This month, dental executives spoke with Becker’s about dental care accessibility, new investments and financial pressures facing the industry.
Here is what six dental leaders told us in December:
‘We are at a crisis’: CareQuest CEO zeroes in on top priorities for dental care access in 2026
Wade Rakes. CEO of the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health: We are at a crisis when we talk about one in five folks not having access to a plan, and that number potentially getting larger. We also know we don’t have enough clinicians to serve individuals, even those who are covered. That’s what’s driving the emergency department use we see. This $4 billion of expense just on emergency department dental [services] is a massive amount of resources that, if directed to prevention, if directed to community-based work, if directed to local dental practices, would have better outcomes for the patient and better outcomes for those of us in communities that ultimately are seeing a decline in our access. We see that solving and addressing oral health issues is essential to overall health, and we will continue to push for oral health parity in the years to come. The data shows that investment in our space leads to outsized positive impact across the health of our community. So, we’ve got a lot of work to do ahead. We’ve got many great partners that we do that work with, but we also have a great degree of excitement and enthusiasm because if we tackle this challenge, our communities will be healthier and folks will have greater quality of life, and that’s the best outcome we can hope for.
The AI ‘shake-up’ headed for DSOs
Faraz Edalatpajouh, DDS. CEO of Clark St. Dental Partners: I think marketing is very valuable. I think for the longest time, DSOs have been a little bit averse to digital marketing and spending capital on [things like] Facebook and Instagram. One thing we’re doubling down on is making sure our presence is just as much on ChatGPT, where if you were to Google, “Who’s the best orthodontist in Palmdale, California?,” you want to rank there. You want to be where the online traffic is. I think the online traffic is heading toward AI and Gemini, Grok and ChatGPT. A lot of the outreach tools we use have AI embedded in them. We use a product called Patient Prism, which allows us to know [with] a patient interaction, how did it go? What can we improve? Was the full spectrum of offers there? That way we know our patients are getting the maximum value from interacting with us.
What dental leaders are optimistic about for 2026
Thomas Passalacqua. Director of Business Development at The Smilist: I am optimistic in the growing population of passionate dental professionals who are driven to provide relevant and effective solutions for our industry. The more I expand my network, I discover there are ambitious companies and individuals aiming to solve the very problems that dentists and dental groups face throughout each year. Both in clinical and operational aspects, if there is a new challenge, you can rest assured there is someone who is very smart already working to provide a creative solution. I am reassured that the dental industry is a haven for not just intellectual minds, but authentic and caring ones who are ready to help.
Aspen Dental eyes technology, access advancements after growth spurt
Ash ElDifrawi. Chief commercial and Brand Officer for The Aspen Group: Technology will help, especially AI and digital workflows, but it only works when clinicians are trained to use it well. That’s why TAG U and the Oral Care Center matter so much. We have the most advanced clinician development program in the DSO space, with proven results helping clinicians build confidence with new tools and advanced procedures, which ultimately leads to better outcomes.
The DSOs that blend responsible technology adoption, strong clinical development and a genuine commitment to both patients and providers will be the ones that lead the next phase of the industry.
What dentists, DSO execs are investing in next year
Robert Rubino. CEO and Chairman of Qualitas Dental Partners (Sharon, Mass.): There are two important areas of investment in 2026 for Qualitas. First is expanding existing practice capacity. Investment is in physical space, number of operatories and additional talent. Demand for services is greater than our capacity right now, so we need to invest to serve more patients. We will also invest in training. We have a robust CE program currently, but we will be adding additional courses and seminars to further advance the careers of our current team members and meet the needs of many.
The financial pressures headed for dentistry
Iquebal Hasan, DDS. Chief of Hospital Programs and Clinical Development at the High Point (N.C.) University Workman School of Dental Medicine: There will be financial pressure on healthcare, especially smaller entities. This will be due to multiple factors, which include but are not limited to inflation, a rise in operating costs, workforce shortages, burnout and an increase in patients’ financial responsibility.
The solution will be in cost saving and production-based income strategies. Independent hospitals, medical groups, dental schools and dental practices will need to collaborate and work together. In some cases, mergers and affiliations will be the best solution.
