the DSOs or independent practices are utilizing — would be a key to success, and maybe we will have a more efficient and a more profitable business model that maximizes the use of human resources as well as the technology they invest in.
Ashish Bagai. Co-CEO at Vitana Pediatric & Orthodontic Partners (Plantation, Fla.): I think workforce strategies are probably the most important because everything else seems downstream from that. Patient experience, clinical quality — I think [those] only come when you have a workforce workforce strategy that’s consistent, when people stick around and you have some tenure in there. If you look at the other side of things, can you operate with the other things or without having them, such as technology? Yes, it’s uncomfortable, but you can still operate. Without scale, you can still operate. There are groups that are smaller, and they still operate just fine. I think workforce strategies are at the top, and everything else is downstream from that.
Justin Lai, DDS. Chief Dental Director at Dent-Well (Houston): Workforce strategy. Everything comes down from the people. There’s a lot of technology, AI, even robotics coming on, but at the end of the day it’s going to be the patient interaction that’s going to matter the most.
Brian Groeschel. CFO at More Dental Solutions (Huntersville, N.C.): I think they’re all very important. Looking five years from now, I’d still say technology, just because they all kind of tie together but tie up toward technology. They’re all going to have that importance there.
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.
